* This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting. [00:23:16] ALL [00:23:16] RIGHT, [00:23:16] MADAM [00:23:17] CLERK, [00:23:17] LET'S CALL TO ORDER THE MEETING OF THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL ROLL CALL PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER [CALL TO ORDER] DUGGAN. HERE. COUNCILMAN [ROLL CALL] SNO? HERE. COUNCILWOMAN KERR. HERE. COUNCILWOMAN SORROW. PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER ARANGO. PRESENT. PRESENT. COUNCILMAN AUSTIN? HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SODI. HERE. MAYOR RICHARDSON. I AM HERE. WE HAVE QUORUM. GOOD. WELL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US. WE'LL START WITH THE PLEDGE AND A MOMENT OF SILENCE LED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RICK ZOE. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO LEAD [PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE] US IN A MOMENT OF SILENCE. UM, YOU KNOW, THIS TIME OF YEAR WHILE IT'S JOYFUL FOR SOME, IT'S NOT JOYFUL FOR EVERYONE. UM, AND SO I WOULD JUST LIKE US TO TAKE A MOMENT OF SILENCE TO THINK ABOUT THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE WHAT THEY NEED, UM, THIS TIME OF YEAR, UM, AND OUR NEED OF OUR TIME AND OUR CONSIDERATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, AND WE'LL NOW, UH, GO INTO THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE STAND. IF YOU ARE ABLE, READY, BEGIN. I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FRAUD. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI. ALRIGHT, SO THIS EVENING WE HAVE, UH, THREE PRESENTATIONS. WE'LL START OFF WITH. WE HAVE ANIMAL CONTROL, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, PET ADOPTION. WE HAVE 29TH ANNUAL CHRISTMAS, [00:25:01] UH, CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS STORE, AND WE HAVE, UH, AND WE'LL BE RECOGNIZING A CITY EMPLOYEE. [CEREMONIALS AND PRESENTATIONS] UH, AFTER THAT WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH, UH, THE CONSENT CALENDAR AND WE'LL GET INTO THE REGULAR AGENDA. UH, VICE MAYOR ALLEN, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND DEJAS COULDN'T BE HERE THIS EVENING. UH, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND GET STARTED AND CALL UP THE ANIMAL CARE SERVICE PET ADOPTION. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT, THIS YEAR WE, UH, STARTED TO BRING BACK THE TRADITION OF BRINGING, UH, ANIMAL ADOPTIONS BACK TO CITY COUNCIL. [ ACS PET ADOPTION] UH, AND SO WHILE WE ARE SETTING UP, I AM TAKING MY CLAIN BECAUSE MY PUPPY PASSED AWAY ABOUT A YEAR AGO, AND I, THAT WAS THE ONLY DOG THAT I WASN'T, UH, ALLERGIC TO. SO, STANLEY STANLEY. ALL RIGHT. INTRODUCE US TO STANLEY HERE. HI. UM, ALRIGHT. SO WE ARE FROM LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE, UM, SERVICES. SO THIS IS STANLEY. HE IS SUPER AFFECTIONATE. HE IS A 6-YEAR-OLD BULL, UH, STAFFORD SHIRE BULL TERRIER, UM, WHO CAME IN AS A STRAIGHT IN OUR SHELTER. UM, HE IS DEAF, BUT HE IS LEARNING, UM, SIGN LANGUAGE NOW, AND HE IS VERY IN TUNE WITH HIS SENSES. UM, HE'S VERY PLAYFUL, FRIENDLY, LAID BACK, UM, AND HE ACTUALLY CONTRACTED A VERY HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS, UM, DEATHLY, UM, DISEASE CALLED G GIARDIA. UM, BUT OUR VETS AT LBAS TOOK CARE OF HIM, AND HE IS FULLY RECOVERED. AND, UM, JUST HAPPY FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND HOPING FOR A, UM, A LOVING FAMILY TO TAKE HIM, UM, HOME. SO THIS IS STANLEY, AND TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. SO, UH, LONG BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES IS ACTUALLY, UM, OVER 150% OVER CAPACITY. UM, MEANING WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH KENNELS FOR OUR, UM, ALL OF THE ANIMALS COMING IN. THEY COME IN AS SURRENDERS, AS STRAYS AS, UM, FOUND, UM, ANIMALS, AND WE WOULD LOVE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM, BUT WE DO ALSO WANT TO, UM, ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO HELP IN ANY WAY THEY CAN. UM, IF YOU CAN FOSTER THEM FOR THE HOLIDAYS, THAT WOULD BE GREAT, BUT IF YOU CAN, UM, IF YOU CAN ALSO, UM, ADOPT THEM, THAT WOULD BE EVEN BETTER. UM, WE ARE ACCEPTING DONATIONS, UM, ALL MONTH LONG. AND THEN ALSO, UM, IF YOU CAN VOLUNTEER TO HELP WALK ALL OF OUR ALL, ALL WALK, ALL OUR ANIMALS THERE TOO, UM, THAT WOULD HELP THEIR, UM, EACH ANIMAL STAY EVEN BETTER. SO ANY WAY YOU CAN HELP, THAT WOULD BE REALLY HELPFUL. UM, AND WE ARE PROMOTING OUR ADOPTIONS, SO WE HAVE, UM, OH YEAH. SO YEAH, GIVE IT A ROUND FOR STANLEY. EVERYONE. . SO, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, THIS IS A TRADITION THAT WE'VE HAD FOR MANY YEARS. IT STOPPED DURING THE PANDEMIC. UH, THIS YEAR WE STARTED, UH, BRINGING THESE, THESE, UH, PETS OUT AND WE'RE DOING PRETTY WELL. WE HAVE, WE ACTUALLY HAVE A 100% ADOPTION RATE OF EVERY PET THAT HAS COME IN FRONT OF THE CITY COUNCIL. AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT REALLY DEMONSTRATES THE GREAT ANIMALS THAT WE ACTUALLY HAVE, UH, IN OUR CARE. AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT REALLY TAKES THE GENEROSITY. IT'S THE HOLIDAYS. I'M SURE THERE'S SOME FAMILY, SOME KID OUT THERE THAT COULD USE A, A PET, A NEW FRIEND FOR THE HOLIDAYS. SO LET'S HEAR IT. FOR ANIMAL CARE SERVICES, LET'S MAKE SURE THAT STANLEY GETS A HOME. LET'S GIVE STANLEY A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANKS A LOT. GOOD WORK. ALRIGHT. AND THEN WE ARE PROMOTING OUR ADOPTION SPECIAL N YOUR NICE CHOOSE YOUR OWN PRICE. SO ALL MONTH LONG WE ARE HOSTING, HOSTING, UM, ADOPTION SPECIAL WHERE YOU CAN JUST CHOOSE WHATEVER AMOUNT YOU WANT TO GIVE. UM, WE ARE OPEN WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY, 10:00 AM TO 4:30 PM AND ANY AMOUNT IS ACCEPTED. AND OUR LOCATION IS AT 7,700 EAST SPRING STREET, WHICH IS RIGHT NEXT TO THE EL DORADO NATURE CENTER. UH, WE ARE HOSTING A PAUSE IN PRESENCE HOLIDAY DON DRIVE. SO ALL MONTH LONG WE ARE ACCEPTING DONATIONS FOR OUR FURRY FRIENDS AT THE SHELTER. UM, OUR MOST NEEDED ITEMS, SINCE IT, IT IS THE WINTER, UM, WE ARE ACCEPTING, UH, CANNED WET FOOD AND BLANKETS. UM, BUT IF YOU WANNA ACCEPT, UM, DONATE SOME CARRIERS, CRATES, DOG TOYS, OR ANY ITEMS ON OUR WISHLIST ON AMAZON OR CHEWY, THAT'S ALSO HELPFUL. UM, WE ALSO HAVE TRUST FUNDS, UM, FOR ANY MONETARY DONATIONS IF YOU WANT TO HELP MAKE IMPROVEMENTS TO OUR SHELTER. MM-HMM, , OR, UM, COVER THE COST OF MENTAL EXPENSES FOR OUR ANIMALS. AND THEN LASTLY, WE HAVE OUR BOB LONG MEMORIAL MUTT RUN, 5K AND ONE K. UM, SO THIS IS JUST A ANNUAL EVENT, UM, WHERE YOU CAN RUN OR WALK WITH YOUR DOG ON THE BEACH. UM, 70% OF THE PROCEEDS GO TO LONG [00:30:01] BEACH ANIMAL CARE SERVICES. AND THEN AT THE FINISH LINE, WE ARE GOING TO HOST A, UM, ADOPTION EVENT. SO WE'LL MEET YOU AT THE FINISH LINE. THERE'LL BE A POSTRACE FESTIVAL. UM, IT WILL BE REALLY FUN. SO, UM, FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION AT LONG BEACH, DO GOV SLASH ACS AND THEN JUST REMEMBER YOUR COMPASSION SAVES LIVES. UM, ANY WAY YOU CAN HELP IS JUST REALLY APPRECIATED. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT. AGAIN, THANKS SO MUCH TO OUR INCREDIBLE, UH, ANIMAL CARE SERVICES AND LET'S MAKE SURE WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT, UH, OUR, OUR LOCAL, OUR LOCAL PET FRIENDS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT, WE HAVE A PRESENTATION ON THE 29TH ANNUAL CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS STORE. UH, AND WE WANT TO INVITE, UH, BRENDA AND LENA, UH, THE TWINS, UH, TO COME FORWARD. UH, WE WANNA WELCOME YOU UP, [ 29TH ANNUAL CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS STORE] UH, NEW IMAGE, UH, EMERGENCY SHELTER, COME ON FORWARD. AND WE, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONALLY HAVE, UH, HAD THIS PRESENTATION EVERY YEAR. WE WANT LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING, UH, THIS TRADITION. OKAY. CHAT. WHERE'S BRENDA AND LINDA? BRENDA AND LINDA. THERE YOU GO. THERE IT IS. YEAH, THERE. AND ACTUALLY LINDA FIRST, THEN BRENDA. OKAY. WE ONLY GOT, BECAUSE I'M THE FIRST FOUR, WE ONLY GOT A FEW MINUTES. COME ON. I'M NOT GETTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT . OKAY. THE VIDEO WAS SHOWING, I THINK NO, JEFF VIDEO. OH, WHERE IS IT? OH, WELL, WE ARE NEW MH EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS INC. AND THIS IS OUR, WE ARE A 34-YEAR-OLD SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCY. UH, AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, YOU GOT SOME, WE SEE SOME NEW FACES, BUT WE'RE NOT NEO FIGHTS THROUGH THE HOMELESS ARENA. 34 YEARS. AND WE PROVIDED SERVICES TO MORE THAN 3.4 MILLION HOMELESS AND LOW INCOME POPULATIONS. ON THE 20. WE PROVIDE A, WELL, I MEAN, UH, WELL UNLIMITED SERVICES, UH, FROM HOUSING TO OUTREACH SERVICES. WE HAD TO, UM, COMPREHENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT. UH, AND I TALKED TO, SO LIMITED, UH, FINANCIAL, UH, UH, U UH, ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS UTILITY. UM, MM-HMM. . OKAY. SO 34 YEARS. THIS IS, UH, THIS YEAR YOU HAVE THIS TO SPEAK IN REGARDS TO OUR ANNUAL CHILDREN'S CHRISTMAS STORE. IT'S OUR 29TH YEAR. AND I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE HAVE PROVIDED SERVICES TO MORE THAN TWO POINT, I'M SORRY, MORE THAN 2,344. FOUR CHILDREN. AND ARE THESE CHILDREN, WHERE ARE THEY FROM, MS. MARIE? UM, WELL, BASICALLY THEY'RE, ARE THEY, HEY, IS IT A GIVEAWAY? OH, NO, NO, NO. THIS IS NOT A GIVEAWAY. IT'S A PRIVATE EVENT. STOP. OKAY. UH, IT IS A PRIVATE EVENT. AND BY PRIVATE, I MEAN WE SERVED OVER 689 FAMILIES. WE BROUGHT IN 43 SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, AND WE ALLOCATE X AMOUNT OF FAMILIES TO THOSE SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, INCLUDING THE MULTI-SERVICE STANDARD. YEAH. YEAH. AND WE ALSO PROVIDE, UH, UH, SERVICES FOR CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, AND IT GOES ON AND ON. DPSS, CATHOLIC CHARITIES, ALL OF THOSE SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES THAT YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH. AND THEN THEY DONATE THEIR, I MEAN, GIVE US THE FAMILIES. AND THEN OF COURSE, WE TURNED THE, UH, UH, LONG BEACH. OH, YEAH. THERE, SANTA COULDN'T DO WITHOUT HIM. WE FLY 'EM IN FROM THE NORTH POLE. BUT, UH, TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, ALL THE KIDS GET VANS, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS YEAR, DONATE 5,000 FARTS OF SHOES. AND, UH, WE GAVE VAN SHOES, TOYS, BAGS, AND BAGS OF TOYS. 48 TOYS. YES. AND, UM, IT'S JUST AN OUTSTANDING EVENT. IT REALLY IS. OKAY. FOUR HOMELESS AND LOW INCOME POPULATIONS PRIVATE ONLY. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US. I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WE HAVE, BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT, WE CAN CONTINUE BECAUSE THAT'S THE CHRISTMAS STORE. BUT BRENDA, THIS ONE, BRENDA AND LINDA, WE HAVE A CERTIFICATE FOR YOU TO RECOGNIZE YOUR CONTINUED SERVICE IN THE COMMUNITY. I'M, COME ON DOWN SO WE CAN TAKE A PHOTO. ABSOLUTELY. WE BROUGHT, THANK YOU. WE BROUGHT TWO OF OUR BOARD MEMBERS AND WE BROUGHT FRIENDS AND A FEW STAFF THAT ARE ALSO HERE TO HELP US CELEBRATE THIS MOMENT. HEY, WHILE YOU'RE, YOU ALREADY KNOW, SO WHAT CAN WE SAY? IF I COULD JUST, UH, JUST SAY A COUPLE OF WORDS. I WANT TO JUST, UH, CONGRATULATE AND THANK, UH, NEW IMAGE, UH, SHELTER FOR OVER 30 YEARS OF CONSISTENCY. AND I THINK THAT'S THE, THE OPERATIVE WORD HERE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS IN OUR CITY, UH, 34 YEARS IS SOMETHING TO, UH, TO REALLY BE PROUD OF BRENDA, LINDA, AND THE ENTIRE TEAM AT NEW IMAGE, UH, REALLY PROVIDE, UH, AMAZING CARE FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AND SO, UH, I JUST WANTED TO LEND MY VOICE TO, TO SAY THANK YOU AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS. [00:35:25] ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, BRENDA AND LINDA, WE NOW HAVE OUR THIRD AND FINAL PRESENTATION, UH, AND WE ARE RECOGNIZING, UH, OUR INCREDIBLE AND TALENTED PUBLIC SERVANT IN OUR, OUR [ RECOGNIZING JENNIFER KUMIYAMA] COMMUNITY. JEN KUMI. THAT'S RIGHT. SO, SO JENNIFER SERVES OUR COMMUNITY EVERY SINGLE DAY AS THE CITYWIDE ACCESSIBILITY COORDINATOR FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND OUR OFFICE OF EQUITY. UH, YOU HAVE, SHE HAS DONE THAT WORK, BUT SHE ALSO HELPED DELIVER THE, UH, NATIONAL ANTHEM AT THE, THE SWEARING IN THE INAUGURATION THIS YEAR. UH, SHE WAS BORN WITH AFRO REPOS, WHICH USES A WHEELCHAIR DAILY. AND PREVIOUSLY JENNIFER WAS CAST IN A LATIN, A MUSICAL SPECTACULAR AT DISNEY'S CALIFORNIA VENTURE THEME PARK, WHERE SHE BECAME THE FIRST PERFORMER IN A WHEELCHAIR TO EVER BE ON ANY DISNEY STAGE IN THE WORLD. SO THAT, THAT, THAT DESERVES RECOGNITION. UH, SHE PERFORMED FOUR TIMES A DAY FOR 8,000 GUESTS A DAY WHO CAME FROM EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD. IT WAS THERE THAT JENNIFER TOOK ON HER REAL WORLD REAL ROLE AS AN ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES, SHOWING THE ENTIRE WORLD THAT TALENT SEES ABSOLUTELY NO BOUNDARIES. THIS MOTIVATED HER TO BECOME A PUBLIC SPEAKER, SHARING HER HER STORY, AND MOTIVATING SCHOOLS AND STUDENTS AND SOCIAL GROUPS AND MAJOR BUSINESSES. HER NEW PASSION IN, IN ADDITION TO SINGING, IS BEING A VOICE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH DISABILITIES BY BREAKING ATTITUDINAL AND ARCHITECTURAL BARRIERS. JEN, JEN, JENNIFER HAS A LONG RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE, HAS WORKED FOR MANY. UH, SHE'S WORKED FOR LONG, FORMER LONG BEACH CITY COUNCILWOMAN, UH, UH, AND SENATOR ALINA GONZALEZ AND MY PREDECESSOR, FORMER MAYOR ROBERT GARCIA. AND AGAIN, SHE WORKS RIGHT HERE IN OUR OFFICE OF EQUITY. SO JENNIFER CAN NOW BE HEARD AS THE VOICE OF DAHLIA IN DISNEY'S NEW HIT FEATURE WISH. AND THIS IS PRETTY INCREDIBLE. AND SO, YOU KNOW, I JUST WANNA SAY THAT ALL OF US, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SO INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YOU, UH, FOR WHAT YOU CONTINUE TO DO. WE SEE HOW HARD YOU WORK EVERY DAY, UH, MAKING SURE THAT OUR, OUR CITY IS DOING THE RIGHT THINGS AS IT RELATES TO ACCESSIBILITY, AND WE'RE BEING INCLUSIVE AS A CITY. BUT ALSO, IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU HAVE TIME TO BE AN EXAMPLE AROUND THE WORLD. AND FOR THAT, WE ARE INCREDIBLY PROUD OF YOU. AND NOW LET'S HEAR FROM OUR CITY EMPLOYEE, A MEMBER OF OUR CITY FAMILY. JEN KUMA. THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND HONORABLE COUNCIL, UM, COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, IT IS SUCH A GIFT FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO FINALLY SHARE WISH WITH NOT JUST THE WORLD, BUT MY CITY, LONG BEACH, FOR ANYBODY THAT KNOWS ME, KNOWS THAT I LOVE LONG BEACH TO THE CORE. UM, AND ANOTHER ONE OF MY PASSIONS ASIDE FROM SINGING IS DEFINITELY SERVING THE CITY. I'M REALLY HAPPY TO BRING DALIA TO LIFE. UM, DALIA HAS A VISIBLE DISABILITY IN THE CARTOON WISH, UM, WHICH IS STILL IN THEATER, SO YOU CAN GO SEE IT EVERYWHERE. UM, AND IT'S REALLY AWESOME TO HAVE A DISABILITY REPRESENTATION IN MEDIA. UM, AND IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME, A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY TO BE ABLE TO VOICE HER. SO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR RECOGNIZING ME. AND, UM, PLEASE GO SEE WISH, I HOPE YOU LOVE IT JUST AS MUCH AS I DO. AND, UM, THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU. AND WE HAVE, UH, SOME RECOGNITION FROM, UH, THE CITY COUNCIL FOR YOU. WE'LL COME DOWN AND TAKE A PHOTO. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. COOL. OVER HERE. ONE, TWO. GOOD. YOU WANT IT? GOOD. OH, GOOD. ONE MORE. ONE MORE. ONE MORE. THANKS. [00:40:39] ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THAT CONCLUDES OUR PRESENTATIONS. UH, CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THOSE, UH, INCREDIBLE INDIVIDUALS WHO RECOGNIZE TONIGHT. UH, WE'LL NOW MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA. LET'S START WITH THE CONSENT CALENDAR. ITEMS ONE THROUGH 13, WE'RE GONNA PULL ITEM CONSENT. UH, ITEM NUMBER 14 FOR RECUSAL. SO ITEM NUMBER ONE THROUGH 14, PLEASE. OKAY, I SEE IT'S BEEN MOVED IN SECOND. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON CONSENT SEEING NUMBER MEMBERS? PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT, ITEM 14, REPORT FROM PUBLIC WORKS. RECOMMENDATION TO AUTHORIZE CITY MANAGER TO ACCEPT AN EASEMENT DEEDED FROM 26.2 [CONSENT CALENDAR (1. – 14.)] LP, A CALIFORNIA LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AND PROPERTY OWNER AT 35 90 EAST PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY FOR THE INSTALLATION OF [14. 23-51494 Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to accept an easement deed from 26 Point 2 LP, a California Limited Partnership and property owner at 3590 East Pacific Coast Highway, for the installation of public utilities; and Accept Notice of Exemption SE 20-094 prepared in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act. (District 3) Levine Act: Yes       Office or Department: Public Works         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] PUBLIC UTILITIES. AND ACCEPT A NOTICE OF EXEMPTION SE TWO ZERO DASH 0 9 4 PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT DISTRICT THREE. ALRIGHT, THIS IS, UH, I NEED TO, I'M GONNA STEP OUT AND RECUSE MYSELF HERE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LEVINE ACT. I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF THIS ITEM BECAUSE I HAVE A PREVIOUSLY ACCEPTED CONTRIBUTION FROM ACCELERATE HOUSING GROUP, WHICH IS A PORT A PARTY TO THIS ITEM NUMBER 14, AND COUNCILMAN AUSTIN WILL TAKE OVER. OKAY, COUNSEL. SO IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. UH, ITEM NUMBER 14 HAS BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. UM, IS THERE ANY COMMENT FROM THE COUNSEL? IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT ON THIS ITEM? HEARING NONE. SEEING NONE, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. AND WE'LL WAIT FOR THE MAYOR TO JOIN US FOR THE NEXT ITEM. IS IT? THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE'LL NOW GO TO THE REGULAR AGENDA. UH, NEXT UP WE'RE GONNA TAKE ITEM 15, THE ISRAEL GAZA PROCLAMATION. UH, I KNOW THERE'S STILL PEOPLE IN THE, UH, OVERFLOW AND OUTSIDE, BUT WE'RE ALREADY AT ABOUT 60 SPEAKERS WITH MORE SIGNING UP, SO WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE EVERYBODY [15. 23-51584 Recommendation to adopt a proclamation by minute order regarding the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel.       Office or Department: Joni Ricks-Oddie, Councilmember, Ninth District; Roberto Uranga, Councilmember, Seventh District; Al Austin, Councilman, Eighth District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] HAS A, AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. UH, SO AS PEOPLE, AS THIS FILLS UP, IF PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, THEY CAN STEP OUT AND MAKE ROOM FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO SPEAK. SO I'LL START OFF WITH SOME FRAMING REMARKS, THEN I'M GONNA GO TO COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI, AND THEN WE'RE GONNA OPEN IT UP AND BEGIN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PROCESS, WHICH WILL TAKE A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME. UH, SO FIRST, THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE TODAY. UH, AND WHAT WE'RE ABOUT TO DO IS CONSIDER A PROCLAMATION, UH, REGARDING THE ONGOING CONFLICT IN HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA IN ISRAEL. I WANNA THANK COUNCIL MEMBERS RICKS OTI AUSTIN, AND YANGA FOR THEIR LEADERSHIP AND IN THEIR COURAGE AND BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT DISCUSSION TO COUNCIL. I KNOW THEY'VE BEEN GETTING A LOT OF PRESSURE ON WHETHER THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN ON. UH, AS MAYOR, I THINK I WANNA PROVIDE SOME CONTEXT FOR FOLKS. UH, WE AS A CITY ARE NOT IMMUNE TO WHAT HAPPENS, UH, OUTSIDE OF OUR BOUNDARIES. AS CITY, WE LEARNED IN 2020 THAT WE CAN'T JUST SIMPLY ROLL UP THE WINDOWS OR CLOSE THE CURTAIN TO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE WORLD AROUND US. UM, WHEN, WHEN WE ALL WATCHED WHAT HAPPENED IN, IN MINNEAPOLIS WITH THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD, UH, THAT WAS AN INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE 2000 MILES AWAY IN MINNEAPOLIS, THE CITY THAT WAS ACTUALLY SMALLER THAN LONG BEACH. AND THERE WAS PRESSURE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, DON'T TALK ABOUT THOSE ISSUES. BUT IT WAS MANIFESTING AND CREATING TENSION IN OUR COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW. AND SO WE SAW HOW IT [00:45:01] MANIFESTED IN PROTESTS NOW, OCEAN BOULEVARD. IT MANIFESTED WITH PROTESTS ON PINE AVENUE, UH, WITH, UH, INCIDENCES OF LOSS OF, UH, PROPERTY, A LOT OF TENSION IN THE COMMUNITY, A LOT OF, UH, FEAR IN THE COMMUNITY, A LOT OF RACIAL TENSION BETWEEN BLACKS AND WHITES AND OTHERS. AND WE KNOW THAT THOSE ISSUES ARE STILL HAVING, WE'RE STILL IN THE HEALING PROCESS FROM THAT INCIDENT THAT TOOK PLACE BACK IN 2020. BUT HERE IN LONG BEACH, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE INCREDIBLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY WITH DEEP TIES TO EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD. UH, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IN ORDER TO BE A TRULY RESILIENT CITY, TO BE RESILIENT, WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF HOW WORLD TRAUMA IMPACTS THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND IMPACTS OUR COMMUNITIES IN TERMS OF TENSION. AND SO, WHEN PAIN IS FELT IN SOME OTHER PART OF WORLD, IT MAY SHOW UP. UH, IT MAY SHOW UP AS PAIN IN OUR COMMUNITIES. AND THAT'S A LITTLE BIT OF WHAT'S WHAT WE'RE SEEING HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. UH, THIS, THAT PAIN SORT OF MANIFESTED IN VERY CONCERNING WAYS. AND WE'RE SEEING THAT THE PAIN AND THE CONFLICT, UH, IN GAZA AND ISRAEL, UH, IS SHOWING UP THE VERY SAME WAYS HERE. UH, WE'RE SEEING INCIDENTS, UH, REPORTS OF ADDITIONAL INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE AND HATE AND ALL OF THESE THINGS SHOWING UP, UH, IN OUR COMMUNITIES. UM, AND WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, UH, TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE FEEL SAFE IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, THAT INDIVIDUALS, OUR JEWISH COMMUNITY, OUR PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ARE NOT FEELING UNSAFE OR TARGETED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. SO WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE VERY CLEAR ON WHERE WE STAND AROUND PEACE. THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. SO, UH, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE, YOU KNOW, PUT PRESSURE ON COUNCIL MEMBERS, WHETHER TO OR NOT TO SAY SOMETHING, THERE IS PRECEDENT SET. WE ARE NOT IMMUNE TO WHAT HAPPENS. UH, WE SEE IT VERY CLEARLY AND IN CERTAIN CASES, AND IMPORTANT, UH, TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW AS MAY AS A MAYOR, AND I THINK AS CITY LEADERS, WE HAVE TO REMAIN VIGILANT, UH, TO PREVENT INCIDENTS OF TENSION AND VIOLENCE FROM TAKING PLACE IN ALL OF OUR, IN OUR COMMUNITY, FROM LOCAL MOSQUES AND SYNAGOGUES AND CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS, OR ANY PLACE OF WORSHIP OR PUBLIC GATHERINGS. AND THAT'S MEANT, UH, TO ANY PUBLIC PLACE, IS MEANT TO BE A SAFE PLACE FOR PEOPLE WHETHER TO GO TO SCHOOL OR TO SHOP, OR SIMPLY TO LIVE. AND SO WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO CHALLENGE GROWING HATE AND INTOLERANCE BY FOSTERING MUTUAL RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING FOR ALL PEOPLE, AFFIRMING, LONGSTANDING VALUES OF PEACE AND SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EQUITY AND SAFETY, SAFELY AND SAFETY. SO THIS DOESN'T, SAFETY IS NOT ACHIEVED, AND PEACE IS NOT SIMPLY ACHIEVED BY AN OUT AND A VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL. AND WE JUST WANNA BE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT. A VOTE OF THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT WHAT ACHIEVES PEACE OF AN ACT OF CONGRESS DOES NOT SIMPLY ACHIEVE PEACE. IT TAKES MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING AND COMMITMENT TO WORK TOWARD A FRAMEWORK OF PEACE. JUST LIKE WE LEARNED IN 2020, THE FRAMEWORK TO RECONCILE THE TENSIONS LOCALLY BEGAN WITH ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. AND THEN IT WAS FOLLOWED BY LISTENING AND CONVENING AND ULTIMATELY CATALYZING LISTENING TO THE VOICES OF INDIVIDUALS FROM DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW AND PERSPECTIVES. ACTUALLY TAKING OUR TIME TO LISTEN AS WE GO THROUGH PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY. I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU DON'T REACT TO WHAT YOU'RE HEARING. LISTEN, TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE SAME POINT OF VIEW OR DIFFERENT POINTS OF VIEW THAT YOU MIGHT HEAR. LISTENING IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THIS. AND THEN WE WENT TO CONVENING, BRINGING TOGETHER, UH, DIFFERENT PARTIES AND CONVENING, UH, BACK IN 2020. AND THAT HEALING PROCESS TAKES TIME. SO WHEN THE TIME COMES AFTER ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TONIGHT, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE BEGIN TO CONVENE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FAITH LEADERS AROUND A FRAMEWORK FOR PEACE. UH, HERE, HERE IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITIES, WE CANNOT MOVE FORWARD, UH, UNLESS WE AS A COMMUNITY, UH, ACKNOWLEDGE, UH, ISSUES THAT, THAT HAVE THESE INDIRECT IMPACTS ON OUR SO MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND MANIFEST IN DIFFERENT WAYS. I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE'RE SUCH A BIG DIVERSE COMMUNITY IN LONG BEACH, WHERE WE WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL SAFE. SO IT IS NOT ALWAYS EASY, BUT IT DOES START WITH ACKNOWLEDGING THAT'S WHAT I BELIEVE THE CITY COUNCIL IS ATTEMPTING TO DO TONIGHT. UH, THE PRO PROCLAMATION BEFORE YOU TONIGHT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI WILL, WILL, WILL WALK THROUGH SOME OF THOSE POINTS. BUT WHAT IT DOES, IT, IT ACKNOWLEDGED THE NEED TO END THE CYCLE OF VIOLENCE BEING EXPERIENCED, UH, OVERSEAS BY PA PALESTINIANS, BY IS, IS BY JEWISH FOLKS, BY ISRAELIS, BY THOUSANDS OF INNOCENT CHILDREN AND CIVILIANS, UH, BY CALLING ON FEDERAL LEADERS TO NEGOTIATE AND SUPPORT NEGOTIATIONS THAT LEAD TO A LASTING CEASEFIRE IN ISRAEL AND GAZA. AND WHAT THIS MEANS IS PEACE AND ULTIMATE HAS END OF HOSTILITIES AND LAYING DOWN ARMS ON ALL SIDES. IT ALSO MEANS OPENING UP THE DOORS FOR, FOR HUMANITARIAN AID. THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE WANNA SEE. IT ALSO AFFIRMS STATEMENTS THAT THE CITY HAS MADE IN THE PAST. THE CITY ACKNOWLEDGED WHEN WE SAW THE TRAGIC INCIDENT TAKE PLACE ON OCTOBER 7TH. AND WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT BECAUSE NO ONE CONDONES THAT, UH, ATTACKING OF CIVILIANS OR ANY OF THAT. AND THIS BUILDS ON THAT BY GOING FURTHER, BY SAYING [00:50:01] WE ACKNOWLEDGE THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN, IN THE REGION, BOTH ISRAEL AND PALESTINE. IT ACKNOWLEDGES THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND THE NEED FOR, FOR ADDITIONAL AID, UH, WHERE ONGOING VIOLENCE AND LACK OF HUMANITARIAN AID HAS RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF LIFE OF CIVILIANS. IT DIRECTS CITY STAFF TO REALLY GET TO THOSE NEXT STEPS OF PROMOTING COMMUNITY EDUCATION, DIALOGUE AND RESOURCES TO ENSURE OUR COMMUNITY CAN ENGAGE IN HEALTHY CONVERSATIONS AROUND THESE ISSUES AND, AND HAVE ACCESS TO MENTAL HEALTH AND COUNSELING SUPPORT THAT WE NEED DURING THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. AND FINALLY, AND I THINK WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT HERE, UH, TO OUR CITY IS THAT IT, IT TALK, IT, IT REALLY AFFIRMS OUR NEED AND OUR INTEREST IN PEACE AND OUR INTEREST IN CONDEMNING ALL FORMS OF HATE AND ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES, UH, PARTICULARLY IN OUR COMMUNITIES AS IT RELATES TO ANTISEMITISM, ANTI-ARAB, ANTI PALESTINIAN, ANTI-JEWISH, ALL THE FORMS OF HATE THAT EXIST IN OUR COMMUNITIES SO THAT WE CAN CREATE A FRAMEWORK, UH, OF A FUTURE IN OUR COMMUNITIES WHERE PEOPLE CAN LEAD HEALTHY AND SAFE LIVES. NOW, WE'VE SEEN THE THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED. WE MADE, UH, STATEMENTS BACK ON OCTOBER 7TH, AND THEN FOR A BRIEF MOMENT, WE DID SEE A BRIEF CEASEFIRE DURING THAT MOMENT WHEN WE SAW AN EXCHANGE OF HOSTAGES. THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE, I FELT A LITTLE BIT OF HOPE, A LITTLE BIT OF POSS POSSIBILITY IN THAT MOMENT. AND I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE RIGHT TIME AS MAYOR TO LEND MY VOICE. AND THAT'S WHEN I SAID, UH, IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR CONGRESSMAN, WHO ALSO, UH, MENTIONED A FRAMEWORK FOR FOR PEACE AND A CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS THAT LEAD TO LASTING CEASEFIRE, I STEPPED FORWARD IN THAT MOMENT AND ALSO LENDED MY VOICE. AND I BELIEVE WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS ATTEMPTING TO DO HERE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE CONGRESSMAN, IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE MAYOR, HAS DONE, IS TO ALSO LEND OUR VOICE TOWARD PEACE. AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A DIFFICULT, UH, TOPIC FOR FOLKS. WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS, YOU KNOW, FOLKS HAVE SHOWED UP TO OUR COUNCIL MEETINGS TIME AND TIME AGAIN ASKING WHERE THE CITY COUNCIL STANDS. WE APPRECIATE ALL THE COMMITTEE WORK THAT'S HAPPENED, BUT, UH, WE'RE OUTTA PLACE NOW. IT'S, IT'S TIME FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO, UH, TO TAKE ON THIS ISSUE. AND, UH, AGAIN, THIS PROCLAMATION CAN'T POSSIBLY TOUCH ON EVERY FACET OF THIS DIFFICULT PAST, EVERY NUANCE THAT IS PERSISTENT FOR GENERATIONS. THE CITY COUNCIL IS NOT WORLD. WE ARE NOT WORLD EXPERTS. THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO WAY WE'RE GONNA MEET EVERY NUANCE ON THE ISSUE. SO I WANNA MAKE SURE THAT WE, THAT WE'RE VERY CLEAR ABOUT THAT. BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS UPLIFT SHARED VALUES OF A COMMUNITY AND MODEL A TYPE OF, UH, FUTURE THAT WE WANT TO SEE. ONE THAT'S BASED ON PEACE, MUTUAL RESPECT AND UNDERSTANDING, AND WHERE EVERYONE FEELS WELCOME, THAT'S OUR TOP PRIORITY AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD TODAY. AND SO, UH, AT THIS POINT I WANNA SHARE, I WANNA PASS IT TO THE MAKER OF THE MOTION COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI, AND THEN WE WILL GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR FOR THOSE, UM, THOSE FRAMING COMMENTS. UM, I JUST WANNA START OUT BY THANKING COUNCIL MEMBERS, AUSTIN AND COUNCIL MEMBERS ORANG FOR JOINING THIS EFFORT AS WELL AS OUR MAYOR FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, PARTICULARLY IN SPEAKING WITH REGIONAL AND STATE LEADERS. THIS IS CERTAINLY NOT WHAT I THOUGHT I'D BE DISCUSSING ON THE EVE OF FINISHING OUT MY FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE. THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE BEEN, THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS HAVE BEEN INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT FOR SO MANY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. I'VE HEARD FROM MANY RESIDENTS WITH FAMILY IN ISRAEL AND GAZA THAT ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THE ONGOING CONFLICT. I'VE ALSO SPOKEN TO MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY THAT EXPRESSED THAT THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME REALLY EDUCATING THEMSELVES ON THE CONFLICT AND THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT. PERSONALLY, AS SOMEONE TRAINED IN PUBLIC HEALTH, THE ONGOING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IS AN ONGOING CONVERSATION THAT IMPACTS ME DIRECTLY AS I HAVE COLLEAGUES THAT WORK FOR NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS, UH, DIRECTLY ENGAGED AND ON THE GROUND. THEY CONSISTENTLY SPEAK OF THE ONGOING SUFFERING AND THE NEED OF FREE AND IMPARTIAL MOVEMENT OF HUMANITARIAN SUPPLIES IN GAZA, IN ISRAEL, THE NEED FOR ITEMS LIKE CLEAN WATER, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, FOOD AND NON-FOOD ITEMS SUCH AS SHELTER AND DIGNITY KITS FOR WOMEN. RIGHT NOW, PUBLIC HEALTH AND MEDICAL GROUPS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT AN OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA, A DISEASE THAT RESULTS FROM EXTREME, EXTREMELY POOR SANITATION THAT MOST OF YOU HAVE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF. CHOLERA IS NOT A DISEASE THAT IS SEEN IN THE DEVELOPED WORLD. IF YOU HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION SYSTEMS, YOU DO NOT SEE CHOLERA OUTBREAKS. IN IZING THIS ITEM, IT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE GIVE THIS TOPIC THE CARE CONCERN AND INTENTIONALITY THAT IT DESERVES. ON DECEMBER 6TH, 2023, THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION HELD A SECOND DISCUSSION REGARDING ITS ORIGINAL RECOMMENDATIONS. THE COMMISSION RECEIVED A WIDE RANGE OF WRITTEN AND VERBAL PUBLIC COMMENT, HEARING FROM MORE THAN 40 INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS REFLECTING PERSPECTIVES OF A BROADER SET OF LONG BEACH STAKEHOLDERS ON THE ONGOING CONFLICT AND HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. BASED ON THE COMMUNITY INPUT RECEIVED, THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION DEVELOPED UPDATED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL'S CONSIDERATION. AND THE COMMISSION VOTED TO SUBMIT THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL AT A SPECIAL MEETING ON DECEMBER 8TH, 2023. MOREOVER, LAST TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12TH, OUR YOUTH AND [00:55:01] FAMILIES COMMISSION ALSO AGENDIZED AN ITEM RELATED TO THE ISRAEL HAMAS CONFLICT. AS SOMEONE WHO PRIDES HERSELF ON TAKING A DEEP DIVE AND EDUCATING MYSELF ON, UH, ON ANY TOPIC, THE LAST FEW MONTHS HAVE BEEN CHALLENGING, BUT IT WAS NECESSARY THAT I HEAR PERSPECTIVES FROM DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THESE EVENTS IN CONVERSATION. SOME OF YOU, UM, SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD ME TELL YOU THAT I VALUE PRIMARY SOURCES. IT WAS NECESSARY FOR ME TO HEAR YOUR VOICES PERSONALLY AND MAKE ROOM FOR YOU TO FEEL SEEN AND HEARD. AS PART OF DRAFTING THIS ITEM AND PROCLAMATION, WE PRIORITIZE UNDERSTANDING DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES AND BUILDING TRUST. I RECOGNIZE THAT FAILING TO CONSULT WITH ALL IMPACTED COMMUNITIES CAN LEAD TO MISUNDERSTANDINGS, MISREPRESENTATIONS, AND MISCOMMUNICATIONS. THIS CAN EXACERBATE TENSIONS AND HINDER OUR ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD. I CARE ABOUT THE WELLBEING OF OUR RESIDENTS AND I'M GENUINELY INTERESTED IN ADDRESSING THE NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF THOSE AFFECTED BY THIS WAR. BUT I'M UNDER, I'M UNDER NO SORT OF PRETENSE. SO THIS PROCLAMATION AS A DOCUMENT ITSELF WILL RESULT IN A CEASE TO ARM CONFLICT. I RECOGNIZE THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE POINTED OUT IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH, WITH MY OFFICE. THIS CRISIS TAKES PLACE WITHIN A LONG HISTORY AND PATHWAY TO LASTING PEACE REQUIRES ONGOING EDUCATION AND DIALOGUE. MY HOPE IS THAT THIS BECOMES, THAT THIS IS THE FIRST STEP TO A PATH OF RECONCILIATION FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES. IN SPEAKING TO THE JEWISH AND PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY OVER THE LAST WEEK, BOTH GROUPS MENTIONED THE WORD RECONCILIATION TO ME. THE ITEM BEFORE YOU TONIGHT FOCUSES ON THE FACTS OF HOW OUR CITY HAS ENGAGED ON THE ISSUE AND HIGHLIGHTS THE COMMON GROUND. FOUND IN MANY OF THE CONVERSATIONS I'VE HAD, THESE INCLUDE THAT ALL LIVES HAVE EQUAL VALUE, THAT THE HOSTAGES SHOULD BE RELEASED AND THAT IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN AID IS REQUIRED FOR ALL PEOPLE INVOLVED. MY HOPE IS THAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WOULD JOIN ME IN UPLIFTING PEACE AND RECONCILIATION AS THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TAKES THE STEPS NEEDED TO END THE SUFFERING ON ALL SIDES. I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO PUBLIC COMMENT AND HEARING FROM YOU ALL THIS EVENING. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO MUCH. UM, COUNCILMAN RICKS OTI. UH, VERY, VERY WELL SAID AND DELIVERED. OKAY, SO WE KNOW THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 60 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED, 60 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK AND MORE COMING ALONG. UM, YOU SAID WE'RE AT 82 NOW. OKAY, WE'RE 82 PEOPLE AND THIS NUMBER IS GROWING. WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A 62ND PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD, SO WE CAN GET TO A VOTE WITHIN THE NEXT THREE HOURS WILL BE THE GOAL. UH, THIS IS, UH, CONSISTENT WITH, UH, SOME OF THE PROCESSES AT SOME OF THE COMMISSION MEETINGS, AND THAT WILL BE THE GROUND RULES. THIS, THIS MEANS WE'LL HAVE LIKELY ABOUT THREE HOURS OF PUBLIC COMMENT TO SET EXPECTATIONS FOR EVERYONE. OKAY. UM, LET'S SEE. WE WILL, SO WHAT WE'LL DO IS WE'RE GONNA TRY TO HEAR FROM AS MANY VOICES AS POSSIBLE. UH, AND IF THERE, IF WE END UP WITH, UH, A LACK OF SEATS HERE, WE WOULD ASK AFTER YOU SPEAK, UH, CREATE SOME SPACE. RIGHT NOW WE HAVE SOME SPACE, BUT CREATE SOME SPACE BY GOING TO THE OVERFLOW TO ALLOW MORE ROOM FOR OTHERS SO WE CAN HEAR FROM AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. UH, SO EVERYONE HAS A PRI PRIVILEGE AFTER WAITING, UH, SO MANY HOURS TO SPEAK. UH, WE WANT TO GET TO A COUNCIL VOTE TODAY. SO WE ASK ALL OF YOU TO BE AS RESPECTFUL AND CONSIDERATE, UH, AND PRODUCTIVE AS YOU CAN WITH YOUR TIME AS YOU SPEAK. UH, WE VALUE EVERYONE'S PERSONAL, UH, FREEDOM AND SPEECH IN THIS ROOM. UH, WE DISCOURAGE ANY INTERRUPTIONS WHILE SOMEONE ELSE IS SPEAKING. UH, WE WANT EVERYONE TO BE HEARD, UH, THROUGH THIS PROCESS. YOU CAN FEEL FREE TO DISAGREE WITH WHAT SOMEONE HAS SAID WITHOUT INTERRUPTING THEM. AND WE ASK THAT YOU RESPECT EVERYONE'S PER EVERY PERSON'S RIGHT TO BE HEARD SO THAT WE CAN LISTEN. SO CAN WE AGREE ON THOSE GROUND RULES HERE TODAY? YES. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, AS CITY OFFICIALS, WE ARE COMMITTED TO FOSTERING A SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, INCLUSIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR PUBLIC MEETINGS. IF WE NOTICE THAT, UH, THERE ARE PEOPLE BEGINNING TO GATHER IN THE MIDDLE OR ON THE SIDES, IT MAY CREATE AN ACCESSIBILITY ISSUE AND WE MAY ASK YOU TO CLEAR THOSE WALKWAYS SO THAT THIS CAN BE A SAFE AND ACCESSIBLE READING, UH, MEETING. THERE'S A POSSIBILITY HERE THAT SOME STATEMENTS SHARED IN PUBLIC COMMENT TODAY MAY USE LANGUAGE THAT MAY BE MAY SOME MAY FIND PEJORATIVE OR DISCRIMINATORY. UH, WE CANNOT CONTROL WHAT IS SAID BY INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC, BUT WE CAN AND WE WILL AFFIRM OUR CORE VALUES OF INCLUSION. WE COMMIT TO MODELING CIVIL, CIVIC DISCOURSE AND AFFIRM OUR CORE VALUES OF, UM, UH, THAT DO NOT PERPETUATE, UH, ANY FORMS OF HATE OR INTOLERANCE. AND WE ASK OUR COMMUNITY, UH, DOES THE SAME THAT WE MODEL CIVIL MODEL, CIVIL DISCOURSE HERE, UM, AND WE SHOW GRACE TO ONE ANOTHER. WE ASK YOU TO DO SO AND WE LOOK OUT FOR ONE ANOTHER. AND SO THAT SAID, WE WILL BEGIN THE PUBLIC COMMENT PROCESS. I'M GONNA READ THE FIRST 10 NAMES. UH, AND WHEN YOU HEAR YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD, STARTS WITH VENERABLE, UH, SAL, SAM KA NIM, UH, THEN DEBRA GOLDFARB, RICHARD MARCUS, ANNA SOKI. UH, JUDY, AMY LOWE. DEBBIE BMO, UH, CAROL JONES, DAVID JONES, RABBI NEWMAN. AND CARLOS. CARLOS. CARLOS VAL. THAT'S THE FIRST 11 OR SO VENERABLE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. [01:00:04] AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, WE ARE HERE FOR A SPECIAL PLAY FOR WORLD COMPRESSION AND PEACE. ALL RIGHT. WE ABSOLUTELY WELCOME THAT PRAYER FOR PEACE. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, NEXT UP IS DEBORAH GOLDFARB. GOOD EVENING. UH, MY NAME IS DEBORAH GOLDFARB. IT'S THE MAYOR SAID, I'M THE CEO OF JEWISH LONG BEACH, WHICH REPRESENTS OUR SYNAGOGUES AND JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS IN THE LONG BEACH AREA. I WANT TO THANK ALL OF YOU. I KNOW I'VE HAD MANY DISCUSSIONS WITH MANY OF YOU THIS WEEK, AND THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT SITUATION. OUR POSITION IS, AND YOU WILL HEAR THAT FROM OTHERS. UH, AS I THINK MOST OF YOU KNOW, THAT, UH, WHILE WE CANNOT FULLY SUPPORT THE, UM, PROCLAMATION, WE DO GREATLY APPRECIATE THE WILLINGNESS OF THE MAYOR AND THIS COMMI, THIS, UM, CITY COMMISSION TO HEAR US AND TO WORK WITH US. I SAID TO THE MAYOR JUST LAST NIGHT, WE NEED LOVE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND WE NEED THAT TO HAPPEN. THERE'S A LOT OF WORK THAT THAT WILL NEED TO TAKE PLACE TO GET THERE, BUT WE THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO HAVE THAT DISCOURSE. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS RICHARD MARCUS, FOLLOWED BY ANNA LESKI. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS RICHARD MARCUS AND I'M A DISTRICT FEE RESIDENT AS WELL AS PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF JEWISH LONG BEACH, THE INTEGRATED AGENCY OF THE JEWISH FEDERATION, JEWISH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION, AND THE ALBERT JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER OF GREATER LONG BEACH. I ALSO WANT TO TAKE THIS TIME TO EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE FOR YOUR TAKING YOUR TIME TO ENGAGE WITH THE LOCAL JEWISH COMMUNITY, UH, IN THE WAY THAT YOU HAVE. WE ARE DEEPLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE LOSS OF CIVILIAN LIVES, BUT CANNOT ENDORSE THIS STATEMENT. WE LIVE IN A TIME OF UNPRECEDENTED RISE IN ANTISEMITISM AND ANTI-ARAB HATE. WE ARE COUNTING ON YOU AS CITY LEADERS TO GUIDE US TOWARDS GREATER UNITY AND GREATER RESILIENCE. WE AT JEWISH LONG BEACH, LOOK FORWARD TO ACTIVELY ENGAGING WITH YOU ON ONGOING EFFORTS TO EXPAND EDUCATION THROUGH THE LONG BEACH OFFICE OF EQUITY EHRC AND OTHER RESOURCES IN OUR COMMUNITY. THE DIVERSE JEWISH COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN CIVIC LIFE IN LONG BEACH SINCE WE BECAME A CITY OVER A CENTURY AGO, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO BE OVER A CENTURY FROM NOW. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. NEXT IS ANNA, AFTER ANNA IS JUDY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS ANNA LESKI. I'M A 14 YEAR RESIDENT OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY. I'M A HOMEOWNER HERE AS WELL AS A BUSINESS OWNER, AND I REPRESENT, UH, EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED AGAINST IN THE WORKPLACE FOR A LIVING. I MOVED TO THIS COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF ITS DIVERSITY AND I WANTED TO RAISE MY TWO DAUGHTERS HERE. IT'S AS DIVERSE AS THIS, UH, PANEL HERE THAT WE'RE SPEAKING IN FRONT OF TONIGHT. AND MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT THE PURPOSE OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IS, IS TO BUILD INCLUSIVITY AND COMMUNITY. AND I FEEL THAT THIS PROCLAMATION DOES NOT ACCOMPLISH THAT. THE CITY OF LONG BEACH DOES NOT HAVE ANY BUSINESS ON TELLING AN INDEPENDENT FREE COUNTRY ON HOW TO DEFEND ITSELF. THIS PARTICULAR PROCLAMATION CALLS FOR A CEASEFIRE WITHOUT CONDITIONING IT ON THE RETURN OF THE HOSTAGES AND THE DEAD RETURNING THEIR BODIES TO THEIR LOVED ONES. AND I FEEL THAT THAT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THE CITY TO DO, AND I WOULD REQUEST THAT, THAT THOSE LANGUAGE CHANGES BE MADE TONIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS JUDY, AND THEN ARNIE, COUNCIL MEMBERS. I ECHO THE CALL TO TAKE OUT THE LANGUAGE ABOUT A CEASEFIRE. THE PROBLEM WITH A CEASEFIRE IS THAT IT'S ONE-SIDED. WHEN [01:05:01] ISRAEL PUTS DOWN ITS WEAPONS, HAMAS WILL CONTINUE. THEY HAVE ALREADY TOLD US THAT THEY WANNA DO OCTOBER 7TH. OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I WANNA REMIND YOU THAT WHEN OCTOBER 7TH HAPPENED AND HOSTAGES WERE TAKEN, WOMEN WERE GANG RAPED, PELVIC BONES BROKEN, WOMEN WERE MUTILATED, THEIR DEAD BODIES WERE TAKEN ON TRUCKS INTO GAZA WHERE THEY WERE PARADED, AND THE PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS WERE CHEERING THAT EVENT. A CEASEFIRE IS NOT GOING TO BRING ABOUT PEACE AND IT'S NOT GONNA BRING ABOUT THE HUMANITY THAT YOU WANT. SO PLEASE TAKE THAT LANGUAGE OUT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS, NEXT SPEAKER IS JUDY OR ARNIE. ARNIE, RIGHT. AMY. OKAY. ALRIGHT, AMY. SORRY, AMY. AND THEN DEBBIE, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING ME TO COME BEFORE YOU TODAY. I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO VOTE NO ON ANY PROCLAMATION. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE CITY COUNSEL FOR TAKING THE TIME TO MEET WITH THE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE JEWISH COMMUNITY AND ADJUSTING THE WORDING TO THE ORIGINAL PROCLAMATION. WE ARE STILL OBJECTING TO ANY PROCLAMATION. THERE IS, THERE IS NO DEMAND FROM HAMAS TO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS, NOR THE FACT THAT HAMAS OBJECTS TO HAMAS' OBJECTIVE IS TO THE TOTAL ALIENATION OF ISRAEL AND ALL JEWS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. DURING THE PREVIOUS, PREVIOUS CEASEFIRE, HAMAS BROKE IT AT LEAST 34 TIMES, BREAKING INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAWS AND SHOOTING ROCKETS INTO ISRAEL. A CEASEFIRE ONLY ALLOWS HAMAS TO RE-ARM AND REGROUP, ENABLING THEM TO CONTINUE THE REIGN OF TERROR. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 130 HOSTAGES, INCLUDING NINE CITIZENS, UNITED STATES CITIZENS THAT ARE STILL BEING HELD BY HAMAS. AN UNCONDITIONAL CEASEFIRE WILL DO NOTHING TO ENSURE THAT THE HOSTAGES WILL BE RETURNED. IN YOUR PROCLAMATION, YOU INDICATE THAT SANTA ANA PASSED A RESOLUTION WHEN IN FACT THEY DID NOT. I ASK YOU TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF SANTA ANA AND UNDERSTAND THAT ALL PROCLAMATIONS, ALL THE PROCLAMATION WOULD DO, IS TO PROVIDE OUR COMMUNITY AND CREATE MORE DIVISIVENESS IN THE COMMUNITY. MA'AM, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. NEXT IS, UH, DEBBIE AND THEN CAROL. HI. PLEASE DON'T START MY TIME YET. I JUST HAVE TO SAY I WAS EXPECTING 90 SECONDS AND I HAD IT TO A MINUTE AND 22, SO I HAD TO CROSS STUFF OUT. SO I WILL TRY TO DO IN 60 SECONDS. THANK YOU. BUT MY NAME IS DEBBIE BAAL. WE HAVE A LOCAL BUSINESS HERE. UH, WE'VE BEEN HERE FOR DECADES. I BUILT OUR HOUSE HERE. MY HUSBAND DID MOST OF THE ELECTRICAL AROUND HERE. I WANNA THANK YOU AND LET YOU KNOW, I APPRECIATE ALL THE TIME THAT YOU ALL HAVE SPENT ON THIS ISSUE, BUT MY BIG QUESTION IS WHY DO WE EVEN HAVE TO DO A PROCLAMATION? THE ISSUE RIGHT NOW IS, IS SO FAR REMOVED, AND I HAVE TO GUESS THAT MOST, IF NOT ALL OF YOU REALLY DON'T KNOW THE WHOLE HISTORICAL, UM, MAKEUP OF WHAT'S HAPPENED OVER IN THE MIDDLE EAST. AND, UM, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE NOT GONNA APPEASE EVERYBODY. SO WHAT'S THE POINT OF DOING THIS? WHEN WE VOTE YOU INTO OFFICE, WE CHOOSE YOU BECAUSE WE PUT OUR TRUST IN YOU THAT YOU'RE GONNA BE OUR VOICE IN LONG BEACH FOR LONG BEACH, NOT SPENDING TIME ON GLOBAL ISSUES. AND, UM, I I LIKE TO ASK THAT WE STAY FOCUSED ON WHAT WE NEED TO DO IN LONG BEACH TO IMPROVE OUR CITY AND THE PEOPLE IN OUR CITY. I PROPOSE YOU DROP THE ISSUE OF A PROCLAMATION ALTOGETHER AND FOCUS ON WHAT WE ELECTED YOU ALL TO DO OUR NEXT ELECTION. WE'LL MAKE SURE WE CHOOSE PEOPLE WHO DON'T GET DISTRACTED BY THE LOUD NOISE WITH FALSE INFORMATION, UM, LIKE THE OCCUPATION IN ISRAEL THAT, UM, ALL FOLKS RESPECT EVERYONE. 2000. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SO JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR, OUR CITY CLERK HELPS MANAGE THE TIME. I APPRECIATE IT. WE GOT IT. WE'RE GONNA IT. WE GOT IT. OKAY. NEXT IS DEBBIE, OR WAS THAT DEBBIE? THAT WAS DEBBIE. OKAY, I'M CAROL. NEXT IS CAROL, THEN DAVID, THEN RABBI NEWMAN. DAVID IS OUT. HE COULDN'T GET IN AND HE LEFT. OKAY, SO LET'S GO. CAROL. CAROL JONES, UM, THIRD DISTRICT, RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER. UM, THE ATTACK ON OCTOBER 7TH ON UNSUSPECTING, UNSUSPECTING ISRAELIS WAS NOT ONLY HORRIFIC, BUT IT WAS UNPROVOKED BY HAMAS TERRORISTS WHO SEEK AN END TO ISRAEL AND TO JEWS WORLDWIDE. HAMAS' FIGHT IS NOT JUST TERRITORIAL. IT IS A CALL FOR A NEW HOLOCAUST AGAINST JEWS. ISRAEL NOT ONLY HAS THE RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST THIS TERROR, IT HAS AN OBLIGATION AND A DUTY TO DO SO, AN OBLIGATION TO ITS PEOPLE, TO ITS COUNTRY AND TO THE WORLD. TO NOT LET TERRORISTS WIN THIS DUTY IS THE SAME AS THE DUTY THE US HAD TO DEFEND ITSELF AFTER NINE 11 AND AFTER PEARL HARBOR. WE NEED TO BE CLEAR. HAMAS ARE TERRORISTS. THEY DON'T VALUE ANY LIVES. CERTAINLY NOT THOSE OF ISRAELIS OR JEWS, BUT NOT OF PALESTINIANS EITHER NOR THEIR OWN. HAMAS IS INCAPABLE OF HEARING REASON. THEY DON'T NEGOTIATE. THEY DON'T RESPECT HUMAN [01:10:01] LIFE. THEY DON'T RESPECT HUMAN RIGHTS, AND THEY CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO HONOR A CEASEFIRE. THE CITY SHOULD FOCUS ON MATTERS RELATED TO OUR OWN AND NOT ENGAGE IN BUSINESS THAT INVITES AND INCITES DIVISION. NEXT SPEAKER IS RABBI NEWMAN, AFTER RABBI NEWTON NEWMAN, AS HE MAKES HIS WAY. I'LL READ THE NEXT 10. IT'S CARLOS VAL KATHERINE MCDERMOTT, RABBI PERMA PERLMUTTER, UM, BIANCA EMAN, MARK ROSEN, TAR MUHAMMAD SHAYLEE SUFFERING. ALYSSA GUTIERREZ AND NIGEL SAVAGE. THOSE ARE THE NEXT 20. OKAY. RABBI, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. YES, THANK YOU. HONOR ROLL OF THE CITY COUNCIL. UH, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY FOR, UH, ALLOWING ME TO SPEAK. I'VE BEEN IN THE CITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, FOR 50 YEARS. I, I'M A CHAPLAIN IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I'M RABBI IN THE SYNAGOGUE. I'M A PRINCIPAL IN THE SCHOOL. AND, UH, I'M HERE TO SPEAK ALL THE ISSUE WITH HAND AND I, I APPRECIATE, FIRST WANNA SAY I APPRECIATE THE CITY COUNCIL FOR WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, BUT, UH, AT THE SAME TIME, I DON'T THINK THAT WE NEED A, A RESOLUTION THAT IS DIVISIVE IN NATURE. UNFORTUNATE THAT ON SIM TORAH, ON THE JEWISH HOLIDAY, UM, THE GAZA WAR STARTED. IT WAS THE MIDDLE OF THE HOLIDAY. AND REMEMBER THAT, UH, IT WAS STARTED BY HAMAS, BY MA, BY THROUGH A MASSACRE AND, UH, AND TAKING OF HOSTAGES. NOW EVERYBODY WANTS THE WAR TO END, TO HAVE A CEASEFIRE, BUT NOBODY WANT, AND NOBODY WANTS THE LOSS OF LIFE FOR ANY CIVILIANS. AND WE WANT HUMANITARIAN HUMANITARIAN AID. UH, GOOD PEOPLE SHOULD NOT SUFFER. WE WANT LIVE IN PEACE. WANT THE BEST FOR ITS CITIZEN. ALL PEOPLE PERPETRATOR THOUGH, THE TERRIBLE MASSACRE CANNOT BE IN POWER, NATURE AND VOTE. SIR, YOU'RE TIME. ALL RIGHT FOLKS. THANK YOU. SO I'M GONNA SAY, I'M GONNA SAY IT AGAIN. WE'RE WATCHING THE CLOCK. WE TYPICALLY LET PEOPLE FINISH THEIR SENTENCE, THEY'RE ON, AND THEN THE CLERK INTERVENES. THERE IS A PROCESS WE'VE TALKED THROUGH. UM, FINISH THE STATEMENT. MAY I A FEW MORE SECONDS, JUST PLEASE CONCLUDE. OKAY. UM, I, THE ORDER SHOULD BE TRANSPOSED IN THE PROCLAMATION IF WE'RE GONNA TAKE IT. THE FIRST SHOULD BE AT THE RETURN OF HOSTAGES AND THEN THE CEASEFIRE. THANK YOU. MORE IMPORTANT IN OUR COMMUNITY, IN PEACE AND HARMONY. YESTERDAY WE HAD, WE HAD A, OUR BUILDING IN LONG BEACH YESTERDAY. I UNDERSTAND. THANK YOU. OPINIONS. THANK YOU. LIVE IN HARMONY. THANK YOU, SIR. YOUR TIME. CONCLUDE. PEACE IN OUR COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS CARLOS VALIER AND THEN CATHERINE MCDERMOTT. I AM DISHEARTENED BY THE PROPOSED PROCLAMATION. IT READS LIKE A HALLMARK. THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS CLICHE. UM, DO YOU GUYS REALIZE THAT HISTORY DIDN'T BEGIN ON OCTOBER 7TH? IT BEGAN MORE THAN 75 YEARS PRIOR WHEN A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF THE POPULATION OF GAZA WAS HERDED INTO A FIVE BY 25 MILE OPEN AIR PRISON FROM OTHER PARTS OF PALESTINE. IN THE PROPOSED PROCLAMATION, YOU CONDEMN HAMAS' ATTACKS ON ISRAEL, BUT YOU FAIL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE ATTACK ITSELF WAS A RESULT OF THE OPPRESSION UNDER, UM, BY, UH, PALESTINIANS UNDER ISRAEL FOR THE LAST 75 YEARS. HE CLAIMED THAT ISRAEL HAS A RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF, BUT PURPOSELY IGNORE THAT. IF ISRAELIS HAVE THAT RIGHT, WHY NOT? PALESTINIANS DIDN'T YOU START BY SAYING THAT THE CITY COUNCIL RECOGNIZES THAT PALESTINIAN LIVES AND ISRAELI LIVES HAVE THE SAME VALUE? YOU ALSO FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT IN INTERNATIONAL LAW, A STATE HAS A RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST AGGRESSION BY ANOTHER STATE. FOR EXAMPLE, VIETNAM HAD A RIGHT TO DEFEND ITSELF AGAINST US, UM, AND MANY OTHER COUNTRIES TIMES CONCLUDED. UM, THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS CATHERINE. AFTER CATHERINE IS RABBI, RABBI ADA. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR, MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY STAFF. MY NAME IS CATHERINE MCDERMOTT AND I'M A LONG BEACH RESIDENT. I APPRECIATE THE MAYOR'S WORDS ABOUT COMING TOGETHER TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY WORK TOWARD PEACE AND RESPECT. I APPRECIATE THE THOUGHTFUL PROCESS THAT WENT INTO CRAFTING THE PROCLAMATION. HOWEVER, I SUPPORT JEWISH LONG BEACH'S POSITION THAT IS A MEMBER OF THE JEWISH LONG BEACH JEWISH COMMUNITY. I CANNOT ENDORSE IT BECAUSE IT LACKS CONDEMNATION OF HAMAS AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. THE CEASEFIRE IS NOT CONDITIONED UPON THE RELEASE OF THE JEWISH HOSTAGES ALIVE OR DEAD, AND IT DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE HAMAS' COMMITMENT TO THE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF ISRAEL. THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR, FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC EDUCATION, ENGAGEMENT, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION. THANK YOU. NEXT IS RABBI PERMUT. OKAY, NEXT IS BIANCA. HELLO EVERYONE. MY NAME IS BI AM A RESIDENT AND HOMEOWNER OF LONG BEACH AND I LOVE THIS CITY. I AM AN INDIGENOUS WOMAN [01:15:01] AND EDUCATOR. FOR FOREMOST, I AM A MOTHER. I SEE MY CHILDREN IN THE PALESTINIAN CHILDREN AND I'M HORRIFIED, HEARTBROKEN, AND DISGUSTED BY THE STATE OF ISRAEL FOR COMMITTING GENOCIDE AND WAR CRIME AFTER WAR CRIME. THE IDF SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION FOR BULLDOZING SICK PEOPLE IN TENTS FOR SHOOTING BABIES AND WOMEN. POINT BLANK FOR DEPRIVING THE PALESTINIAN POPULATION OF ESSENTIAL THINGS LIKE FOOD AND WATER. WE SPEAK ABOUT ISRAELI HOSTAGES, BUT WE FAIL TO RECOGNIZE THAT THERE ARE OVER THOUSANDS, ABOUT THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS THREE WHO HAVE BEEN TRIED IN MILITARY COURTS WHO HAVE BEEN TAKEN HOSTAGES BY THE IOF. WE HAVE BEEN WITNESSING THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. WE ARE TIRED. THIS IS HAPPENING. WHAT HAS BEEN HAPPENING AND PALESTINE HAS HAPPENED HERE IN THE US AND WE NEED THIS TO STOP. HE'S FIRE NOW. THANK YOU. NEXT IS IMAN. IMAN. AFTER IMAN IS MARK ROSEN. IMAN. E-M-E-M-A-N. THAT'S WHAT I HAVE. YEAH. OKAY, THANK YOU. OVER 8,000 CHILDREN KILLED IN GAZA. OVER 7,000 WOMEN KILLED IN GAZA. THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIAN HELD HOSTAGE IN ISRAELI PRISONS. A LOT OF WHOM ARE CHILDREN UNDER ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION WITH NO CRIME OR TRIAL. OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE IN GAZA ARE LIVING IN OPEN AIR PRISON OR A BETTER DESCRIPTION, CONCENTRATION CAMP WHO WITH NO AIRPORT AND SEALED BORDERS. IF CIVILIANS ARE NOT KILLED FROM BOMBS, BARBARIC ATTACKS, OR UNDER THE RUBBLE, THEY ARE DYING FROM STARVATION. THIS IS A HUMANITARIAN ISSUE. EVEN IN THE WEST BANK. PALESTINIANS ARE DISCRIMINATED AGAINST FOR DECADES WITH CHECKPOINTS AND ILLEGAL SETTLEMENTS. AS A PALESTINIAN WOMAN WHO LIVED UNDER THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION, YOU WILL NOT UNDERSTAND APARTHEID UNTIL YOU HAVE LIVED THROUGH IT OR EXPERIENCED IT. WE JUST WANT BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. WE WANT TO STOP THE KILLINGS OF CIVILIANS. WE WANT PEACE. WE WANT AS CEASES. FIRE FREE. PALESTINE CEASES. FIRE. AND NOW THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS MARK ROSEN. AFTER MARK ROSEN IS TAREK MOHAMMED. HELLO. I SPEAK TO YOU AS A PROFESSOR AT A UNIVERSITY WHO HAS A MASTER'S IN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY AND INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT. ISRAEL LEFT GAZA IN 2005. 25,000 JEWS FORCEFULLY TAKEN AWAY BY ISRAEL, BY THE POLICE. AS AN EXPERIMENT IN PEACE, THE EXPERIMENT FAILED. IT BECAME A BASTION OF TERRORISM. THE PROCLAMATION, I URGE YOU MUST CONTAIN CONDEMNATION OF KAMAS. IS THERE ANY REASON ON EARTH NOT TO HAVE THAT IN THE PROCLAMATION? ON OCTOBER 7TH, THE MASSACRE WAS EQUIVALENT TO OVER 51,000 AMERICANS PER CAPITA. 17,900 ELEVENS. AND NINE 11 EVERY MONTH FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. HAMAS DIDN'T JUST GANG RAPE P PEOPLE, THEY SHOT THEM IN THE LEGS, SHOT THEM IN THE VAGINA, THE LEGS SO THEY COULDN'T MOVE IN THE VAGINA, LOCKED THEIR BREASTS OFF AND THEN GANG GREAT THEM IN FRONT OF THEIR HUSBANDS AND CHILDREN. TERRORISTS NEVER LIE. THEY WILL COME BACK AS THEY DID ON NINE 11. THEY PROMISE TO COME BACK. PLEASE, I URGE YOU, CONDEMN HAMAS. THE REST OF IT IS BOO TO ME. THANK YOU. NEXT IS TALK MOHAMMED, UPON ALL OF YOU, SHALOM, ALL OF YOU. THANK YOU FOR THE EFFORT, THE GREAT EFFORT THE CITY COUNCIL AND AND AND THE MAYOR DOING FOR THE REATION LETTER. I WANT TO TELL THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A LOT THAT THE CEASE FIRE IS A WRONG WAY. TELL ME, DO WE HAVE TO FIGHT EACH OTHER AND KEEP FIGHTING AND TALK ABOUT PEACE OR SIT DOWN AND LEARN EVERYTHING AND TALK ABOUT PEACE? SO THE LETTER IS SO IMPORTANT TO ENFORCE IT AND, AND, AND SUPPORT IT. ALSO, YOU'RE GONNA HEAR TONIGHT A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HAMAS, LIKE THE PROBLEM. START WITH HAMAS. HAMAS, DEAR BROTHERS, START IN 19 IN, IN LATE 90. IN, IN, IN, IN BEGINNING OF 90. WHAT ABOUT 40 YEARS OF OCCUPATIONS OF ISRAEL BEFORE THAT YOU REMEMBER FIRST IN FATHER AND SECOND IN THE FATHER. AND YOU HAVE TONS OF RULES OF, OF BILLS FROM UNITED NATION ARE RECOGNIZED. ISRAEL, UH, PALESTINE, RIGHT? AND ISRAEL DOESN'T WANNA THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. CEASE FIRE NOW. THANK YOU. AND SIGN LETTER. THANK YOU. NEXT IS SHALE SING. C-H-A-Y-A-L-E-A-H. HI. I TRY MY BEST. IT'S OKAY. THANK YOU. I'M CHALE SING. I'M THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BEACH HILLEL. I RUN JEWISH STUDENT LIFE AT CAL STATE LONG BEACH. AND I'M JUST NOT GONNA TAKE A LOT OF YOUR TIME. I JUST WANNA REALLY ENCOURAGE YOU. YOU'RE GONNA HEAR A LOT OF THINGS TONIGHT. GO TO ISRAEL, STEVE, FOR YOURSELF. OKAY. [01:20:01] FACTS ARE FACTS ON THE GROUND. GO VISIT, TALK TO PEOPLE, GO TO THE WEST BANK, GO TALK TO PEOPLE IN RAMALLAH. GO TALK ON THE STREET, FIND OUT, TALK TO PEOPLE HERE IN LONG BEACH. COME TALK TO OUR JEWISH STUDENTS WHO'VE BEEN DEALING WITH THINGS FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS AT OUR CAMPUS THAT ARE REALLY PAINFUL. HAVE YOU HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE STUDENTS ON CAMPUS? HAVE YOU ASKED THEM? THE JEWISH COMMUNITY, THE JEWISH FACULTY, ASK THE ARAB STUDENTS ON CAMPUS HOW THEY'RE DOING. TALK TO PEOPLE. THAT'S WHAT I ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO. I I REALLY, I DON'T UNDERSTAND THIS. I DON'T, I I COULD SIT HERE ALL DAY. WE COULD TALK ABOUT HISTORY AND DATES AND TIMES AND PLACES. I JUST GOT BACK FROM ISRAEL YESTERDAY. GO SEE FOR YOURSELF. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ALYSSA GUTIERREZ. AFTER ALYSSA. I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT 10 ALL IF I CAN HAVE THE ATTENTION. I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT 10. WE HAVE ALYSSA GUTIERREZ AND THEN NIGEL SAVAGE. WE HAVE PETE, PETER, LEE LEVI, WE HAVE DON Y'ALL. HEY CLARI, WE HAVE LAURA CLA, WE HAVE LEE RICE EPSTEIN, WE HAVE NIDA TUSHNET, WE HAVE JOAQUIN BELTRAN, WE HAVE YETA KANE, WE HAVE PEEWEE HERMAN, WE HAVE SSD CHANDLER, AND WE HAVE, UH, PAMELA REESE. SO IF THEY COULD BEGIN TO FORM ALYSSA, YOU HAVE A FLOOR. OKAY. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL. UM, I'M A SECOND DISTRICT RESIDENT AND COMMISSIONER ON THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION. ON BEHALF OF THE COMMISSION, I WANNA THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING IN THIS IMPORTANT DISCUSSION. AS YOU KNOW, THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF, WE'VE HAD THREE DIFFERENT COMMISSION MEETINGS ADDRESSING THIS VERY TOPIC AND THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION STANDS FIRM AND OUR VALUES OF EQUITY, JUSTICE, AND HUMAN RELATIONS, A COMMITMENT TO EQUITY CALLS ON US TO CENTER THE VOICES AND EXPERIENCES OF THOSE MOST NEGATIVELY IMPACTED, WHILE HUMAN RELATIONS ASKS US TO CENTER HUMANITY AND WORK TO BRING HEALING THROUGH DIALOGUES THAT FOSTER UNDERSTANDING, I RECOGNIZE HOW HARD THIS TOPIC IS FOR SO MANY IN OUR COMMUNITY, DIVIDED ABOUT WHAT IS TRUE, WHAT IS JUST, WHERE DID IT START, WHO'S TO BLAME? AND WHILE CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING TONIGHT, I ASK YOU TO MERELY STAND IN WHAT IT MEANS TO BE HUMAN. I CALL ON YOU TONIGHT TO STEP INTO YOUR HUMANITY GROUNDED IN LOVE AND EMPATHY, AND REJECT THE PRESSURES TO STAND ON THE SIDE OF WAR AND PAIN AND DEVASTATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS NIGEL. NIGEL, IS THAT YOU PLEASE? UM, HI. I AM NIGEL SAVAGE. I LIVE IN JERUSALEM AND ISRAEL. I'M VISITING MY SISTER WHO'S LIVED IN LONG BEACH FOR 30 YEARS. I WANNA SPEAK TONIGHT FOR 2 23 YEAR OLDS, AWA DHE AND HIRSH POLAND. ARD IS 23 PALESTINIAN, MUSLIM AND ISRAELI CITIZEN. HE WAS MURDERED BY HAMAS ON OCTOBER THE SEVENTH, WHEN AS A PARAMEDIC HE DROVE INTO THE NOVA FESTIVAL TO SAVE PEOPLE'S LIVES AND WAS KILLED. HIRSCH WAS THERE AT THE FESTIVAL, HID IN A BOMB SHELTER, TERRORISTS THROUGH HAND GRENADES, AND MURDERED MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN THE SHELTER. AND HE HAD HIS ARM BLOWN OFF AND IS IN GAZA RIGHT NOW. THERE ARE VERY, VERY FEW PEOPLE IN ISRAEL OR IN THE JEWISH COMMUNITY WHO DON'T WANT TO CEASE FIRE. BUT WHAT THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL DO WANT AND NEED IS TO BE ABLE TO LIVE IN PEACE AND SECURITY. AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF EVERY PALESTINIAN LIFE IN GAZA UNTIL NOW ARE THE HAMAS PEOPLE WHO DID THIS. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS PETER LEVI, YOU DROPPED YOUR FLAG ON THE FLOOR. PETER LEVI? YES. ALRIGHT, IT'S PETER LEVI'S TERM. SO I WANT TO START OFF, EXCUSE ME, IT'S PETER LEVI IS UP. ARE YOU PETER LEVI? I AM NOT. OKAY, SIR, I WILL CALL YOUR NAME, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH, MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. I'M PETER LEVY. I'M THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE, A DL HERE IN LONG BEACH. UH, AND FOR THE, ONE OF THE FIRST TIMES, UH, THE WHOLE JEWISH COMMUNITY, ORGANIZED JEWISH COMMUNITY, NOT NECESSARILY EVERY JEWISH INDIVIDUAL, BUT THE WHOLE COMMUNITY REALLY COMES TOGETHER THAT WE CANNOT SUPPORT THIS PROCLAMATION AS STATED FOR THE SIMPLE TERMS THAT YOU'VE HEARD. THAT IT DOESN'T TAKE THE SIMPLE STEP OF CONDEMNING HAMAS, CONDEMNING HAMAS AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. UH, AND IT'S ONE SIDED IN THE SENSE THAT IT, WHILE IT CERTAINLY RECOGNIZES THE WELL-DESERVED HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THAT'S GOING ON, UH, THE THE ATTENTION TO THE WELL TO THE CRISIS OF HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA, IT ALSO FAILS TO RECOGNIZE THE, UH, ONGOING SECURITY NEEDS FOR ISRAEL AND THE VULNERABILITIES AND THE NEED THAT ISRAEL HAS TO TAKE TO PROTECT ITS OWN CITIZENS. UH, AND, UH, UNFORTUNATELY, PROCLAMATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING TO PROVIDE COMFORT FOR THE COMMUNITY AND HEALING. SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REJECT THIS ONE, WHICH ALSO FAILS IN THAT ASPECT. SIR, YOUR TIME CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT IS [01:25:01] DON Y HEY, CLARY. AFTER DON, Y'ALL IS LAURA ICK AND THEN LE STEIN. GOOD EVENING MAYOR. CITY COUNCIL, CITY STAFF. UH, MY NAME IS DONAL. HE, AND I'M A RESIDENT OF THE SECOND DISTRICT, ACTUALLY A RENTER. I'VE HEARD A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT THEY'RE HOMEOWNERS. UM, AND I AM HERE IN STRONG SUPPORT OF A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION. UM, I THINK THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. HOLDING A WHITE SUPREMACIST RACIST RIGHT WING, PRO GENOCIDE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE IS NOT ANTISEMITIC. IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO. NETANYAHU IS WORSE THAN TRUMP, AND IT'S BEYOND TIME TO HOLD THIS GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE. LET ME JUST READ YOU SOME RHETORIC COMING OUT OF THE NETANYAHU ADMINISTRATION FROM THE DEFENSE MINISTER. WE ARE FIGHTING HUMAN ANIMALS AND WE ARE ACTING ACCORDINGLY. THAT IS THE DEFINITION OF DEHUMANIZATION AND RACISM. YOU MUST REMEMBER WHAT AMALEK HAS DONE TO YOU, SAYS, OUR HOLY BIBLE. AND WE REMEMBER SAID, PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN N WHO REFERRING TO THE ANCIENT ENEMY OF THE ISRAELITES IN SCRIPTURE, INTERPRETED BY SCHOLARS AS A CALL TO EXTERMINATE MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. UM, ON OCTOBER 6TH, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER NETANYAHU SAID, THIS IS A STRUGGLE BETWEEN CHILDREN OF LIGHT AND CHILDREN OF DARKNESS. THANK YOU. BETWEEN HUMANITY AND THE LAW OF THE JUNGLE, THAT IS RACISM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS LAURA. LAURA CLADD, AFTER LAURA AS LE RICE EPSTEIN, AND THEN NATIVE NIK. IF WE THINK WAR BOMBING AND MURDER IS SELF-DEFENSE AND ARE NOT OPEN TO LOOKING FOR PEACEFUL SOLUTIONS, THEN WE ARE TRULY MYOPIC, INSULAR, AND UN UNINTERESTED IN THE UNIVERSAL VALUE OF HUMAN LIFE. THE WHOLE ZIONIST MOVEMENT, REEKS OF US VERSUS THEM MENTALITY, INSULARITY, SELF-INTEREST, AND A LACK OF COMPASSION. AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS WAR IS SEEN AS THE GREAT SHAME, GENOCIDE AND MORAL FAILING, THAT IT IS JUST LIKE THE WAR IN IRAQ. IF WE CONDEMN THE ACTS OF HAMAS, THEN WE HAVE TO CONDEMN THE BRUTALITY, OPPRESSION, AND COLONIAL FORCES APPLIED ON THE OTHER SIDE. THE TRUTH WILL ALWAYS, EVENTUALLY RISE ABOVE HUMAN DETERMINATION TO CLOUD IT, TO TURN AWAY FROM IT, AND TO DENY IT FURTHER. KILLING AND GENOCIDE IS A MORAL RED LINE. IT CAN'T BE JUSTIFIED BY ANYONE WHO EMBRACES THEIR HUMANITY, AND IT MUST END CEASEFIRE NOW. THANK YOU. NEXT IS LEE RICE EPSTEIN. UH, UM, UH, GOOD EVENING, UH, MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS. UM, MY NAME IS, UH, LEE RICE EPSTEIN. I'M, I'M JUST GOING TO SAY I, I DON'T HAVE LIKE A TON OF CLEAR THOUGHTS. UM, I, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND, AND I, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU, ANY OF YOU DO. IT IS TERRIFYING TO BE HERE. UM, ANTISEMITISM HAS BEEN RISING SINCE BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH. DID NOT BEGIN ON OCTOBER 7TH. TEMPLES IN LONG BEACH AND LOS ANGELES AND IN ORANGE COUNTY RECEIVED BOMB THREATS. MY CHILDREN HAVE BEEN SHOUTED AT FROM STRANGERS IN CARS. THIS PROCLAMATION WILL NOT END THE DIVISIVENESS, AS YOU CAN SEE HERE TONIGHT. THERE IS JUST RAW DIVISION AND I, I, I JUST DON'T THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT PATH TO A SOLUTION. I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO GO BACK AND HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS WITH THE, WITH THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS NATA TISH, THEN JOA. I'M GONNA READ, UH, THE NEXT FEW. JUST A MOMENT. NATA, UH, JOAQUIN BELTRAN, YETTA KAIN, PEEWEE HERMAN, UH, SSD, CHANDLER, PAMELA REESE, DENNIS, COURT, COURT VIEWER. NAIDA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. OKAY. FIRST, I WANNA THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, RICHARDSON, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS AUSTIN, RICK SODI AND ANG FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD, A PROCLAMATION FORWARD. AS THE MAYOR SAID, WE HAVE ONE LIFE. EVERYTHING AROUND US AFFECTS US. I AM A JEW AND I FIND THE DEATH, DESTRUCTION, AND DISPLACEMENT IN GAZA INTOLERABLE THE SUFFERING OF JEWS OVER THE CENTURIES HAS BRED IN MANY OF US A SENSITIVITY TO THE SUFFERING OF OTHERS IN THE JEWISH TRADITION IN WHICH I WAS RAISED, WHEN WE SAID NEVER AGAIN, WE MEANT NEVER AGAIN FOR ANYONE. SO PLEASE PASS A STRONG PROCLAMATION AND STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY WITH THE UN AND ACTUALLY THE POPE AND CALL FOR A LASTING CEASEFIRE NOW. THANK YOU. NEXT IS JOAQUIN BELTRAN. IS JOAQUIN BELTRAN HERE? JOAQUIN BELTRAN. ONE MORE TIME. OKAY, NEXT. JOAQUIN IS JOAQUIN. PLEASE COME FORWARD AFTER JOAQUIN IS YADA KANE. HELLO, MY NAME IS JOAQUIN TRAN. I'M RUNNING FOR [01:30:01] CONGRESS TO REPRESENT LONG BEACH AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS. TODAY I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR PALESTINIAN SIBLINGS AND EVERYONE OF EVERY NATIONALITY AND FAITH CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE OF THIS US BACK ISRAELI GENOCIDE AGAINST THE INDIGENOUS PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. I JOINED IN SOLIDARITY WITH WORKERS IN LONG BEACH, DEMANDING THAT WATER, ELECTRICITY, FUEL, AND AID FLOW FREELY INTO GAZA. I'M CALLING ON CONGRESSMAN GARCIA TO STOP PLAYING GAMES WITH PALESTINIAN LIVE WITH BIG PR STATEMENTS. SIGN ON TO CONGRESSWOMAN BUSH'S CEASES FIRE BILL AUTHORED OVER TWO MONTHS AGO. WE DON'T NEED TO WAIT FOR HISTORY TO KNOW THIS GENOCIDE IS WRONG. OVER 20,000 MURDERED BY US WEAPONS, HALF OF THEM CHILDREN, OVER A HUNDRED US WORKERS, ALMOST A HUNDRED JOURNALISTS, AND THE GENOCIDE AND THE OCCUPATION AND APARTHEID FREE POWER LINE. THANK YOU. NEXT IS YETTA. KAIN IS YETTA. THANK YOU MAYOR. COUNCIL MEMBERS, I'M YARA KAIN. I'M A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR AND FOR ME IT'S THE SECOND TIME AROUND. I WENT THROUGH HELL ONCE. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME. WHEN YOU SEE CHILDREN BEING BURNED AND KILLED AND WOMEN BEING RAPED AND THEIR TRAGEDY COMMAND TO THAT THEY COMMITTED AGAINST HUMANITY IS BEYOND EXPRESSION. WE'RE ALL GOT CHILDREN, WE'RE ALL CREATED. HIS IMAGE, WE ALL DESERVE THE SAME RIGHTS. WHEN THEY SAVED FROM THE OCEAN TO THE SEA. THAT MEANS TO ANNIHILATE THE WHOLE JEWISH PEOPLE. WE WERE THERE BEFORE THEY WERE. JESUS WAS BORN IN ISRAEL AND YET THEY SAY, ISRAEL, PLEASE FOLKS, LET'S RESPECT EVERYONE'S COMMENT. I'M SORRY, YETTA, PLEASE CONTINUE. AND YET THEY SAY, JEWS DON'T BELONG. THERE WASN'T JESUS JEWISH. HE WAS BORN THERE BEFORE ANY OF THEM CAME HERE. PLEASE HELP THOSE PEOPLE TO BE SENT HOME TO THEIR FAMILIES. THE HOSTAGES. ISRAEL DID NOT START THE FIGHT. THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO ARE THERE. THEY BELONG THERE. THAT'S THEIR HOME. BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE THE ONLY LIGHT IN THE NATION, THEY'RE THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT AT THE DEMOCRACY. HEY FOLKS, SHE WAS INTERRUPTED IT, SET HER OFF TRACK. IF WE LET HER FINISH HER STATEMENT, THAT'S ONLY FAIR. SO PLEASE LET HER FINISH AND WE'RE GONNA SHOW EVERYBODY THE SAME RESPECT. PLEASE FINISH. I THANK YOU VERY MUCH. GOD BLESS EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU. HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY. AND REMEMBER, KEEP EVERYBODY SAFE. THE PALESTINIANS AND THE JEWISH PEOPLE DESERVE THE SAME. THE HAMA ARE THE ONES WHO OPPRESS THE PALESTINIANS. THANK YOU. I THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH. ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT IS WEE HERMAN IS KI WEE HERMAN HERE. THAT'S THE NAME ON THE LIST. PEEWEE HERMAN. PEEWEE HERMAN. ALL RIGHT. PEEWEE HERMAN IS A SCRATCH. ARE YOU PEEWEE HERMAN? YES. ALL RIGHT. MY NAME IS DR. PENNY HERMAN. I'M A LEADER IN PART OF THE NEWER ORGANIZED JEWISH COMMUNITY CALLED, IF NOT NOW, AND I'VE BEEN A JEWISH COMMUNAL WORKER, UH, FOR MOST OF MY LIFE. AND AS A MATTER OF FACT, I'VE SPENT PART OF MY CAREER IN LONG BEACH AT THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTERS SUPERVISED BY JOE ETT AND IS PREDECESSOR JERRY UBIS, WHO LED THE JEWISH FEDERATION OF LONG BEACH. I THINK IN THEIR SPIRIT AND MY CONVICTION THAT I'M ASKING YOU TO VOTE YES IN ON THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION. AS A FORMER OFFICER IN THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCES, I KNOW THAT THERE IS NO MILITARY SOLUTION AND ONLY CEASEFIRE NEGOTIATIONS AND AN END TO THE 16 YEAR SIEGE WILL B BRING THE BEGINNING OF PEACE. CEASEFIRE NOW. THANK YOU. UH, NEXT IS SSB CHANDLER SB. AND FOLKS, I WANT ENCOURAGE, I, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF CLAP, BUT I FOLKS CAN'T HEAR THEIR NAME. I'M GONNA SAY THEIR NAME RIGHT AFTER, AND I KNOW IT GETS NOISY, BUT I'M GONNA SAY IT. UH, SO IF WE CAN TRY TO LIMIT THAT SO PEOPLE CAN HEAR, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. SD, YOU'RE UP. JEWISH VOICE FOR PEACE. ACTION. THIS POPULATION IS HEARTENING AS WE WATCH THIS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS UNFOLDING BEFORE OUR EYES. AS THE UN HAS WARNED, CIVILIANS THROUGHOUT GAZA ARE IN GRAVE DANGER AND BEGINNING TO DIE OF STARVATION AND EXPOSURE IN A CATASTROPHE INTENTIONALLY CAUSED BY THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY FORCES HAVING ORDERED WATER, POWER, FOOD, AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES HALTED FROM GOING INTO GAZA. FOR OVER TWO MONTHS NOW, HUMANITARIAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE CLEAR THAT THE BOMBING CAMPAIGNS AND CUTTING OFF OF SUSTENANCE ARE COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT AND WAR CRIMES. MANY LONG BEACH RESIDENTS HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS IN PALESTINE AND ARE IMPACTED BY THE ONGOING GENOCIDE TAKING PLACE. [01:35:01] IN ADDITION TO THE ANTI PALESTINIAN RHETORIC, THEY ARE ENDURING HERE LOCALLY. AS JEWS, WE KNOW THIS DEHUMANIZING LANGUAGE IS INTENDED TO DESENSITIZE THE PUBLIC TO THE MASS SLAUGHTER. WE ARE ALL WITNESSING. WE MUST SPEAK OUT AND REFUSE TO BE COMPLICIT IN THIS HORRIFIC VIOLENCE AND OPPRESSION. AS JEWS, WE SAY, NOT IN OUR NAMES, AS THE CRY FOR NEVER AGAIN INCLUDES ALL PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. WE URGE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF ITEM 15, CALLING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AND GAZA IN SOLIDARITY WITH A PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING. THANK YOU. NOW, BEFORE WE DO THE NEXT, UH, THANK YOU. THAT WAS, THAT WAS, UH, ESTEE, AND THE NEXT IS PAMELA. BUT PAMELA, BEFORE YOU GO, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT 10 NAMES. I ALSO WANNA ENCOURAGE FOLKS, UH, IF THERE ARE ADDITIONAL PEOPLE WANT TO COME IN AND SIGN UP, AND IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF A PROCESS. WE HAVE, WE'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS. WE'RE AT 30, THERE'S 84 SIGNED UP, AND THERE ARE MORE ON THE WAY WE'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS. SO IF YOU CAN MAKE A ROOM, MAKE ROOM, AND MOVE TO OVERFLOW AFTER YOU SPEAK AND MAKE ROOM FOR SOMEONE ELSE, THAT WILL BE HELPFUL. UH, PAMELA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. HELLO, SEA MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS PAMELA REESE, AND I COME TO YOU THIS EVENING AS A RESIDENT OF THIS GREAT CITY, AND I ASK YOU TO PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND NOT ACCEPT A PROCLAMATION FOR CEASEFIRE. ALL A CEASEFIRE DOES IS TO ASSIST HAMAS IN THEIR PLIGHT, TO RID THE LAND OF JEWISH PEOPLE, QUOTE UNQUOTE, FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA. A COMPLETE GENOCIDE AS YOU CAN READ ON MANY SIGNS THIS EVENING AND WHEN THAT'S COMPLETE, HAMAS' GOAL IS TO RID THE WORLD OF CHRISTIANS AND INFIDELS. WE'RE NEXT. THE TERM THE SECOND HOLOCAUST HAS BEEN USED OFTEN RECENTLY, AND FOR GOOD REASON, PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING AND SPEAK UP FOR THE CITY'S CONSTITUENTS WHOSE JEWISH PROGENITORS WEREN'T, WERE NOT DEFENDED LEADING UP TO THE FIRST HOLOCAUST. PLEASE DON'T LET THE NOISE AND THREATS BLUR YOUR DECISION TO DO THE RIGHT THING. ALL WHO CAN, SHOULD RAISE THEIR VOICES IN REJECTING TERRORISM AND THE USE OF HOSTAGES AS HUMAN SHIELDS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS DENNIS EWER, UH, THEN CELESTE KTO, KELLY COOPER, MARK DRESSNER, SADIE BROWN, KENDRA COGER, UH, MAYA PONTON ARONOFF. MONIQUE R CHELSEA, MOSHER AND JOSH DEONE. SO NEXT UP, DENNIS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UH, GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TO YOU THIS EVENING. THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF IMPORTANT TRUTHS SPOKEN ALREADY THIS EVENING. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN A LOT OF MISUNDERSTANDINGS SPOKEN THIS EVENING. I'M JUST GONNA, I WON'T ADD TOO MUCH IN TERMS OF DETAILS EXCEPT TO SAY THIS, ACCORDING TO THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT, THERE ARE 30,000 SOLDIERS IN HAMAS. THEY SAY THEY ARE GONNA KILL ALL OF THEM. IF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT HAS ADMITTED THAT THE RATIO OF CIVILIANS TO HAMAS SOLDIERS KILLED IS TWO TO ONE, IF THEY'RE GONNA KILL 30,000 HAMAS SOLDIERS, THAT MEANS THEY'RE GONNA KILL ANOTHER 60,000 CIVILIANS IN GAZA. IS THIS REALLY A PRICE WE WANT TO PAY? HUMANITARIANISM IS HUMANITARIANISM. PLEASE USE YOUR HEARTS WHEN YOU VOTE THIS EVENING. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. NEXT IS CELESTE. CELESTE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. HI, GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS CELESTE. I'M A MEMBER OF LONG BEACH COMMUNITY COMPOST. HERE. WE WORK TO HEAL THE SOIL IN LONG BEACH, MUCH LIKE MANY PEOPLE HERE. I RELATE TO PALESTINIANS AND THAT MY PASSION COMES FROM MY PAIN. ONE OF MY MENTORS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS MIKE MUNOZ, WHO IS NOW THE PRESIDENT OF LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE. YOUR CITY LEADERS HAVE TAUGHT PEOPLE LIKE ME HOW TO USE PAIN AND TURN IT INTO RESILIENCE TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITIES WHEN WE GROW UP. DON'T TEAR US DOWN. CONTINUE LEADING US WITH HUMAN RIGHTS AS YOUR GUIDE. MAYOR, YOU MENTIONED IT TAKES COMMITMENT TO ACHIEVE PEACE. MANY OF US CALLING FOR CEASEFIRE ARE THE DIVERSE RESIDENTS, PUTTING THAT COMMITMENT IN. WE LEAD COMMUNITY PROJECTS TO INSTILL COLLECTIVE LOVE AND TRUST IN LONG BEACH BECAUSE WE KNOW SELLING ON FEAR LIKE MANY PEOPLE WHO SPOKE TODAY, ISN'T SUSTAINABLE AND ONLY HARMS US. REVIVE OUR HOPE FOR HUMANITY. EMPOWER YOUR RESIDENTS TO KEEP SPREADING LOVE IN LONG BEACH AND CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASE FIRE IN GAZA. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS KTO KELLY. KTO KELLY. KTO KELLY. I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT FEW LINES. YOU ALL CAN COME A LITTLE. I SAY IT'S KTO KELLY COOPER. MAYBE IT WAS SPELLED WRONG ON MY LIST. HI, I'M CANTOR KELLY COOPER. GOOD EVENING, MAYOR RICHARDSON AND THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL. I AM ONE OF THE CLERGY, THE CANTOR FOR TEMPLE ISRAEL OF LONG BEACH. THE SITUATION IN ISRAEL AND GAZA IS HEARTBREAKING. HOWEVER, THIS PROCLAMATION [01:40:01] DOES NOTHING BUT DIVIDE THIS COMMUNITY. AS YOU CAN SEE TODAY, WE ARE NOT HEARING RESOLUTIONS ABOUT OTHER HORRIFIC ATROCITIES THAT ARE HAPPENING ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD. I STAND WITH ISRAEL AND I STAND WITH THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING. I WAS IN ISRAEL LAST YEAR, AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL AND THE LAND HAS MUCH HISTORY AS WELL AS MANY CHALLENGES. THERE ARE MANY CONVERSATIONS THAT NEED TO BE HAD AND MANY THINGS THAT WE NEED TO DO ON THIS VERY LONG JOURNEY TOWARDS PEACE. THIS PROCLAMATION DOES NOT LEAD US ANYWHERE TOWARDS THESE GOALS, BUT ACTUALLY QUITE THE OPPOSITE. LET'S PLEASE STOP THIS DIVIDE. PLEASE VOTE NO. THANK YOU. NEXT IS MARK DRESSNER. MARK DRESSNER. AFTER MARK, IT'S SADIE BROWN. GOOD EVENING, DR. MARK DRESSNER. I'M A FAMILY PHYSICIAN HERE IN LONG BEACH, AND I'M ALSO THE IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF TEMPLE ISRAEL, THE LARGEST SYNAGOGUE HERE IN LONG BEACH. UM, I JUST RETURNED LAST NIGHT FROM WASHINGTON D I'M SPEAKING AGAINST ANY KIND OF PRO PROCLAMATION. I JUST RETURNED LAST NIGHT FROM WASHINGTON, DC AFTER ATTENDING A FOUR DAY CONFERENCE CELEBRATING THE HUNDRED 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNION OF REFORMED JUDAISM. SOME SPEAKERS AT THAT CONFERENCE INCLUDED DOUGLAS MOFF, THE, UH, THE HUSBAND OF THE, UH, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, A CENT MEMBER CONGRESS FROM ISRAEL, AND, UH, FORMER US AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL. EVERYONE WAS VERY CLEAR AT THIS CONFERENCE. HAMAS IS A TERRORIST GROUP WHOSE GOAL IS THE DESTRUCTION AND DISAPPEARANCE OF ISRAEL. THE GOAL OF ISRAEL IS TO HAVE THE HOSTAGES RETURNED AS WELL AS THE DESTRUCTION AND REMOVAL OF HAMAS BECAUSE THERE'S, YOU CANNOT NEGOTIATE WITH A GROUP THAT ONLY WANTS YOU TO BE DESTROYED. ANY PREMATURE CEASEFIRE RESULT IN REGROUPING OF HAMAS AND CONTINUAL PLANS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF ISRAEL. THE SITUATION IS NOT AGAINST PALESTINIANS, WHO HAMAS IS USING AS A HUMAN SHIELD, AS THEY WORK ON ISRAEL DESTRUCTION. AS A REMINDER, HAMAS CONTINUES TO FIRE ROCKETS INTO ISRAEL AS THEY WERE DOING EVEN BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH. SORRY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS SADIE BROWN. AFTER SADIE. IS KENDRA. IS SADIE HERE? THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS SADIE BROWN. I'M A SENIOR AT MILLIKEN HERE IN LONG BEACH. I'M IN THE PEACE ACADEMY AND A SB EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER AND CO-PRESIDENT OF THE JEWISH STUDENT UNION. LAST YEAR I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY IN ISRAEL. I SPENT TIME IN THE ISRAELI, JEWISH, MUSLIM, CHRISTIAN, AND BEDOUIN COMMUNITIES, MEETING PEOPLE IN EACH SETTING AND LEARNING ABOUT EACH GROUP LIVING IN JERUSALEM EXPOSED ME TO THE CULTURAL DIVERSITY WITHIN ISRAEL. ALTHOUGH I DON'T BELIEVE THE CITY NEEDS TO BE VOTING ON GLOBAL ISSUES, I FEEL THAT THE CURRENT PROCLAMATION FALLS SHORT OF ITS INTENDED PURPOSE. THIS PROCLAMATION FAILS TO CONDEMN HAMAS AS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE ONGOING CRISIS OF ROCKETS BEING FIRED AT ISRAEL AND LA AND LACKS A CALL FOR HAMAS TO LAY DOWN THEIR WEAPONS. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE MOST IMPACTFUL WAY TO AFFECT CHANGE IS THROUGH EDUCATION. BY ADAPTING THE LANGUAGE OF THIS PROCLAMATION, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FURTHER EDUCATE OUR COMMUNITY. SINCE THE HORRIFIC ATTACK AGAINST ISRAEL ON OCTOBER 7TH, I'VE BEEN STRUCK BY THE LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS DISPLAYED BY MY PEERS REGARDING THE ISRAEL HAMAS WAR. IN AN EFFORT TO EDUCATE STUDENTS AND PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT, I CALL HIM THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL TO REVISE THIS PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK, THANK YOU. NEXT IS KENDRA. KENDRA COGER. NEXT IS KENDRA. AFTER KENDRA IS MAYA. HELLO, MY NAME IS KENDRA GERT. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT FIVE. I'M HERE TO RESPECTFULLY REMIND THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR THAT LONG BEACH SHOULD LEAVE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND POLICY MAKERS WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THEM. THE FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE, HILLARY ROD CLINTON IS SUCH AN EXPERT AND SHE STATED THAT WE SHOULD REMEMBER THERE WAS A CEASEFIRE IN PLACE ON OCTOBER 6TH AND THAT HAMAS BROKE THE CEASEFIRE BY THEIR BARBARIC ASSAULT UNPEACEFUL CIVILIANS. CLINTON ALSO STATED THAT A CEASEFIRE DONE PREMATURELY BENEFITS THOSE WHO DO NOT ABIDE BY ANY LAWS, AND THAT HAMAS HAS BROKEN CEASEFIRES WITH ISRAEL TIME AND TIME AGAIN. IF YOU WANT PEACE IN THIS COUNTRY AND IN THE MIDDLE EAST, YOU CANNOT EXPECT ISRAEL TO NOT DEFEND ITSELF AS ROCKETS CONTINUE TO RAIN DOWN DAILY ON ISRAEL FROM GAZA. IF YOU ARE HERE TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE, THEN WHY DO YOU NOT DEMAND THAT HAMAS PUTS DOWN ITS WEAPONS? RELEASE THE HOSTAGES AND SURRENDER THE LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR SHOULD NOT EMBROIL OUR PRECIOUS CITY RESOURCES AND TIME IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. LET US CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON STRENGTHENING OUR COMMUNITY BY WORKING TOGETHER. THANK YOU LOCALLY TO BUILD BRIDGES. MA'AM, YOUR DEFENSE CONCLUDED THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT IS MAYA, AFTER MAYA IS ISAAC, THEN [01:45:01] MISHA, THEN DAVID LEVY, LI LEVY, AND MOHAMMED SAYEED. MAYA, YOU WROTE, OH, OH, THAT WAS INCORRECT. I GOTTA GET THAT ORDER THAT IN ORDER. IT'S MAYA, THEN IT'S MONIQUE R CHELSEA, MASHER, JOSH DEONE, THEN SCOTT V THAT'S THE NEXT FEW. SO IT'S MAYA, MONIQUE, R CHELSEA, MASHER, JOSH STALLONE, THEN SCOTT V. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UM, AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AS A GUEST TODAY. UM, AS I VISIT MY IN-LAWS. UM, I'M JEWISH. MY FAMILY IS PARTIALLY ISRAELI AND I'M ASKING YOU AS I WOULD ASK ANY CITY COUNCIL AROUND THE COUNTRY TO PROPOSE A STRONG RESOLUTION FOR A CEASEFIRE. NOW, AND WHILE WE'RE TALKING HISTORY, I WANNA GO WAY BACK TO THE CANAANITES. WHO WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE IN THAT LAND AND FROM THE CANAANITES CAME, THE ANCIENT PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, THE ANCIENT TRIBES OF ISRAEL, AND ACROSS THE MANY THOUSANDS OF YEARS, THE DIFFERENT GROUPS THAT COMBINED TO FORM THE ETHNIC GROUP THAT IS TODAY. THE PALESTINIANS, ALSO DESCENDANT FROM THE CANAANITES. WE ARE LITERALLY COUSINS, ANCESTRAL COUSINS. AND WHAT I WANNA SHARE WITH YOU TODAY IS I READ THE MOST HEART-WRENCHING TESTIMONY IN ADDITION TO FROM PALESTINIAN FRIENDS WHO HAVE FAMILY AND RAZA AND A MILLION HEARTBREAKING TESTIMONIES FROM OCTOBER 7TH AND EVERYTHING ELSE. UM, S**T, I'M GONNA RUN OUTTA TIME . THERE WAS AN, UH, A, A BOY, A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY NAMED MAHMOOD RAZA, WHO WAS KIDNAPPED BY THE IDF INTERROGATED AND TORTURED FOR DAYS AND THEN RELEASED WITHOUT EXPLANATION BECAUSE HE WAS NOT PART OF HAMAS. AND HE SAID THAT THE IDF SOLDIER, HE TOLD A JOURNALIST, HAD SAID TO HIM, THANK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. HE LOOKED LIKE HIS NEPHEW WHO WAS MA'AM KILLED ON OCTOBER 7TH. THANK YOU. HE LOOKED LIKE HIS NEPHEW AND HE TORTURED THE BOY WHO LOOKED LIKE HIS NEPHEW. MA'AM, YOUR TIMES CONCLUDED. WE COUSINS, THERE MUST BE PEACE IN THIS LAND. THANK YOU. WIRE NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT FOLKS. ALL RIGHT FOLKS. SO NEXT I'M GONNA LEAD THE READ THE NEXT FIVE, IT'S MONIQUE R, THEN CHELSEA MOSHER, JOSH STALLONE, SCOTT V AND EDWIN MONIQUE. HI. SO, UM, WHEN ENDING APARTHEID IN SOUTH AFRICA WAS NOT A POPULAR OPTION, SO UNPOPULAR THAT NELSON MANDELA WAS ON THE TERRORIST WATCH LIST UNTIL I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD. SO DR. RICKS OTI, I WANT TO COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND PROPOSING THIS RESOLUTION BECAUSE STANDING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY HAS NEVER BEEN THE EASY OR POPULAR THING TO DO. I AM A CHILD SEX ASSAULT OF SURVIVOR. AND WITH THAT KNOWLEDGE IN MIND, I WANT TO PRESENT TWO PROVABLE FACTS. UM, EVERY DAY, ISRAEL DETAINS 500 TO 700, UM, GAZA, OR, UH, PALESTINIAN CHILDREN, UH, IN GAZA AND THE WEST BANK. AND ADDITIONALLY, ISRAEL IS A KNOWN SAFE HAVEN FOR CHILD SEX OFFENDERS AND PEDOPHILES ALL OVER THE WORLD, INCLUDING NEWLY GHISLAINE MAXWELL, WHO IS AN ACCOMPLICE OF KNOWN PREDATOR. JEFFREY EPSTEIN AS A SURVIVOR OF SEXUAL ASSAULT, I KNOW WHAT THIS IS. THIS IS CHILD SEX TRAFFICKING. THANK YOU. THE OCCUPATION MUST END CEASE. THANK YOU. YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK YOU. NEXT IS CHELSEA, THEN JOSH. IS CHELSEA HERE? CHELSEA MOSHER. OKAY, AFTER CHELSEA IS JOSH DEONE, THEN SCOTT V, THEN EDWIN. UH, HELLO COUNSEL. MY NAME IS CHELSEA MOSER AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT EIGHT. UM, I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO SUPPORT THE CEASEFIRE PROCLAMATION TODAY. THE GUARDIAN REPORTED THAT NEARLY 20,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED AS THE SIEGE ON GAZA. DRAG ON THE SIEGE IS RECOGNIZED BY MANY SCHOLARS OF GENOCIDE AS A GENOCIDAL CAMPAIGN FLUSHED WITH NUMEROUS WAR CRIMES. THE NEARLY 20,000 DEATHS REPORTED TODAY DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR THOSE TRAPPED BENEATH THE RUBBLE. ANOTHER OF CRUELS DEATHS. THIS IS OUR BUSINESS AS A CITY AND A COMMUNITY. AS PRESIDENT BIDEN CONTINUES WEAPONS, SHIPMENTS, OBSCENE FINANCIAL AID, AND FULL SUPPORT TO THE FAR RIGHT. ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND MILITARY AS CEASEFIRE NOW WILL SAVE TOMORROW'S CIVILIAN CASUALTIES IN GAZA AND THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK, THE MAJORITY OF WHICH ARE PALESTINIAN INFANTS, CHILDREN, WOMEN, ELDERLY, AND DISABLED CIVILIANS. TARGETED CASUALTIES ALSO INCLUDE HEALTHCARE WORKERS, AID WORKERS, JOURNALISTS, AND LEADING ACADEMICS. INFRASTRUCTURE INCLUDES SCHOOLS, UN SHELTERS, HOSPITALS, MOSQUES, AND THE CARPET BOMBING OF CIVILIAN HOUSING. THIS ADDS UP. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS JOSH. JOSH STALLONE. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. UH, I'M HERE TO SPEAK WITH URGENCY ON THE NECESSITY OF THE RESOLUTION BEING PASSED WITH THE NECESSARY LANGUAGE OF A [01:50:01] LASTING CEASEFIRE. AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, LET'S TAKE A QUICK STEP BACK. WHAT IS THE ROLE OF A CITY LIKE LONG BEACH ON A RESOLUTION LIKE THIS? AND IN MY VIEW, IT'S TO JOIN A CHORUS FOR CHANGE, RIGHT? IF YOU VOTE, NO, NOTHING HAPPENS. THE STATUS QUO CONTINUES, AND THAT STATUS QUO IS THE COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT OF PALESTINIANS. TODAY, VOTING FOR THIS RESOLUTION IS A MESSAGE TO OUR CONGRESS PEOPLE, TO OUR LEADERS, TO OUR SENDERS, THAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND THEIR VOTERS DO NOT ACCEPT THE STATUS QUO. WE ARE A CITY WITH AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF WEALTH THAT RUNS THROUGH OUR PORT. WE ARE A CITY WITH A POPULATION LOAD THAT IS BIGGER THAN MOST OTHER PLACES IN THIS COUNTRY. WE HAVE A VOICE THAT'S MEANINGFUL. AND IF WE CHOOSE NOT TO USE IT BY VOTING, NO, WE ARE GIVING UP ON OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO SAY WE, YOUR CONSTITUENTS, YOUR VOTERS, THE PEOPLE WHO LOOK LIKE WHAT AMERICA CAN BE. WE ARE THE ONES WHO SAY THIS CANNOT CONTINUE. VOTE YES ON THE RESOLUTION LASTING CEASEFIRE NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS SCOTT V I'M HOLDING IN MY HAND A PHOTOGRAPH OF A LITTLE BOY FROM GAZA NAMED KHALIL, WHO IS THE SON OF YASSER, KHALIL AKMA. IN THE PHOTOGRAPH, KHALIL, WHO HAD CEREBRAL PALSY, A SEATED BESIDE BOXES OF SPECIALTY FOODS THAT WERE NECESSARY TO HIS DIET TO, BECAUSE OF HIS MEDICAL CONDITION. ON DECEMBER 14TH, KHALIL'S FATHER EMAILED THE PALESTINE CHILDREN'S RELIEF FUND TO SAY THAT KHALIL HAD STARVED TO DEATH AS A RESULT OF THE ISRAELI BLOCKADE ON GAZA, WHICH HAS CUT OFF ALL SUPPLIES OF FOOD, WATER, MEDICINE, FUEL, AND ELECTRICITY INTO THE ALREADY BESIEGED ENCLAVE EXCEPT FOR THE POULTRY TRICKLE THAT IT HAS BEEN PRESSURED TO ALLOW IN. TO REITERATE, A SMALL CHILD WITH CP KHALIL STARVED TO DEATH BECAUSE OF THE BLOCKADE. MY SOUL, MY KID, KHALIL IS GONE. HE DIED, WROTE HIS FATHER YASSER. HE LEFT US. HE WAS HUNGRY. HIS FOOD WAS NOT AVAILABLE IN MARKETS. I FOUND A LITTLE, BUT IT WAS NOT, IT WAS NOT ENOUGH AND TOO LATE. I CANNOT FATHOM LIVING THROUGH THE PAIN OF WATCHING YOUR SON STARVE TO DEATH WITHOUT RECOURSE OF TRYING TO FIND FOOD TO KEEP HIM ALIVE. AND THERE BEING NONE. NONE. BECAUSE AN OPPRESSIVE REGIME IN THE MILITARY OCCUPATION HAS CHOSEN. SIR, YOUR TIMES CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. 23 MILLION PEOPLE. THANK YOU. YOU'RE STILL BEING HAUNTED BY THE DEATH OF KAL. SEE NOW. THANK YOU. SO BEFORE, SO WE'VE GONE THROUGH ABOUT 41 SPEAKERS, SO THIS IS GOOD PROGRESS. I WANNA JUST REMIND THE CROWD. WE HAVE A SYSTEM, MANAGE THE TIME. WE TYPICALLY LET FOLKS FINISH THE STATEMENT THEY'RE MAKING. I WILL SAY THANK YOU. UH, IF THEY CONTINUE TO BEGIN ANOTHER IDEA, UH, THE CLERK TYPICALLY WILL MUTE THE MICROPHONE, AND THEN THAT'S HOW WE WRAP IT UP, RIGHT? SO, UH, WE DO HAVE A PROCESS ON OUR END, AND I THINK WE'RE, WE'RE, WE'RE GOING THROUGH OUR PROCESS. SO SOMETIMES IT, IT GETS WORSE IF WE ALL CONTRIBUTE ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER TO SAY WRAP IT UP. IT SOMETIMES MAKES IT MORE CONFUSING AND IT'S HARD TO GET THE NEXT PERSON TO COME UP, BUT I THINK WE'RE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS. WE'VE HEARD 41 SPEAKERS. I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT 10 OR SO. UH, NEXT IS EDWIN, THEN LENA CHUPE, S-H-U-P-P-E. THEN RICHARD MARCUS, IAN SUAN, EVAN BRODY, UH, DAVID MEREDITH, DANNY, UH, MIRA SMELTS, AND ISAAC WSO. SO EDWIN IS UP NEXT. THANK YOU, EDWIN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU, MAYOR. UM, IT SEEMS TO BE DOING A PRETTY GOOD HERE, PRETTY GOOD WITH THE, THE DOG A LITTLE EARLIER. UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT IT LOOKS LIKE, UM, WHAT DR. UH, JONI RICKS TI WANTED TO DO WAS THIS PROCLAMATION NOT TO ACTUALLY CREATE THE REAL SEA IS FIRED, BUT TO, UM, SHOW LIKE INCLUSION THAT THIS IS SOMETHING YOU CAN'T JUST CLOSE YOUR WINDOWS, AS YOU SAID, FROM LIKE, YOU KNOW, UM, GEORGE FLOYD AND MINNEAPOLIS. AND THAT YOU WANT TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER, THAT YOU WANT TO SHOW THAT YOU CARE AND THAT WE'RE, THAT YOU HEAR WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTS. AND SO I THINK, UM, YOU KNOW, BOTH SIDES WOULD MAYBE BE FOR THIS PROCLAMATION. IT'S JUST MAYBE TWEAKING SOME OF THE WORDING. SO CAN YOU TAKE IT BACK? WOULD IT BE IMPOSSIBLE TO RECALL IT AND THEN MAYBE WORK ON IT OVER CHRISTMAS AND BRING IT BACK? THAT'S, I GUESS WHAT I'M ASKING. THANK YOU MORE PEOPLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. TAKE ANY OF NEXT IS LENA. NEXT IS LENA. IS LENA, S-H-U-P-P-E. LENA NARCISSIST. ALRIGHT. AFTER LENA IS RICHARD MARKIES. THANK YOU, LENA. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. LENA CHU AGAINST ANY PROCLAMATION ON ISRAEL. BEING A JEWISH RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH SINCE OCTOBER 7TH HAS BEEN LONELY AND SCARY. THIS PROCLAMATION PROCESS HAS INSTILLED MORE FEAR IN ME AS A JEW. REJECTS SPENDING CITY TIME AND FUNDS ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS UNDER THE GUISE OF CITY RELATIONS, REJECT BULLIES, CLOAKED IN INCLUSIVITY, SPEWING MISINFORMATION, INTIMIDATING JEWS IN THIS ROOM TODAY WHO THREATEN JEWISH EXISTENCE. LONG BEACH IS BETTER THAN THIS I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE AT 12, MY SYNAGOGUE SUPPORTED THE FIRST LONG BEACH AIDS WALK TO MARCH ALONGSIDE OUR LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, WHO DID NOT YET HAVE [01:55:01] THE ACRONYM, BUT HAD US BY THEIR SIDE. AFTER THE RODNEY KING RIOTS, MY MOTHER BROUGHT ME TO SHOVEL ASHES TO CLEAN UP, BURN DOWN BUSINESSES IN 99 WHILE EARNING MY TEACHING CREDENTIAL AT C-S-U-L-B. AARON GREW WELL AND WILSON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS PUBLISHED THE FREEDOM WRITERS DIARIES USING THE WRITING TO USING WRITING TO CHANGE THE WORLD AROUND THEM. AND SHE UTILIZED THE LESSONS OF THE HOLOCAUST TO FIGHT RACISM HERE IN LONG BEACH, WHICH INSPIRED ME TO TEACH AT CABRILLO HIGH, WHERE WE PILOTED THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM, REDIRECTING STUDENT FOCUS FROM RACIAL AND ECONOMIC DIVIDE TOWARD PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT. THE JEWISH VALUE OF SHALOM BAIT IS PEACE IN THE HOME. AND WHEN WE BRING PEACE TO OUR OWN LONG BEACH HOME, WE CAN BRING A REAL IMPACT TOWARDS PEACE ON EARTH, FIND ACTIONABLE WAYS TO BRING SHALOM BITE TO THIS CITY. THANK YOU. NEXT IS RICHARD MARCUS. AFTER RICHARD IS IS IAN, IS RICHARD HERE? NO, HERE WE'RE A TEAM OF PUBLIC. OKAY. THANK YOU. UH, IAN SUAN. OKAY. AFTER IAN IS EVAN BRODY, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBER OR EVAN BRODY? UM, YES. EVAN BRODY. I, UM, DON'T ENVY YOUR POSITION. I REMEMBER THE YEAR, THE DAYS I WAS ON THIS COUNCIL AND HAD TO DEAL WITH A LOT OF ISSUES, BUT NOT WORLD AFFAIRS NECESSARILY. UM, I ALSO BELIEVE THAT, UM, THE RESOLUTION IS WELL MEANT, BUT I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S APPROPRIATE FOR THE COUNCIL. I DO BELIEVE THE COUNCIL SHOULD ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO CONTINUE DIALOGUE, ET CETERA. BUT I'M, I'M, I'M THINKING THAT THERE'S A LOT MISSING FROM, FROM THAT, UH, RESOLUTION. I WOULD HOPE THAT THE WOULD EITHER SEND IT BACK FOR FURTHER STUDY OR REJECTED AT THIS TIME UNTIL, AND, AND FRANKLY, THAT'S WHY WE HAVE ELECTIONS, I THINK FOR NATIONAL AND STATE AND OTHER REGIONS AS OPPOSED TO COUNCIL THAT HAS LOTS OF, OH, YOU HAVE A LOT OF THINGS ON OUR PLATE HERE THAT HAVE TO BE TAKEN CARE OF. AND A LOT OF COUNTRIES. ONE OTHER THOUGHT, WHEN A LOT OF OTHER COUNTRIES, A HUNDRED THOUSAND PEOPLE WERE, DIED IN A, IN, UH, ETHIOPIA THIS LAST YEAR AND WE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. YOU DID. I MEAN, IT'S JUST, IT'S JUST A, THERE'S SOMETHING, IT SEEMS TO ME, ARE WE GONNA START DOING THIS FOR A LOT OF OTHER ISSUES? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS DAVID MEREDITH AND THEN DANNY. DAVID? YES. OKAY. AFTER DAVID IS DANNY. UH, DAVID, BEFORE YOU GET STARTED, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT FEW. OH YEAH, ABSOLUTELY. I'M SORRY. OKAY. SO, DAVID MEREDITH. WHO'S DAVID MEREDITH? THAT'S ME. OKAY. YOU'RE DAVID MEREDITH. I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT FEW. OKAY. TOTALLY. SO WE HAVE DAVID MEREDITH, THEN WE HAVE DANNY, THEN MIRA SMELT, S-M-E-L-T-Z-E, THEN ISAAC ZEL, THEN MISHA MICHAEL MAHE, THEN DAVID LEVY AND ELLIE LEVY. OKAY. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. DAVID. HI. THANKS. UM, HI EVERYONE. THANKS FOR EVEN HAVING THIS RESOLUTION UP HERE, AND THANK YOU MAYOR RICHARDSON. REALLY, REALLY RESPECTED SEEING YOU, UH, PREVIOUSLY VOICE YOUR SUPPORT FOR A CEASEFIRE. AND IT'S A REALLY HARD THING TO DO AND THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF PRESSURE ON YOU TO DO THE OPPOSITE. I JUST WANNA REITERATE, UM, THAT ISRAEL IS NOT DEFENDING ITSELF, AND THAT'S NOT MY OPINION. THAT'S WHAT THEY'VE BEEN SAYING PUBLICLY ON TV WHEN THEY BRAG ABOUT THEIR INTENT TO ETHNICALLY CLEANSE GAZA, BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE TO BE ANIMALS. NOW 20,000 GAZA'S ARE DEAD AND HALF OF THEM ARE CHILDREN. A LASTING CEASEFIRE IS, IS JUST THE BARE MINIMUM THAT WE CAN DO TO STOP THIS BLOODSHED. AND IT WOULD SEND A REALLY GREAT MESSAGE TO, TO ME AND THE REST OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS THAT YOU CARE ABOUT OUR VALUES BECAUSE THIS RESOLUTION, CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH OUR VALUES. AND, UH, I REALLY, REALLY APPRECIATE YOU GUYS GIVING ME THE TIME. FREE PALESTINE FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA. THANK YOU. NEXT IS DANNY. IS DANNY HERE? DANNY, YOU'RE UP NEXT. HI, I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION AND AGAINST THIS FASTEST PACED MASS KILLING IN OUR LIFETIME, MORE THAN 20,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN LESS THAN 10 WEEKS. FASTEST PACED GENOCIDE IN OUR LIFETIME. ONLY ONE IN EVERY 20 CIVILIAN PALESTINIANS, UM, HAVE BEEN COMBATANTS. SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR FROM THE UN. ORGANIZATIONS LIKE HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH OR BORDERS WITHOUT, UH, DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL AND OTHER EXPERTS HAVE ACCUSED ISRAEL OF WAR CRIMES. HERE ARE A FEW THAT ISRAEL IS, IS NOT HAVING TO ENDURE. COLLECTIVE BLOCKADE, COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT, BLOCKADE OF WATER AND FOOD CAUSING STARVATION. THE PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ON CHILDREN. THE FOR FORCIBLE TRANSFER OF PALESTINIANS, THE USE OF WHITE PHOSPHORUS, INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING OF THOUSANDS, EXECUTING SURRENDERED PALESTINIANS, ABUSE AND SEXUAL HUMILIATION OF DAY 10 NEEDS GENOCIDE, SETTLEMENTS, APARTHEID, [02:00:01] SETTLE COLONIAL OCCUPATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, SIR. CHILDREN IN THE OCCUPIED WEST BANK, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS MIRA. ARE YOU MIRA? OKAY, MIRA MARIE. JUST A COUPLE MORE AFTER MIRA. IS IS ISAAC. IS ISAAC IN LINE? ISAAC IS AFTER MIRA ISAAC WL. IS ISAAC IN LINE? NO. OKAY. MISHA AND THEN DAVID LEVY. THEN ELLIE LEVY. THANK YOU MIRA. HI, MY NAME IS MIR MELTZER AND I'VE LIVED IN LONG BEACH SINCE 2004. I WAS NOT LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE BORN HERE. I FEEL SO PROUD TO LIVE HERE. AND I RECOGNIZE OUR MULTICULTURAL STRENGTHS. I'M A TEACHER AND I OFTEN TALK ABOUT HOW PROUD I AM THAT I LIVE IN A CITY THAT'S ONE OF THE MOST DIVERSE IN THE WORLD. HAMAS BROADCASTED THEIR BARBARISM FOR ALTA SEA. THERE WAS NO SHAME, NO REGRET, NO HUMANITY, ONLY PRIDE AND CELEBRATION. AND THEY VOW TO CONTINUE THESE ATTACKS, NOT ONLY AGAIN, BUT MORE VIOLENTLY. A HAMAS TERRORIST TOLD A HOSTAGE, GO FAR, WE'RE GONNA DO IT AGAIN. THIS IS A CRITICAL TIME FOR THE ENTIRE WESTERN WORLD TO UNITE AGAINST THE EVIL THAT IS HAMAS. YOU TALK ABOUT HUMANITARIAN AID, HAMAS IS STEALING THE HUMANITARIAN AID. YOU WANT WATER, YOU WANT, YOU WANT ELECTRICITY? TALK TO HAMAS. WOO. YOU TALKED ABOUT ENDING GENOCIDE WHILE CALLING FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA. YOU TALK ABOUT INDIAN GENOCIDE WHILE CALLING FOR THE GENOCIDE OF JEWS. YES, WE NEED TO FREE PALESTINE. FREE PALESTINE FROM HAMAS. THANK YOU. NEXT, NEXT SPEAKER IS ISAAC. IS ISAAC HERE? ONE MORE TIME. ISAAC. IS ISAAC HERE? OKAY, SCRATCH ON ISAAC. MISHA. MICHAEL MHI, PLEASE COME FORWARD. OKAY, SO I VERY MAKE IT SIMPLE. WE'LL TALK FOR THE MUSIC PEOPLE. SO THE NOVA SURVIVOR, MY FRIENDS, MY PEOPLE, WHAT THE HAMAS DID, WHAT THE OLD PALESTINIAN DO, IT'S ALL GREW UP AND THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION WILL TAKE OVER THE NORMAL PEOPLE. AND SADLY SINCE FIRE JUST WILL CONTINUE CREATE THIS MONSTER. THIS IS THE DEVIL. THIS IS NOT MUSLIM. I HAVE A MUSLIM FRIENDS WHO DO BUSINESS ALL AROUND THE WORLD. THIS IS NOT MUSLIM. THEY NOT SAY OUR , THE WOMAN, THE RIP CHILDREN. IT'S ALL THERE. IT'S, IT'S, IT HAS TO BE CEASEFIRE AFTER WE FINISH THE JOB AND MAKE THE GOD THAT BE FREE. GOD, THAT CAN BE SINGAPORE. IT IS NEVER GONNA BE SINGAPORE. ALL THESE LEADERS, SEVEN BILLIONS, FIVE BILLIONS, DON KAKAR, ALL ITS FAMILY AROUND THE EUROPE. GO TO COLLEGE. THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT. HALF OF THE PEOPLE NEVER BEEN IN ISRAEL. I GREW UP IN UKRAINE AND SSR AND I GREW UP IN ISRAEL. AND I'M AMERICAN. THREE CULTURES. MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO TALK HERE NOW, NEVER IDEA WHAT HAPPENING THERE. HOW THE PEOPLE PAKISTAN SUFFERING BECAUSE THEY TAKE EVERYTHING, ALL THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SINGAPORE. WE DON'T THE MIDDLE EAST FOLKS, WE GOT A SYSTEM. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT. ALRIGHT FOLKS, LET'S GO FOLKS. LET'S GO THROUGH OUR PROCESS. JUST A MOMENT, SIR. JUST A MOMENT. SIR, WE AGREED TO SOME NORMS IN THE MEETING. LET'S ALL, YOU KNOW, TRY TO MANAGE THIS AND GET THROUGH THIS RESPECTFULLY. WE GOT, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A NUMBER OF SPEAKERS STILL TO GO THROUGH. I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT FEW. ARE YOU DAVID? I'M DAVID. OKAY. DAVID, THEN ELLIE, THEN HAM ZAE, THEN NAZI ABBI, AND THEN ALICIA WALKER. DAVID, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. GOOD EVENING. UH, HONORABLE, UH, MAYOR, COUNCIL PEOPLE. UH, I'M A DAVID LEVY RESIDENT OF, UH, UH, LONG BEACH TONIGHT. THERE'S, UH, THERE'S A LOT OF, UH, LIES AND MISINFORMATION HAS BEEN SPEWED BY THE PRO, UH, PRO, UH, UH, UH, UH, UH, PRO, UH, THE PRO, UH, UH, RE YES. AND UH, BUT I HAVE ONLY ONE QUESTION. OKAY? UH, FOR THE LAST 15 TO 20 YEARS SINCE, UH, ISRAEL PULLED OUT OF GAZA, WHERE HAS THIS COUNCIL BEEN? WHERE, WHERE HAVE, UH, ALL THE PEACE PROCLAMATIONS BEEN? OKAY, WELL, AFTER ALL THE ROCKETS AND THE BOMBINGS AND THE, UH, JEWS DYING IN ISRAEL, NO PROCLAMATION, NO PEACE, UH, PROCLAMATION. WHAT HAPPENED NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN, UH, BECAUSE JEWS, UH, UH, ARE, UH, ISRAELIS ARE PROTECTING THEMSELVES, NOT ONLY, UH, FOR THEIR RIGHTS TO EXIST, BUT FOR HUMANITY. NOW WE HAVE, UH, PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU FOR TESTIMONY, SIR. THANK YOU. THAT'S IT. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ELLIE. ELLIE LEVY. YES. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. [02:05:01] UH, I WROTE A BUNCH OF STUFF DOWN TO MAKE IT QUICK. THIS SYMBOLIC RESOLUTION IS NOT ABOUT HAMAS, IT'S NOT ABOUT ANTISEMITISM, NOR IS IT ABOUT DIVISIVENESS IN OUR COMMUNITY. AMEN. IT'S ABOUT CHILDREN DYING. WHETHER YOU WANNA KEEP SYMBOLICALLY KILLING CHILDREN OR DO YOU WANNA F*****G SAVE THEIR F*****G LIFE? THAT'S WHAT THE CEASE FIRE IS ABOUT. DON'T LET ANYBODY OBFUSCATE THAT. I'M ISRAELI, I'M JEWISH. I'VE BEEN A PRACTICING ATTORNEY FOR 23 YEARS. I KNOW SOMETHING ABOUT ZIONISM AND QUASI GENOCIDAL CAMPAIGN THAT'S BEEN GOING ON AGAINST GAZA FOR DECADES. OKAY? ISRAEL IS A TERRORIST STATE. ISRAEL IS A TERRORISTIC STATE, OKAY? AND RIGHT NOW IT'S ENGROSSED IN A PARM OF REVENGE, OUTRIGHT EMBARRASSMENT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN OCTOBER. AND OUTRIGHT SADISM DO THE F*****G RIGHT THING. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. ALRIGHT FOLKS. ALRIGHT FOLKS, WE'RE MAKING THROUGH MAKING IT THROUGH THIS. LET'S, LET'S GO THROUGH OUR PROCESS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, THE NEXT FEW IS MOHAMMED, THEN NAZI, THEN ALICIA. HI. UM, THERE'S NO JUSTIFICATION I THINK FOR CALLING, UM, FOR NOT CALLING US AS THE BIGGEST TERRORIST COUNTRY AS NORM CHOMSKY HAS SAID. AND, UH, I READ IN, UH, A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO IN INTERCEPT THAT JEREMY SCAHILL, HE SAID THAT THE, THE, THE WHAT OUR, UH, PRESIDENT AND ALL OTHER JEWISH SUPPORTED MEDIA HAS BEEN SUPPORTING AND SAYING THE 40 CHILDREN WERE NOT MASSACRED, THEY WERE NOT BURNED. AND YOU CAN GO AND READ YOURSELF. SO THE REAL TERRORISM IS FROM ISRAEL. YOU ARE CONTROLLING OUR MEDIA HERE, RIGHT HERE. THEY DON'T LET ANY PROPEL PALESTINIAN NEWS COME OUT. AND, AND ALSO THE REAL TERRORISM IS BY THE APEC AND ALL OTHER, UH, UM, BIG MONEY PEOPLE WHO ARE CONTROLLING THE CONSCIOUS OF OUR, OUR ELECTED PEOPLE, THE FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, EVERYBODY, BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE THE COURAGE TO SAY THE TRUTH. THEY KNOW THEMSELVES THAT 20 A THOUSAND INNOCENT. THANK YOU. UN UNKNOWN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED. THANK YOU. THEY CANNOT SAY THAT BECAUSE POLICE, THANK YOU. THAT IS YOUR TIME, SIR. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. ALL RIGHT. NEXT IS NAZI BEFORE YOU START NAZI. NAZI, RIGHT? OKAY, BEFORE YOU START, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT FEW. SO NAZI, THEN ALICIA WALKER, THEN DR. RA, THEN MICHAEL FP, THEN SARAH ZIDE, THEN IAN MATTHEWS, THEN HANNAH AL HY. OKAY. NAZI, YOU'RE UP. HI, MY NAME IS NAZI AND I'M A SECOND DISTRICT RESIDENT. AND I JUST WANNA NOTE THAT FOR THE PAST 13 YEARS I'VE BEEN ATTENDING LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS. I'VE NEVER SEEN IT THIS BEFORE, BEFORE. AND, UM, SUPPORTING THIS POPULATION AND CALLING FOR A PERMANENT AND LASTING CEASEFIRE IS WHAT LISTENING TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS LOOKS LIKE. A CEASEFIRE IS NOT DIVISIVE, IT'S THE BARE MINIMUM. IT'S GENOCIDE THAT IS DIVISIVE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO VOTE YES ON THE POPULATION TODAY AND TO INCLUDE A LASTING CEASEFIRE, NOT JUST A HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE, HISTORICAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE CONFLICT AND RECOGNITION OF THE DEVASTATION IN GAZA. I WANNA SHARE MY SUPPORT OF, UH, LASTING CEASEFIRE AND THE LANGUAGE OF THE PROCLAMATION. AND I WANNA SHARE MY SUPPORT FOR A FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ALICIA WALKER. HELLO EVERYONE. I'M HERE TODAY ALSO AS A DISTRICT TWO RESIDENT. AND I AM A RENTER, NOT A HOMEOWNER. I'M HERE BECAUSE I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS LONG BEACH PRO LONG BEACH'S PROBLEM. AND WE MUST RAISE OUR VOICE WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD. AS A STRONG LONG BEACH COMMUNITY, WE MUST OPPOSE THE OCCUPATION OF GAZA AND THE ACTIVE GENOCIDE BEING COMMITTED BY ISRAEL AGAINST THE PALESTINIANS. THE ISRAELI WAR CRIMES ARE APPARENT AND ABHORRENT. CHILDREN, WOMEN, MEN, ENTIRE FAMILIES, ENTIRE GENERATIONS ARE BEING WIPED OUT BEFORE OUR EYES. WE SEE VIDEOS EVERY SINGLE DAY OF LIMBS TORN FROM BODIES OF THE AMPUTATIONS HAPPENING WITHOUT ANESTHESIA OF PEOPLE ACTIVELY DYING FROM STARVATION. EACH MORNING AS I WAKE UP, I WAKE UP FROM DREAMS OF CHILDREN CRYING, OUCH FOR THEIR PARENTS. I HEAR THEIR VOICES RINGING IN MY EARS. I SEE THEIR BLOOD IN MY EYES. I CANNOT ESCAPE IT. SO I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT THE PEOPLE IN CASA ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW. THIS MUST END. WE AS COMMUNITIES OF THE L WE AS MEMBERS OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY MUST CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. AND I BELIEVE THAT THE RESOLUTION MUST INCUR, MUST INCLUDE A LASTING CEASEFIRE, NOT SIMPLY HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, KNOCK. NEXT IS DR. MISRA. AFTER DR. MISRA, IT'S MICHAEL FP, IT'S DR. MISRA HERE. OKAY. PLEASE [02:10:01] COME FORWARD IF YOU HEAR YOUR NAME COME ON FORWARD. SO I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT FEW SO YOU CAN ALL LINE UP. SO IT'S DR. MISRA, IT'S MICHAEL FP, IT'S SARAH ZDI. IAN MATTHEWS, HANA RII WINSTON DELAUER, UH, KATHERINE PAMA. ADAM HIJAZI. ALRIGHT, DR. MISRA, YOU ARE UP. DEAR HONORABLE COUNSEL MEMBERS, AS A CONCERNED MEMBER OF OUR COMMUNITY, I'M ALSO A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT THREE AND RESIDENT. I'M A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL AS WELL. I CALL UPON YOU TO ENDORSE A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A LASTING CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. I HAVE VOLUNTEERED WITH MEDICAL RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS AND HAVE WITNESSED TRAGEDY IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE WORLD. YET THE SIEGE AND BOMBARDMENT OF GAZA HAS STRUCK CLOSER TO HOME THAN ANY CATASTROPHE. DR. MEDA SADDAM WAS A DEDICATED VOLUNTEER WHO WORKED WITH THE SAME MEDICAL ORGANIZATION AS I. IN GAZA, OUR MUTUAL COLLEAGUE DESCRIBED HIM AS A YOUNG, ENERGETIC AND DEDICATED PLASTIC SURGEON, FATHER AND HUSBAND. HE HAD DREAMS OF ONE DAY HAVING A BETTER LIFE, NOT LIVING UNDER EMBARGO OR IMPRISONMENT. HE HAD DREAMS OF SEEING HIS CHILDREN LIVE A LIFE DIFFERENT THAN HIS OWN, WHERE ALL COULD LIVE UNDER JUSTICE AND PEACE. ON OCTOBER 14TH, DR. MEDA MET HIS TRAGIC END, ALONG WITH HIS FAMILY AND 30 RELATIVES IN AN ISRAELI OR STRIKE ON HIS HOME. THANK YOU. YOU, THIS IS JUST ONE STORY. CHILDREN ARE BEING THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS MICHAEL. MICHAEL, YOU'RE UP IN 2020. LONG BEACH CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE RACIAL EQUITY AND RECONCILIATION INITIATIVE THAT ADDRESSES SYSTEMIC RACISM, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND HEALTH EQUITY. I REFER TO THIS HISTORIC ACTION BECAUSE DESPITE LIVING IN A COMMUNITY WHERE THERE ARE CONSTITUENTS WHO STRONGLY DISAGREE THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE, ALL OF OUR BRAVE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS VOTED TO APPROVE IT. WHERE I'M GOING HERE IS THAT SADLY, THERE ARE CONSTITUENTS WHO DO NOT WANNA CEASEFIRE, WHO SOMEHOW BELIEVE THAT SLAUGHTERING THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN WILL HELP THEM ACHIEVE PEACE. WHAT'S EVEN MORE ALARMING IS THAT I'M HEARING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THAT THEY NEED TO CONSIDER THESE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT GENOCIDE. AND I'M CONFUSED BECAUSE Y'ALL DIDN'T DO THAT IN 2020 WITH THE RACIAL EQUITY COMMISSION. CONCURRENTLY, THESE SAME CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS STATE THAT THEY VALUE EQUALLY THE LIVES OF BOTH PALESTINIANS AND ISRAELIS. BUT FAILING TO SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE SAYS OTHERWISE. AND LASTLY, IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS IS NOT A LOCAL ISSUE, THEN LOOK AT EVERYONE HERE TONIGHT. LOOK AT THE RISE OF ANTI-SEMITISM AND ISLAMOPHOBIA IN OUR CITY. AND EVEN LOOK WHO IS TRYING TO MUSCLE YOU AND BY YOU INTO VOTING AGAINST A CEASEFIRE. I AM GRATEFUL THAT TONIGHT WE FINALLY GET TO HEAR WHETHER YOU VALUE BOTH LIVES OR ONLY THE GENOCIDE. THANK TESTIMONY OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. THANK YOU. NEXT IS SARAH Z. AS A MEMBER OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY, I HAVE LEARNED SINCE OCTOBER 7TH AND EVERY DAY SINCE THAT 86 YEARS AFTER THE WORLD SOUNDED THE SIRENS FOR THE HOLOCAUST IN EUROPE, WE STILL HEAR THE VOICES OF THOSE WHOSE THREATS OF MISINFORMATION AND HATRED AND WHO JUSTIFY THEIR SAFETY BY PROMOTING THE OCCUPATION, IMPRISONMENT AND OPPRESSION OF MILLIONS OF PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE, INCLUDING MANY OF THOSE, UH, IN CHAMBERS TONIGHT, THAT ARE WILLING TO PUT THEIR LIVELIHOOD, SAFETY, AND COMFORT ASIDE TO AMPLIFY THAT SI SIREN OF JUSTICE FOR ALL, NOT JUST A CHOSEN FEW AS A CONSTITUENT. THE RESULT OF TONIGHT'S VOTE WILL TEACH US WHERE OUR CITY STANDS, WHERE YOU STAND ON THE ISSUES OF EQUITY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL I ASK YOU, WILL YOUR FEAR FOR WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU IF YOU SIDE WITH JUSTICE OVERPOWER YOUR ABILITY TO STAND UP AGAINST INJUSTICE AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS. AND YOU NOT ONLY REPRESENT US, BUT YOU HOLD THE UNIQUE PRIVILEGE OF HAVING A PLATFORM THAT TEACHES US. SO I ASK YOU, WHAT WILL WE LEARN FROM YOU TONIGHT? THANK YOU. YOU FIRED. NOW NEXT IS IAN MATTHEWS AFTER IAN IS HANNAH, ARE YOU IN? YES, IAN. OKAY FOLKS, I KNOW IT'S A LOT OF CLAPS, BUT I'LL TELL YOU I STILL HAVE, WE HAVE 132 PEOPLE SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. SO WE GONNA BE HERE ALL NIGHT IF WE CLAP IN BETWEEN EVERY COMMENT. 30 SECONDS OF CLAPS. SO, UH, IAN, YOU ARE, ARE YOU IAN? WE GOT IAN AFTER. IAN IS HANNAH, THEN WINSTON, THEN CATHERINE, THEN ADAM HIJAZI. THANK YOU. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. HI, I'M IAN. UH, I'VE LIVED IN LONG BEACH MY WHOLE LIFE AND I'M HERE BECAUSE GENOCIDE IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD ALL STAND AGAINST AND THAT'S WHAT IS BEING PERPETRATED RIGHT NOW AGAINST THE PALESTINIANS. THEY'RE BEING KILLED BY THE THOUSANDS. [02:15:01] AND THE LONGER WE WAIT TO TAKE ACTION, THE MORE PEOPLE ARE DYING. SO IT'S UH, BEYOND TIME TO, TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO HELP TO STOP THE GENOCIDE. WE NEED TO HAVE A CEASEFIRE AND WE NEED TO STOP FUNDING AND, UH, ARMING THE GENOCIDE OF THE PALESTINIANS. UM, FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS IAN. NEXT IS HANNAH. HI, MY NAME IS HANNAH. I'M A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. WHILE I'M NOT PALESTINIAN, I AM AN ARAB AMERICAN AND I'VE BEEN ACUTELY AWARE OF THE OCCUPATION OF PALESTINE MY ENTIRE LIFE. I'M ALSO ACUTELY AWARE OF THE UNITED STATES FINANCIAL AND MILITARY FUNDING TO THE GENOCIDE THAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW AND TO ISRAEL FOR, FOR YEARS, FOR DECADES. I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO APPEAL TO EVERYBODY'S HUMANITY, TO THEIR MORALITY. BUT UNFORTUNATELY WHAT I'VE REALIZED OVER THE LAST TWO AND A HALF MONTHS IS THAT HUMANITY DOES NOT DICTATE POLICY. MONEY DOES. SO I ASK THE FOLLOWING QUESTION, HOW ARE WE PAYING FOR THIS? HOW DOES THE US FIND FUNDING TO SEND MILLIONS IN MILITARY AID AND FINANCIAL AID TO A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT, BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD HOUSING, UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE, CHILDCARE. HOW ARE WE NOT FINDING FUNDING FOR CLIMATE INITIATIVES? HOW CAN WE NOT FUND PUBLIC EDUCATION TO SOLVE OUR HOMELESS SITUATION, OUR FEUD, FOOD INSECURITY? SO FOR THOSE ASKING WHAT THAT HAS TO DO TO DO WITH LONG BEACH, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT IT HAS TO DO WITH LONG BEACH. THANK YOU. IF WE CAN APPEAL FOR HUMANITY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS WINSTON. AFTER WINSTON IS CATHERINE. MY NAME IS WINSTON GLORIA. I AM A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH. I CURRENTLY LIVE IN CAMBODIA TOWN. I'VE, UH, BEEN IN LONG BEACH MY ALMOST MY WHOLE LIFE. UM, AND I'M HERE TO SAY, YOU KNOW, AS A JEW, IT REALLY, YOU KNOW, IT MAKES ME EITHER WANNA LAUGH OR WANNA PUKE WHEN I HEAR ZIONISTS ACT AS IF, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE, THEY'RE THE PROTECTORS OF JEWISH PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, THE LOGIC OF ZIONISM, AND I WANNA QUOTE SOMEONE WHO I, UH, WHO I REALLY DON'T CARE FOR. BUT YOU KNOW, AS OUR, UH, SENILE PRESIDENT, JOE BIDEN SAID, IF THERE WAS NOT AN ISRAEL IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AMERICA WOULD HAVE TO INVENT AN ISRAEL TO PROTECT OUR INTERESTS IN THE REGION. SO THE ZIONISM IS NOT ABOUT PROTECTING JEWS. ZIONISM IS A PROJECT TO CONSCRIPT JEWS TO ACT AS HUMAN SHIELDS FOR US EMPIRE, WHICH MEANS US CORPORATE INTERESTS. SO I DON'T WANNA HEAR ANYTHING ABOUT HOW THIS IS ABOUT DEFENDING MY PEOPLE. THANK YOU. AND I, I WANNA ADD FURTHER THAT IF WE INCLUDED ANY LANGUAGE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, DENOUNCING HAMAS I THINK IS UTTERLY RIDICULOUS FOR TWO REASONS. FOR ONE THING, YOU KNOW, LIKE 'EM OR NOT, WHATEVER YOU THINK ABOUT THEM, THEIR ARMED FORCES ARE THE FORCES ON THE GROUND WHO ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THE FORCES PERPETRATING THIS GENOCIDE. THEY ARE THE, THEY ARE THE ONES FIGHTING AGAINST THE MURDERERS. THANK YOU. WHO KILLED 10,000 CHILDREN IN GAZA? THANK YOU. ANY ALONG THOSE LINES, EVEN THE LOGIC THAT THE NEXT SPEAKER IS CATHERINE. CATHERINE. OKAY, CATHERINE, YOU'RE UP NEXT. HI, MY NAME IS CATHERINE AND I'M A MEMBER OF THE PARTY FOR SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION AND A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH. I'M SPEAKING TODAY BECAUSE IT'S BEEN TWO AND A HALF MONTHS SINCE THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION BEGAN ACCELERATING ITS GENOCIDAL ONSLAUGHT AGAINST THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE. THEY DO NOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF TIME TO PEACEFULLY NEGOTIATE WITH ISRAELI FORCES THAT ARE INDISCRIMINATELY BOMBING THEM. AS WE WERE PASSING TWO 20,000 GODINS KILLED BY THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION, ALMOST HALF OF WHOM ARE CHILDREN. THE TIME TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IS NOW. I ALSO WANNA BE CLEAR ABOUT THE LANGUAGE WE ARE USING WHEN WE TALK ABOUT ISRAEL'S GENOCIDE ON THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. WE CANNOT CONDEMN THE PALESTINIAN RESISTANCE AND WE CANNOT DRAW AN EQUAL SIGN BETWEEN THEM AND THE APARTHEID STATE OF ISRAEL, WHICH HAS ONE OF THE MOST ADVANCED MILITARIES IN THE WORLD AND HAS BEEN PROPPED UP AND FUNDED BY THE US BY OUR TAX DOLLARS FOR DECADES. IT IS A SHAME THAT WE CONTINUE TO FUND THIS GENOCIDE. WHILE THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE IN LONG BEACH, HOMELESS, LIVING IN TENTS WHOM WE COULD BE USING OUR TAX DOLLARS FOR, I WANNA ASK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU, WHAT WILL YOU BE REMEMBERED FOR? FOR STANDING BY AS THE ISRAELI STATE COMMITS GENOCIDE WITH OUR TAXPAYER MONEY OR FOR STANDING WITH PALESTINE AND HUMANITY, I URGE YOU TO STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY AND CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS ADAM HIJAZI. ADAM, BEFORE YOU BEGIN, I'M GONNA CALL THE NEXT 10, UH, FARA BARTLETT, ALEJANDRO SANCHEZ, LOPEZ RAHA, JANICE MENDEZ, JASMINE SHEF MAYLIN, AND UH, JAY BURNETT NAZI. I THINK NAZI ALREADY SPOKE UNLESS THIS IS ANOTHER, A SECOND NAZI. AND THEN NEIL SCHWEDER. ADAM, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. UH, GOOD EVENING. I WANTED TO THANK THE MAYOR, CITY COUNCIL AND CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE TRULY FOR ALL OF THE WORK THAT YOU GUYS ARE DOING TODAY. MY NAME IS ADAM HII. I'M A PROUD PALESTINIAN AMERICAN WHO LOVES THE CITY OF LONG BEACH AND CELEBRATES HIS DIVERSITY. [02:20:01] I'M HERE TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE VOICELESS CHILDREN WHO HAVE SUFFERED OR BEEN KILLED DUE TO THE ONGOING MILITARY OFFENSIVE. I'M ALSO HERE TO SPEAK FOR THE FREEDOM LOVING PALESTINIAN CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS WHO ARE ENDURING MORE SUFFERING THAN ANYONE IN THIS CHAMBER CAN EVAN CAN EVEN IMAGINE. I ALSO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH OUR PEACE LOVING JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS, RECOGNIZING THEIR HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTIONS, TIME AND TIME AGAIN FOR PEACE AND CIVIL RIGHTS THROUGHOUT HISTORY. LASTLY, I'M HERE AS A CONCERNED PARENT FOR MY CHILDREN. I WANNA SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE PALESTINIAN STRUGGLE AND VALUES. THE ISRAELI MILITARY OCCUPATION ENDURED BY THE IAN PEOPLE HAS BEEN CONDEMNED BY SOME OF THE MOST RESPECTED HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS AMNESTY INTER INTERNATIONAL, AND BE SADDAM FROM ISRAEL AS DEHUMANIZING, UNLIVABLE AND OPPRESSIVE. ISRAEL IS ONE OF THE ONLY STATES IN THE WORLD THAT PROSECUTES CIVILIANS AND MINORS IN MILITARY COURT PREPARE, PERPETUATING A CLIMATE OF LEGAL INEQUALITY AFFECTING A VERY ESSENCE OF PALESTINIAN LIFE AND THE PURSUIT OF BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS. THANK YOU. PALESTINIAN SYMBOLIZE FREEDOM AND RESISTANCE. THANK YOU. OUR COLLECTIVE HUMANITY IS PEOPLE HAVE FAILED. GOD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. WE DEFINE OUR HUMANITY. LOOKS LIKE THE CITY. ALL RIGHT, THAT IS TIME. I ALSO WANNA RAISE TOGO. THAT'S TIME. THANK YOU. NEXT. NEXT IS FARAH. GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL. I WANTED TO THANK YOU GUYS FOR BRINGING THIS PROCLAMATION FORWARD. UM, I ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIVERSE AND SOMEWHAT DELUSIONAL PERSPECTIVES PRE PRESENT TODAY, BUT IT'S CRUCIAL TO RECOGNIZE THAT OPPOSING THIS RESOLUTION IMPLIES A DESIRE FOR THE PERPETUATION OF CONFLICT AND LOSS OF LIVES. APPROXIMATELY 20,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES WITH 25,000 PALESTINIAN CHILDREN LEFT ORPHANED. OUR PLEA IS FOR PEACE, ADVOCATING FOR PALESTINIANS TO EXERCISE THEIR RIGHT TO SURVIVAL, ACCESS TO FOOD AND A LIFE FREE FROM OPPRESSION, GENOCIDE, AND APARTHEID WHILE PRIVILEGE ISRAELIS STAND HERE TODAY AND BRAG AND CELEBRATE THE BEAUTY OF ISRAEL, PALESTINIANS MAY NEVER HAVE THE CHANCE TO VISIT THEIR HOMELAND DESTROYED BY AMERICAN TAXPAYERS FUNDS. IN THIS CRITICAL MOMENT, I IMPLORE EACH OF YOU TO CONTEMPLATE THE PROFOUND IMPACT OF OUR DECISIONS. SUPPORTING THIS PROCLAMATION MEANS CHAMPIONING THE WELLBEING OF INNOCENT LIVES AND ADVOCATING FOR HUMANITY. LONG BEACH. I URGE YOU TO STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY, STAND FOR PEACE AND STAND FOR HUMANITY. DEMONSTRATE YOUR CARE FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS BY PASSING THIS PROCLAMATION PERMANENT AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS ALEJANDRO ALEJANDRO SANCHEZ LOPEZ. MY NAME IS ALEJANDRO SANCHEZ LOPEZ. I'M A CITY OF LONG BEACH EMPLOYEE, BUT I'M HERE AS A RESIDENCE. I'M PRESENTING TO YOU AN OPEN LETTER SIGNED BY 56 CURRENT AND FORMER CITY EMPLOYEES. PLEASE READ NOT JUST THE LETTER, BUT ALSO THE 34 LINKS INCLUDED FULL OF INFORMATION THAT PROVIDES CRITICAL CONTEXT ON THIS CRISIS. THE CLOSING PARAGRAPH FROM THE LETTER WE SIGN ONTO THIS LETTER BECAUSE WE HAVE TAKEN OATH OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND THESE OATHS COMPEL US TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST, AGAINST INJUSTICE ANYWHERE. BUT ESPECIALLY SO WHEN OUR OWN GOVERNMENT IS COMPLICIT, WE REJECT THE DEMAND FROM A DANGEROUS MINORITY IN POWER FOR MORE DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. AND INSTEAD JOIN THE FAMILIES OF ISRAELI HOSTAGES TAKEN ON OCTOBER 7TH IN THE CALL OF EVERYONE, FOR EVERYONE TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE FATE OF ALL PEOPLE IS INTRINSICALLY BOUND TOGETHER AND NO ONE'S SAFETY CAN BE ACHIEVED THROUGH THE OPPRESSION OF ANOTHER. THIS CALL REFLECTS THE SPIRIT OF LONG BEACH'S FRAMEWORK FOR RECONCILIATION ITSELF. A RESULT OF THE 2020 NATIONWIDE UPRISING AGAINST THE RACIAL INJUSTICES THAT CONTINUE TO AFFECT BLACK PEOPLE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR IN THE UNITED STATES. IT IS OUR HOPE THAT YOU WILL JOIN US IN TAKING SUBSTANTIAL EFFECT, SPIRIT, AND ACT WITH COURAGE, CONVICTION, AND SOLIDARITY IN THIS CRITICAL MOMENT FOR HUMANITY AND AGAINST GENOCIDE. I SIGNED THIS LETTER. THANK YOU. I'M HERE BECAUSE I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO RISK MY CAREER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS RAHA RAHA, R-A-H-A-T. OKAY, AFTER RAHA IS JANICE MENDEZ. THANK YOU RAHA. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. AND I APPRECIATE YOU GUYS TAKING UP THIS RESOLUTION AND UM, THIS WAS ASKED WHY LONG BEACH AS A CITY SHOULD TAKE THIS LONG BEACH PAY PAYS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, OUR TAX MONEY AS FEDERAL TAX MONEY WE PAY TO ISRAEL TO SUPPORT THIS WAR. SO WE HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO QUESTION WHERE IT'S SPENT, NOT LIKE OUR SENILE PRESIDENT, LIKE SOMEBODY SAID UNCONDITIONALLY SPEND OUR HARD EARNED TAX MONEY ON GENOCIDE. THE OTHER THING THAT SOME PEOPLE WERE SAYING THAT OCTOBER, THAT IT STARTED ON OCTOBER 7TH AND ISRAEL LEFT IN 2005. ISRAEL DID NOT LEAVE 2005. THIS IS ALL LIE. THEY CONTROLLED THEIR WATER, THEY CONTROLLED THEIR ELECTRICITY. THEY CAN GO AND KICK ANYBODY IN ANYBODY'S HOUSE AND TAKE OVER THAT HOUSE. THEY CAN KIDNAP ANY OF, I'M GONNA USE THE WORD KIDNAP BECAUSE THEY CAN KIDNAP ANY OF THE KIDS. FOR UN [02:25:02] IS UNPRECEDENTED. UNPRECEDENTED. AND IT'S, IT'S UNHEARD OF TO HAVE 3-YEAR-OLD HAVE KIDNAP TESTIMONY. SO WE HAVE ALL THE RIGHT 20,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED. SO WE HAVE ALL THE RIGHT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THAT IS YOUR TIME, PALESTINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. NEXT IS JANICE. IS ARE YOU JANICE? ALL RIGHT. AFTER JANICE IS JASMINE, YOU ARE UP. HI, I AM JANICE MENDES AND I'M A LIFELONG BORN AND RAISED LONG BEACH RESIDENT, ALUMNI OF CAL STATE LONG BEACH AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZER HERE IN LONG BEACH. ISRAELIS, US BACKED ETHNIC CLEANSING OF GAZA HAS CLAIMED OVER 20,000 PALESTINIAN LIVES AND WOUNDED OVER 54,000 OTHERS. LONG BEACH CANNOT BACK THE IDFS TERRORIST ACTIONS. I CALL ON YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE PROCLAMATION, CALLING FOR A LASTING CEASEFIRE. IF YOU SIT HERE TODAY COMFORTABLY IN YOUR POSITION OF POWER AND VOTE AGAINST CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE, YOU WILL PERSONALLY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEATHS, TO THE DEATHS OF PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, CHILDREN, BABIES. THEIR BLOOD WILL BE ON YOUR HANDS, THEIR BLOOD WILL BE ON. LONG BEACH'S HANDS. I URGE YOU TO CONDEMN GENOCIDE AND OCCUPATION AND THE APART AND THE 16 YEAR SAGE FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. NEXT IS JASMINE, THEN MELIN. I FEEL A LOT OF GRATITUDE FOR THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE WHEN PASSED. WE WOULD BE THE LARGEST CITY ON THE WEST COAST TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. I KNOW THE RHETORIC OF ZIONISM IS LOUD. I KNOW THAT THE FALSE OR MISPLACED ACCUSATIONS OF ANTISEMITISM IS LOUD, BUT THE CONTINUED SCREAMS OF 10,000 GAZEN CHILDREN IS EVEN LOUDER. AND THE CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE BY THOUSANDS IN THIS CITY AND MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD IS EVEN LOUDER WHEN LONG BEACH CALLS FOR A CEASEFIRE. LONG BEACH IS TELLING THE COMMUNITY THAT THERE IS NO DEBATE ABOUT HUMAN LIFE NEAR OR FAR. A PROCLAMATION FOR A CEASEFIRE IS CALLED FOR A PEACE FOR ALL OF OUR COMMUNITIES. IT STATES THAT SOME LIVES ARE NOT WORTH MORE THAN OTHERS AND THAT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. SO I LOOK FORWARD TO STAYING WITH YOU FROM LONG BEACH TO GAZA CEASEFIRE NOW. THANK YOU. NEXT IS MAY LYNN, THEN JAY BURNETT, MAY DISTRICT THREE. I'M A RENTER. I SUPPORT A PROCLAMATION THAT CALLS BOLDLY FOR CEASEFIRE. MAYOR, WHEN YOU ANNOUNCE THE RACIAL RECONCILIATION INITIATIVE, YOU QUOTED CONGRESSMAN LEWIS QUOTE. WHEN YOU SEE SOMETHING THAT IS NOT RIGHT, YOU MUST SAY SOMETHING. YOU MUST DO SOMETHING. DEMOCRACY IS NOT A STATE, IT'S AN ACT END QUOTE. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS MOMENT OF NEEDING TO SAY SOMETHING AND DO SOMETHING AND SPEAK AGAINST WHAT IS NOT RIGHT. US FUNDED MASS SLAUGHTER OF PALESTINIANS BY ISRAEL. YOU KNOW THAT EQUITY REQUIRES ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF POWER. THERE'S AN OBVIOUS POWER AND EQUITY WHEN ONE ENTITY ISRAEL RECEIVES CLOSE TO 4 BILLION FROM THE US INCLUDING 6 MILLION FROM LONG BEACH TO CARPET BOMB AND COMMIT UNSPEAKABLE SKILL OF VIOLENCE AND PALESTINIANS. DISSECTING AND DISMANTLING POWER MATTERS. AND I KNOW THAT YOU KNOW THIS BECAUSE OF RACIAL EQUITY INITIATIVES. I LOVE LONG BEACH. WE'RE ABOUT 75% PEOPLE OF COLOR AND THERE'S A REASON WHY YOU SEE THAT BEAUTIFUL DIVERSITY OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AND ARE WHITE ALLIES REFLECTED AND THOSE WHO ARE SPEAKING AGAINST GENOCIDE AND MAYBE NOT SO MUCH, MUCH THOSE WHO ARE ALL APOLOGISTS OF GENOCIDE. WHEN I THINK ABOUT WHAT I LOVE ABOUT LONG BEACH, I THINK ABOUT ALL THE PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO HAVE SURVIVED. THANK YOU, AND FOUGHT GENOCIDE AND SAY NEVER AGAIN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS JAY. AFTER JAY IS NAZI AND THEN NEIL JAY. HEY, MY NAME IS JAY. I'M A NEW HUNTER IN LONG BEACH AND I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE PARTY FOR SOCIALISM AND LIBERATION. WE HAVE HEARD THAT THIS IS A FAR AWAY CONFLICT AND IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH US, BUT WE'VE ALSO HEARD THAT IT'S OUR MONEY PAYING FOR THESE BONDS, THAT IT IS OUR NEIGHBORS WHO LOSE FAMILY MEMBERS AND THAT WE MUST NOT FORGET THAT THE IDF TRAINS IN PARALLEL MANY CITIES POLICE UNITS, IT'S NOT LOST ON US THAT TODAY IN THIS VERY SESSION, THIS COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON THEP D'S MILITARY WEAPONS PLAN. POLICE STATES ABROAD INEVITABLY TURN TO POLICE STATES AT HOME. THIS IS A CONFLICT BORN OUT OF COLONIZATION, OF DISPLACEMENT AND OF DEHUMANIZATION CARRIED OUT THROUGH A ILLEGAL FRAMEWORK IN APARTHEID ISRAEL. IT IS NOT AN ISRAEL HAMAS CONFLICT, NOR DOES THE WAR BETWEEN TWO STATES WHO ARE EQUALS. IT'S COLLECTIVE PUNISHMENT OF A TRAPPED POPULATION THAT HAS MAJORITY CHILDREN AND IT'S PREMEDITATE PREMEDITATED CLEANSING TO THOSE WHO TRULY WANNA VALUE LIFE TO SEE THE SUFFERING ON ALL SIDES. IT IS CLEAR THAT THE CEASEFIRE IS THE ONLY THE FIRST STEP IN A PEACE PROCESS. WE CANNOT OR SHOULD NOT CONTROL THE OR ACTIONS OF OTHER STATES, BUT WE CAN AND MUST ORGANIZE AS THE US PEOPLE TO PRESSURE OUR OWN GOVERNMENT TO BOYCOTT, DIVEST FROM AND SANCTION OTHER NATIONS WHO HAS SHOWN DISREGARD FOR INTERNATIONAL LAW AND HUMAN LIFE. [02:30:01] WE MUST STOP FUNDING ISRAEL. WE MUST STOP MILITARY ESCALATION AND WE MUST THANK YOU LOCALLY AFFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS NAZI HERE? IF NOT, IF THERE'S NO NAZI, I THINK THAT WAS A DUPLICATE. NEXT IS NEIL SCHWEIDER. MR. MAYOR ESTEEM COUNCILPERSONS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. IMAGINE A NIGHTMARE SCENARIO IN WHICH A HOARD OF BARBARIANS COME FROM CANADA INTO THE UNITED STATES. THEY MURDER, THEY RAPE, THEY MUTILATE, AND THEY KIDNAP OUR CITIZENS. OF COURSE WE GO AFTER THEM IF THAT WERE THE CASE. ALL RIGHT FOLKS. SORRY SIR, IF YOU COULD JUST GIMME A MOMENT. WE NEED TO RESPECT EVERY SPEAKER WHO IS HERE IS NOT PRODUCTIVE FOR ALL OF OUR TIME. EVERYONE HAS AN A RIGHT TO SPEAK, UH, UH, AND BE HEARD, SO THANK YOU. PLEASE PROCEED WITH YOUR SPEAKING. THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. IF THAT WERE THE CASE, WOULD WE BE SITTING HERE TODAY TALKING ABOUT A CEASEFIRE? ISRAEL IS ENTITLED TO DEFEND ITSELF. IT'S ENTITLED TO ROOT OUT TERRORISTS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. OKAY, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT QUEUE. YOU HAVE JAKE NICOSIA, YOU HAVE MANOLI, YOU HAVE SCOTT V, YOU HAVE WA SARKER, YOU HAVE UH, ALEXANDRA LEVIN, MA CHUBBY SHIREEN SENEGAL, AND SPENCER LARA IS JAKE NICOSIA HERE HAVE, IF ANYONE HEARD THEIR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD. I'M GONNA READ THESE NAMES ONE MORE TIME. I SEE ONE PERSON COMING DOWN. WE MIGHT, WE MIGHT'VE JUST SPED THIS UP A LITTLE BIT. UH, JAKE KOA MANOLI. SCOTT V WA SARKER ALEXANDRA LEVIN. MA CHUBBY SHE AL AND SPENCER LA OKAY. UH, SHIREEN, SINCE YOU'RE THERE, GO AHEAD AND THEN WE'LL JUST WORK THROUGH, UH, PEOPLE IN MIND. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYOR COUNCILWOMAN JONI, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THIS CHANCE AND, AND SIDING WITH HUMANITY AND FOR COUNCILMAN ROBERTA URANGA AND OUR AUSTIN. THANK YOU. UNFORTUNATELY, WE'VE HAD TO BE THE GOOD VICTIMS FOR 75 YEARS. WE CANNOT EVEN EXPRESS OUR ANGER OR OUR RAGE. I'M A PALESTINIAN MUSLIM WOMAN. MY FAMILY SURVIVED A 48 NEP. CKA PALESTINE IS 26 MILES BY FIVE MILES. THERE'S BEEN MORE BOMBS DROPPED ON IT IN THE LAST 70 DAYS THAN HIROSHIMA. IF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS WANT AN EYE FOR AN EYE, WE'VE GIVEN THEM A LOT OF EYES. 10,000 CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED. PREGNANT WOMEN ARE HAVING CHILDREN WITH C-SECTIONS WITHOUT MEDICATION. YOUNG CHILDREN ARE NOT JUST DYING OF HUNGER, BUT THEY'RE BEING BOMBED INTO PIECES EVERY SINGLE DAY. I SEE BODY PARTS OF MY PEOPLE. MY FAMILY'S HOME THAT HAS BEEN IN OUR HOME FOR LIFE GENERATIONS IS NOW RUBBLE. WE CAN'T REACH MOST OF OUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND THE ONES THAT HAVE ESCAPED TO SOUTH CANNOT MAKE IT. WE NEED AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE AND WE ALSO NEED TWO CONDEMN ANTI PALESTINIAN RHETORIC IN THAT PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. OKAY, NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE, PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME SO I CAN MARK YOU OFF. YEAH, MY NAME IS MANOLI. OKAY. MANOLI. GOTCHA. PLEASE PROCEED. MY NAME IS MANLY, A RESIDENT AND RENTER OF DISTRICT FOUR. ACKNOWLEDGING THE GLOBAL COMMUNITY WHO LIVES IN LONG BEACH IS WHY INTERNATIONAL CONVERSATION HAS A PLACE HERE IN CITY COUNCIL. I'M HERE TODAY ASKING FOR ONE LASTING CEASEFIRE, NOT JUST A HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE. TWO HISTORICAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE CONFLICT WHICH EXISTED PRIOR TO OCTOBER 7TH AND THREE RECOGNITION OF THE DEVASTATION IN GAZA. I WANT TO SHARE MY SUPPORT OF A LASTING SEA CEASEFIRE IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE PROCLAMATION. I HOPE Y'ALL WILL STAY FOR ACTION. ITEM 23 THROUGH VOTING ON LBPD, CONTINUED USE OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT. THANK YOU. PLEASE COME FORWARD. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. GO FORWARD, FORWARD. THANK YOU MAAM, WHAT IS YOUR NAME SO I CAN MARK YOU OFF AND DISTINGUISH DISTINGUISHED GUEST. UH, WHAT IS YOUR NAME, SIR? UH, MY NAME WAZ KAR. YES. WAZ SARKAR. THANK YOU. OKAY. PLEASE PROCEED. I LOVE MY FAMILY. I BELIEVE THAT YOU ALL LOVE YOUR FAMILY. SO WE EV EVERY DAY. WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING, YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING THAT. A LOT OF PEOPLE, PALESTINE PEOPLE ARE DYING BY THE ISRAELI PEOPLE AND SOME ISRAELI PEOPLE ALSO DIED FROM THE, THE HAAS. SO, UH, WE NEED CEASEFIRE. WE DON'T LIKE BLOODS. UM, WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS. WE LOVE EACH OTHER [02:35:01] AND UH, NO MATTER WHAT RELIGION I AM, YOU GUYS ARE AND ALL THE GUESTS ARE, UH, IT MUST STOP, UH, OR THE, UH, GENOCIDE AND, UH, YOU ARRANGE FOR CEASEFIRE. WE LOVE LONG BEACH. WE ALL SUPPORT FOR CEASEFIRE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. PLEASE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. JUST TELL ME YOUR NAME SO I CAN MARK YOU OFF. MARTY CHA. ALRIGHT, PLEASE, PLEASE PROCEED. UH, SO MY NAME IS MARI CHUBBY. I'M A MUSLIM AMERICAN, UH, FIRST GENERATION FROM TUNISIA AND, UH, A REALLY, REALLY PROUD LONG BEACH LOCAL, TO BE HONEST. UM, I WANNA FIRST OFF BY DISPELLING SOME OF THE CLAIMS BY THE OPPOSITION THAT, UH, THIS IS A FEDERAL MATTER AND THAT WE HAVE NO SAY IN THIS. UH, I REMEMBER STAYING, I REMEMBER YOU GUYS STOOD FOR, UH, ISRAEL ON OCTOBER 7TH. UM, I ALSO DO REMEMBER STAYING YOU GUYS STOOD WITH UKRAINE, BUT YOU KNOW, I GUESS THAT I MIGHT HAVE MY, YOU KNOW, MIXED UP. ANYWAYS, UM, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT, UH, WHEN PEOPLE COME HERE AND THEY TALK CLAIM ABOUT DIVERSITY AND CLAIM THAT, YOU KNOW, LONG BEACH IS DIVERSE. IT IS. AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPORTING PALESTINE, YOU'LL SEE BLACKS, ARABS, WHITES, JEWS, EVERY CREED, EVERY NA NATIONALITY, EVERY RELIGION. BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE OPPOSITION, I ONLY SEE 1 1, 1 PEOPLE, ONE RACE. AND I JUST, I, I DIDN'T WRITE ANYTHING TODAY. I WASN'T PLANNING TO TALK, BUT I, I JUST REALLY WANNA SAY THANK YOU GUYS FOR BRINGING THIS UP. IT'S A VERY IMPORTANT MATTER AND, UH, CEASEFIRE NOW FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. AND YOUR NAME PLEASE. NAME IS SPENCER. SPENCER, THANK YOU. I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION. I REFUSE THE IDEA THAT AS A CITY WE SHOULDN'T GET INVOLVED. THINGS DON'T HAPPEN IN A VACUUM. LONG BEACH IS A PORT CITY THAT GENERATES MONEY FOR THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY. THIS TRANSLATES INTO POWER FOR US TO TAKE A STAND WOULD BE POWERFUL AND SEND A MESSAGE TO THE COUNTRY AND THE REST OF THE WORLD. AS A CITY, WE HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN INVOLVED. WE HAVE FUNDED 6 MILLION FOR ISRAEL'S WEAPONS THAT CARRY GENOCIDE AGAINST PALESTINIAN CIVILIANS. THAT MONEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED HERE TO FUND OUR HOMELESS PEOPLE, TO FUND OUR SCHOOLS, TO FUND OUR HOSPITALS, TO FUND OUR LIBRARIES, TO FUND OUR COMMUNITY. THERE'S SO MANY ORGS HERE CAN THAT CAN USE THAT MONEY NO MORE USING OUR TAX MONEY TO BOMB PEOPLE ABROAD. NO MORE ARE USING OUR MONEY TO FUND A GENOCIDE ABROAD. NO MORE WAITING EITHER TONIGHT YOU GET TO GO HOME, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL SLEEP IN YOUR BED TONIGHT. YOU KNOW, YOU'LL GET TO SEE YOUR FAMILY, YOU KNOW, YOU'LL GET TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS, BUT THESE PALESTINIANS AND GAZA PEOPLE IN GAZA DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THEY'LL SURVIVE THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES. PERMANENT CEASEFIRE NOW AND FREE PALESTINE FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. ALRIGHT, SO THREE NAMES DIDN'T SHOW UP. I'M GONNA SAY 'EM ONE MORE TIME SO THEY CAN SHOW UP. AND THEN I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT 10. UH, JAKE, SIA, SCOTT V AND I BELIEVE THAT MAY BE A DUPLICATE. AND THEN ALEXANDRIA 11, UH, IF THEY ARE HERE, PLEASE COME FORWARD. AND THEN THE NEXT 10 ARE MARSHALL BOFSKI, SADIE BROWN, SCHUEL MEETH. I'M GONNA SPELL IT. M-A-H-G-E-R-E-F-T-E-H. HUMEL. MARETE AND UH, MICHAEL GEEN. ROBERT BEAN FEL BEAN FELD, AL, LYDIA, UH, OR LYDA, LTA AND KEA. THOSE ARE THE NEXT 10. OKAY, MARSHALL, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. OKAY. I'M MARSHALL BOFSKI AND I'M IN THE SECOND DISTRICT. UM, UH, ONE THING I'M GONNA SAY IS JEWISH LONG BEACH DOES NOT REPRESENT ALL THE JEWISH PEOPLE IN LONG BEACH. AND I AM NOT REPRESENTING TEAL ISRAEL, BUT I AM REPRESENTING THE TEMPLE ISRAEL COMMITTEE FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE IN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL. THE KILLING OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS BY HAMAS AND TAKING HOSTAGES ARE HORRIFIC ACTS AND ARE CLEARLY WAR CRIMES. IT IS ONE THING FOR THE STATE OF ISRAEL TO FIGHT AND DEFEAT, DEFEAT HAMAS. IT IS ANOTHER THING TO PUNISH THE PEOPLE OF GAZA WITH INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING. THE THOUSANDS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN HAVE BEEN KILLED WITH US, MADE WEAPONS AND NONE OF THEM VOTED FOR HAMAS IN 2006. DENYING PA PALESTINIANS WATER, FOOD, ENERGY IS INHUMAN MEAN. AS LONG AS THIS CONTINUES. JUDAISM TEACHES PEACE, COMPASSION, FORGIVENESS, AND KINDNESS, AS WELL AS PROPORTIONAL JUSTICE. SOMEDAY THERE'S GONNA BE PEACE, BUT IT HAS TO BE PEACE BETWEEN PALESTINIANS THAT HAVE RIGHTS AND JEWS THAT HAVE RIGHTS BECAUSE [02:40:01] BOTH SIDES ARE THREATENED. THANK YOU, SIR. YOUR TIME IS CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS SADIE BROWN. SADIE BROWN, IL MAGAR, RETE, ISRAEL OR PALESTINE. PALESTINE. THE CORRECT ANSWER IS BOTH. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. EXCUSE ME. CAN YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS THE COUNCIL. MY NAME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. UH, COUNCIL AMHERST. MARK TWAIN SAID IT'S EASIER TO FOOL PEOPLE AND TO CONVINCE THEM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN FOOLED. AND THAT WAS BEFORE SOCIAL MEDIA. I AM A JEW AND AMERICAN AND AN ISRAELI. WHEN I WAS FIVE, MY FAMILY FLED IRAN ON HORSEBACK AFTER THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC STARTED PUBLICLY EXECUTING JEWS FOR SUPPORTING ISRAEL. I WORKED AS A PHYSICIAN IN JERUSALEM FOR SEVEN YEARS. I TREATED ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS. HALF THAT TIME I WORKED FOR FREE. I AM NOT GENOCIDAL. THANK YOU. PEACE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND PALESTINE IS POSSIBLE. I HAVE LIVED IT, BUT HAMAS IS NOT PALESTINE, SO CALL THEM OUT. IRAN AND THEIR PROXY, HAMAS ABSOLUTELY OPPOSE PEACE. THE VERY EXISTENCE OF A JEWISH STATE IS AN APTIMA TO THEIR WORLDVIEW. TRUE. IT DIDN'T START ON OCTOBER 7TH, BUT IF YOU CAN'T SEE THAT AFTER OCTOBER 7TH, THEN YOU HAVE BEEN FOOLED. NOBODY WANTS CHILDREN TO DIE, BUT WAR IS NOT A METAPHOR. PLEASE, IF YOU TRULY CARE ABOUT PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST, ADD HAMAS. SURRENDER TO YOUR PROCLAMATION. YEAH. IF WE CAN'T FINALLY DO THAT NOW, WHEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I WANT TO SPEAK WHEN THE MAYOR IS HERE. WELL THE MAYOR HAS TAKEN A RESTROOM BREAK AND HE'S TURNED THE GAVEL OVER IN THE CHAIR TO ME, SO PLEASE PROCEED. HE CAN HEAR YOU IN THE BACK. RIGHT . AND I'LL REMIND YOU THAT THE COUNCIL WILL BE VOTING ON THE, THE ITEM BEFORE US, NOT THE MAYOR. SO PLEASE. RIGHT. I JUST WANT HIM TO BE ABLE TO HEAR MY WORDS. OKAY. THANK YOU. CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS THOUGH WE STRONGLY SUPPORT PASSING A RESOLUTION FOR A PERMANENT AND UNCONDITIONAL CEASEFIRE IN GAZA, WE URGE THE COUNCIL TO AMEND SECTIONS OF THE RESOLUTION TO EXCLUDE RHETORIC THAT FURTHER SUMS ZIONIST OCCUPATION AND COLONIZATION. A CEASEFIRE IS THE BARE MINIMUM. WE DO NOT ONLY NEED A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE, BUT ALSO AN END TO THE ISRAELI MILITARY OCCUPATION AND END TO THE 17 YEAR SAGE ON GAZA AND END TO THE MASS DISPLACEMENT AND END TO THE APARTHEID SYSTEM PLAGUING THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE FOR OVER 75 YEARS. WE NEED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF ISRAEL'S GENOCIDAL VIOLENCE. YOU CANNOT COMPARE THE OCCUPIER TO THE OCCUPIED, THE COLONIZER TO THE COLONIZED. ISRAEL CANNOT INVOKE THE RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE AGAINST A TERRITORY THAT IT KEEPS UNDER AGGRESSIVE OCCUPATION. BY SUPPORTING ISRAEL'S RIGHTS TO DEFEND ITSELF, THE COUNCIL WOULD BE JUSTIFYING ITS ONGOING BRUTAL INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING AND GENOCIDE. YOU SAY ONGOING CONFLICT AND INSTEAD WE SHOULD BE SAYING ONGOING GENOCIDE. WHEN WE WATER DOWN THE LANGUAGE AND TERMS THAT WE USE LIKE CONFLICT, IT MINIMIZES THE EXTENT OF THE ISRAELI STATE VIOLENCE AGAINST PALESTINIANS. MAYOR REX, YOU HAD NO ISSUE STANDING WITH ISRAEL. WE ALL SAW THAT PICTURE. YOU DID WITHOUT THANK YOU. PEOPLE PROTESTING AROUND THE WORLD. YOU DID THIS WITHOUT PEOPLE. THANK YOU. TIME LONG. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. IT'S BEEN 73 DAYS WHEN WILL BE ENOUGH. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, UH, I NEEDED TO USE THE RESTROOM. UH, . THANK YOU COUNCILMAN AUSTIN FOR BACKING ME UP. ALL RIGHT, I'M GONNA LIST A FEW NAMES. UH, SADIE BROWN. IS THAT YOU? SHE, I SPOKE EARLIER. SADIE SPOKE. OKAY. MICHAEL GUERIN. DID MICHAEL SPEAK? ROBERT FELD. OKAY. MICHAEL. AND AFTER MICHAEL IS LITA, THEN LITA, THEN KEA. ALRIGHT, MICHAEL. UH, ROBERT, YOU ARE UP. THANK YOU. UM, MY NAME IS ROBERT FELD. I'M A 35 YEAR RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH IN, UH, CHRISTINA DUGAN'S DISTRICT. I HAVE FAMILY IN SOME OTHER COUNCIL MEMBER'S DISTRICT. I'M SPEAKING HERE, UM, AGAINST THIS PROCLAMATION, AUTHORITARIANISM IS WHEN OFFICIALS ACT BEYOND THEIR SCOPE, AUTHORITARIANS SHORT CIRCUIT, THE PROCESSES OF GOVERNMENT AUTHORITARIANS, WHIP UP CROWDS, AUTHORITARIANS, TRAMPLE ON SOCIAL NORMS. BY INVOLVING THIS CITY IN DISPUTES BEYOND ITS MANDATE AND EXPERTISE AND TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE, EACH OF YOU ARE MAKING IT OKAY FOR OTHERS IN GOVERNMENT TO OVERREACH THEIR AUTHORITY. YOU ARE CONTRIBUTING TO MORE GOVERNMENT CHAOS, NOT LESS. [02:45:02] AND UH, A PROCLAMATION THAT SAYS YOU'RE AGAINST DISCRIMINATION OR HATE IS FINE. THANK YOU. BUT A PROCLAMATION THAT INTERJECTS UNSOPHISTICATED THOUGHT, THANK YOU. IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS LIDA. AFTER LIDA IS LIFT OF INFA. VFA. HI, MY NAME IS, UH, LET'S GET THE MICROPHONE ON. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU LITA. HI, MY NAME IS LITA AND I'M A PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY MEMBER WHO IS HERE TO STRONGLY SUPPORT PASSING A RESOLUTION FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN REZA, BUT NOT ONE THAT ERASES THE ZIONIST STATE'S HISTORY OF SETTLER COLONIAL VIOLENCE. I URGE THE COUNCIL TO AMEND SECTION TWO OF THE RESOLUTION, WHICH CALLS FOR ATLASSIAN HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE TO NOT ONLY EXPLICITLY CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE, BUT ALSO AN END TO ISRAEL'S MILITARY OCCUPATION OF PALESTINE. WE NEED YOU TO RECOGNIZE THE LAST 75 YEARS OF SETTLER COLONIAL VIOLENCE THAT HAS BEEN UNLEASHED ON THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, 17 YEARS OF BRUTAL S PEOPLE AND THE VIOLENT ETHNIC CLEANSING PROJECT THAT SEEKS AND FAILS TO ERASE THE PALESTINIAN IDENTITY. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED NOR A HU A NEW HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. IT IS A MOMENT THAT HAS COME FROM 75 YEARS OF OCCUPATION OF INDIGENOUS PALESTINIANS ON THEIR LAND. AND I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT THESE WEAK ZIONIST TALKING POINTS THAT YOU HEAR TODAY ARE ONLY INTENDED TO SILENCE US, BUT THEY HAVE NOT. AND CONTIN, THEY HAVE NOT WON AND HAVE CONTINUED TO FAIL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. WE'RE STILL, AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXPOSE THE DANGERS OF ZIONISM. THANK YOU TO YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK YOU. NEXT IS LIFT. HELLO. I LIKE TO REMIND THE COUNCIL THAT IN THIS MOMENT, ANTI PALESTINIAN AND ANTI-MUSLIM HATE INCIDENTS HAVE INCREASED IN OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH IS A DIRECT RELATION TO THE ONGOING GENOCIDE AND GAZA AND ZIONIST OCCUPATION OF PALESTINE. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT OUR PALESTINIAN, ARAB, AND MUSLIM COMMUNITY, HEREBY EXEMPLIFYING THROUGH ACTION THAT WE DO NOT SUPPORT THE GENOCIDE OF THEIR PEOPLE OR CONDONE THE ZIONIST ATTACKS WHICH HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP ON THEM. THE FIRST STEP IN DOING SO IS SHOWING THAT WE DO NOT STAND FOR SETTLER COLONIAL VIOLENCE AND WE DO NOT STAND FOR GENOCIDE AND CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. THESE ZIONIST TALKING POINTS AND PIECES OF MISINFORMATION ARE DANGEROUS TO THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY. WE'VE ALREADY SEEN MISINFORMATION, LIKE THE STATEMENTS THAT YOU'RE HEARING TODAY LEAD TO THE DEATH OF A 6-YEAR-OLD PALESTINIAN CHILD WITH OMI. THE SHOOTING OF THREE PALESTINIAN STUDENTS IN VERMONT FOR SIMPLY SPEAKING ARABIC AND WEARING KAFIS AND MORE VOTING IN FAVOR OF CEASEFIRE WILL NOT ONLY HELP SAVE LIVES IN GAZA, BUT ALSO HERE IN LONG BEACH FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA, PASA WILL BE FREE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. OKAY, KEA, BEFORE YOU START, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT 10. OKAY. UH, THAT'S JOSHUA DE LEONE, AALIYAH HADDI AZAB BAHAR MI HONI, UM, JULIE HYMAN, UM, CARLA ALVARADO SONIYA. KEN FAY TAMER AL A-L-Q-A-W-S-M-I AND ADAM OVERTON. OKAY, KEA, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. AFTER 73 DAYS OF UNRELENTING INDISCRIMINATE CARPET BOMBING OF GAZA OVER 12,000 PALESTINIANS, MORE THAN HALF OF THEM CHILDREN HAVE BEEN MURDERED BY ISRAEL, THE ZIONIST STATE AFTER 73 DAYS. AND FOR SOME OF US WAY BEFORE THAT, OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HAVE PROVEN THAT THEY DO NOT STAND FOR THE PEOPLE THAT THEY'RE PUPPETS CONTROLLED BY THE ZIONIST LOBBY. AFTER 73 DAYS, THE WORLD HAS PROVEN THAT THE MASSES STAND WITH PALESTINE. AND TODAY IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW THAT YOU STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY TO SHOW THAT YOU STAND WITH YOUR PEOPLE WHO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. BUT LET ME BE CLEAR TODAY, WE ARE HERE TO URGE YOU TO VOTE FOR A CEASEFIRE. BUT WHETHER IT IS PASSED OR NOT, WE WILL CONTINUE TO ORGANIZE AS WE HAVE FOR THE PAST 75 YEARS THROUGH INCREASED LAW ENFORCEMENT, THROUGH SURVEILLANCE CENSORSHIP, AND THE TARGETING OF OUR COMMUNITIES. WE'LL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP AND DISSEMINATE EDUCATION ABOUT OUR PEOPLE, ABOUT ZIONIST OCCUPATION AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO TAKE TO THE STREETS BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE ARE IN POWER AND NOT THE PEOPLE IN OFFICE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, FOLKS. ALL RIGHT FOLKS. SO LET'S, UH, LET'S, HEY FOLKS, WE'RE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS. THAT'S NOT, LET'S NOT LOSE IT HERE. LET'S LET EVERYBODY HAVE THEIR TIME. OKAY. I BELIEVE JOSH DELONE ALREADY SPOKE. SO NEXT WOULD BE AALIYAH, THEN JIR. HELLO, UH, MY NAME IS ALIA SFI. I'M THE SENIOR POLICY COORDINATOR AT THE COUNCIL ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS GRAD GREATER LA CHAPTER THAT SERVES LONG BEACH AS PART OF ITS REGION. I'M URGING A UNANIMOUS VOTE FOR YOUR YES ON [02:50:01] THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION TONIGHT, BECAUSE IF BOMBING IN A MILITARY SIEGE ON GAZA WAS THE WAY TO GET THE HOSTAGES HOME, THEY WOULD BE HOME BY NOW. INSTEAD, WE HAVE 20,000 PALESTINIANS DEAD AND THREE HOSTAGES THAT HAVE BEEN KILLED BY INEPT IDF SOLDIERS WHO CAN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMBATANTS AND ISRAELIS THAT ARE SHIRTLESS AND HOLDING A WHITE FLAG. MY ONLY CRITICISM WITH THE PROCLAMATION IS THAT IT DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH. AS A PRIOR COMMENTER SAID, I HOPE YOU DO VISIT ISRAEL AND THE OCCUPIED PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES, A PRIVILEGE THAT WILL BE DENIED OF SO MANY PALESTINIANS HERE WHO HAVE NO RIGHT TO RETURN. UH, I HOPE THAT YOU CAN SEE THE MULTITUDE OF CHECKPOINTS THAT ARE HUMILIATING PALESTINIANS IN THE WEST BANK EVERY SINGLE DAY. I HOPE YOU TALK TO THE PEOPLE LIVING IN ISRAELI SETTLEMENTS AND HOW THEY JUSTIFY TAKING POSSESSION OF HOMES THAT PALESTINIAN FAMILIES HAVE LIVED IN FOR GENERATIONS PRIOR. I HOPE YOU SPEAK TO SOME OF THE 600 FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST A FAMILY MEMBER AT THE HANDS OF ISRAEL. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT IS YOUR TIME. MOST OF THEM IN THE WEST BANK. ALL RIGHT. WHERE THERE IS NO HAMATH. THE NEXT IS HEIR ZE AND THEN BAHAR. UH, GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS HEIR ZA AND I'M A POLICY COORDINATOR AT THE COUNCIL ON AMERICAN ISLAMIC RELATIONS LOS ANGELES CHAPTER, WHICH SERVES AS WITH LONG BEACH AS PART OF ITS REGION. I'D LIKE TO THANK THE COUNCIL FIRST FOR BRINGING THIS RESOLUTION FORWARD, BUT I'M HERE TO URGE YOU TO CONTINUE ON THIS MORAL PATH FOR CALLING FOR A LASTING CEASEFIRE. OVER 20,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED DUE TO THE ISRAELI BOMBARDED AND THEIR BOMBARDMENT AND THEIR GENOCIDAL CAMPAIGN. 1.9 MILLION PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN DISPLACED AND ARE BEING STARVED. ENTIRE FAMILIES HAVE BEEN WIPED OUT. PALESTINIANS DESERVE TO BE HEARD AND BE REPRESENTED. THEY DESERVE TO BE TREATED WITH HUMAN DIGNITY AND PEACE. THE CITY COUNCIL MUST CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE AND RECOGNIZE THAT THE EVENTS OF OCTOBER 7TH DID NOT OCCUR IN A VACUUM AND OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF 75 YEARS OF CONFLICTS AND VIOLENCE. COUNCIL MEMBERS, YOUR CONSTITUENTS ARE ASKING YOU TO SEE THEM AS HUMAN AND TO STAND WITH THEM IN SOLIDARITY. YOUR YES VOTE ON THIS RESOLUTION IS A COMMITMENT TO CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWS FOR A SAFE ENVIRONMENT AND A COMMITMENT TO YOUR PALESTINIAN, ARAB-AMERICAN MUSLIM, AND JEWISH COMMUNITIES WHO HAVE BEEN DIRECTLY AFFECTED BY THIS CRISIS. CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS BAHAR BAHAR, B-A-H-A-R. AFTER THAT IS JULIE HELLMAN. GOOD EVENING. I AM A PRODUCT OF THE LONG BEACH PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM FROM PRE-K THROUGH GRADUATING LONG BEACH POLY HIGH SCHOOL IN 1997. I'M A HUMAN RIGHTS ATTORNEY. I'M A FORMER PUBLIC DEFENDER WHO WORKED IN THAT COURTHOUSE ONE BLOCK AWAY FROM 2014 TO 2017. I LIVED IN RAMAH AND I WORKED WITH PALESTINIAN HUMAN RIGHTS DEFENDERS. I LED A LEGAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR EVERY PALESTINIAN LAW SCHOOL IN THE WEST BANK. I'M HERE AS A DIRECT WITNESS TO THE OCCUPATION AND THE APARTHEID STATE THAT ISRAEL HAS IMPOSED ON THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WE HAVE AS A CITY. AND ALL OF YOU HAVE A MORAL, ETHICAL, AND HUMANITARIAN OBLIGATION TO VOTE FOR A CEASEFIRE. I AM ASKING YOU, I AM BEGGING YOU TO HAVE THE PERSONAL MORAL COURAGE TO STAND AGAINST THE GENOCIDE IN GAZA. EVERY MINUTE THAT WE SPEAK TONIGHT, PEOPLE ARE DYING. THERE IS NO ACCEPTABLE JUSTIFICATION FOR WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE AND I'M LITERALLY BEGGING YOU TO INTERVENE. STAND ON THE RIGHT YOUR TIME SIDE OF HISTORY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THAT IS YOUR TIME. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS JULIE. AFTER JULIE IS CARLA, GOOD EVENING. I, I KNOW I SOUND PROBABLY LIKE I WAS BORN HERE, BUT I CAME AS A REFUGEE AND SO I'M ESPECIALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANCE TO TALK WITH YOU TONIGHT. NOW, ON OCTOBER 6TH, THERE WAS A CEASEFIRE IN PLACE AND WHEN HAMAS CAME ACROSS THE BORDER, JUST TO TAKE ONE EXAMPLE, THEY BURNED A LITTLE GIRL ALIVE SO COMPLETELY THAT HER FAMILY HAD TO BEAR. OKAY, FOLKS, LET'S, EVERYONE HAS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK FREE IN THIS CHAMBER. LET'S RESPECT EVERY SPEAKER, UH, AND ALLOW THEM THEIR 60 SECONDS. PLEASE PROCEED. THANK YOU, MAYOR RICHARDSON. HER FAMILY HAD TO BURY HER BELONGINGS BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING PHYSICALLY LEFT OF HER. HAMAS IS OUT THERE RIGHT NOW SAYING, WE WILL DO THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN AND I'D LIKE TO PROVIDE YOU TRANSLATIONS, THIRD PARTY TRANSLATIONS OF THEIR STATEMENTS. WE WILL COME OVER, WE WILL DO THIS AGAIN AND AGAIN UNTIL ISRAEL IS DESTROYED. IN THE FACE OF THAT TO SAY, ISRAEL, STOP DEFENDING YOURSELF. STOP YOUR MILITARY ACTION IS TO SAY TO THE JEWS, LAY DOWN AND LET THEM TORTURE YOU TO DEATH. THAT IS WHAT THEY DID. NOW, IF THIS COUNCIL WANTS TO TAKE UP THE HUMANITARIAN CAUSE AND I FEEL FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, IT IS HORRIFYING TO WATCH CALL ON KAMAS TO SURRENDER, COME OUT FROM BEHIND THEIR HUMAN SHIELDS AND GIVE BACK THE HOSTAGES. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS, NEXT IS CARLA. ALL RIGHT, FOLKS, COME ON. LET'S HAVE A LITTLE [02:55:01] RESPECT. I'M TRYING TO CHAIR THIS MEETING. WE HAVE, WE HAVE GONE, WE HAVE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB. WE'RE ALMOST AT A HUNDRED SPEAKERS. WE HAVE, WE HAVE, UM, ABOUT 68 MORE BEYOND A HUNDRED TO GET THROUGH. SO LET'S RESPECT EVERYBODY'S TIME. EVERYONE HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK. I'M GONNA TRY TO DO THIS ORDERLY, BUT LET'S LET EVERYONE SPEAK AND GET THROUGH THIS PROCESS SO THE CITY COUNCIL CAN ULTIMATELY GET TO ITS DELIBERATION TONIGHT AND NOT NEXT YEAR. SO LET'S GO THROUGH THIS. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, SO NEXT IS CARLA. IS CARLA HERE? OKAY. AFTER CARLA IS SAI AND THEN TAMER OUT TAMER. THANK YOU. HELLO, MY NAME IS CARLA AND I'M A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER HERE IN LONG BEACH. BUT TODAY, I'M, I AM HERE AS A HUMAN BEING. TODAY WE ASK FOR YOUR VOTE IN DEMANDING FOR A PERMANENT CEASE FIRE TO END THIS GENOCIDE WHILE THIS GENOCIDE IS HAPPENING ON AN OCEAN AWAY. YOUR VOTE TODAY WILL SHOW HOW COMPLICIT YOU ARE TO THIS US BACK GENOCIDE. AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, IT IS YOUR JOB TO NOT ONLY REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS, BUT YOUR PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY MEMBERS LIVING HERE IN LONG BEACH. SO AND HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY MEMBERS HAVE BEEN CALLING, EMAILING, AND EVEN SHOWING UP TO DEMAND A CEASEFIRE. IT IS YOUR DUTY TO LISTEN TO THOSE WHO PUT YOU IN POWER. ONE DAY YOUR GRANDCHILDREN WILL ASK WHERE YOU SIT DURING THIS ETHNIC CLASS CLEANSING, AND I HOPE THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO SAY THAT YOU STOOD IN THE SIDE OF HUMANITY AND LOVE IN THE SIDE THAT VALUES PALESTINIAN LIVES. SO LONG BEACH DEMANDS FOR A CEASEFIRE NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT IS SONAI. UH, SONAI CAN FACE SIX DISTRICT RESIDENT, YOU KNOW, AMAZON RECENTLY THEY HAD A CYBER MONDAY, UH, ADVERTISEMENT, WHEREAS FOR $1 YOU CAN GET SIX MONTHS FREE. THE LA TIMES. UM, THAT'S HOW I KNOW THAT, UH, FORMER COUNCILMAN, UH, BRODY, I'M NOT GONNA SAY HE'S AN ELDER, SO I'M NOT GONNA SAY HE LIED, BUT HE'S PERHAPS A LITTLE MISTAKEN BECAUSE THE CITY OF LONG BEACH VOTED TO DISINVEST FROM APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA WHEN HE WAS THE CITY COUNCILMAN. SO WHAT IS HE TALKING ABOUT THAT WE DON'T ENGAGE WITH INTERNATIONAL. THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL CITY, LIKE IT'S A PART OF OUR CORE. AND YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR DUKE MAGEN, HE LITERALLY BROUGHT A DISINVESTMENT, UH, PROCEDURE TO TO, TO THE CITY. UH, THAT'S HOW CALPERS AND CALSTERS TOOK OUT, YOU KNOW, BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OUT OF, UH, APARTHEID SOUTH AFRICA. AND THAT GOVERNMENT FELL APART. THAT'S WHY IT'S, IT'S VERY IMPERATIVE THAT ANY APPEAL TO AUTHORITY, YOU HAVE TO, YOU KNOW, FACT CHECK TO, UM, I'VE BEEN TO HE BRON, I'VE BEEN TO WEST BANK, I'VE BEEN TO RAMALLAH. UM, THERE'S A TALE OF TWO CITIES THERE JUST AS IS HERE. SO I, I WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CAN ALL LIVE IN COMMUNITY AND PEACE HAS TO BE THE, UH, INGREDIENT TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. CLAIM FOR THE PEACE FIRE. ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT IS TAMER, T-A-M-E-R. AND THEN ADAM OVERTON IS T-A-M-E-R. TAMER. PLEASE COME FORWARD. HELLO EVERYONE. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK TODAY. YOU HEAR PEOPLE TODAY SAY, HAMAS IS TERRORISTS. YOU NEED TO ASK THEM ABOUT THE DEFINITION OF TERRORISM. YOU WILL FIND OUT THAT ISRAEL, THE CREATION OF THE OCCUPATION WAS ON TERRORISM. WHY? WE SEARCH ABOUT AKAH, SEARCH ABOUT SURA, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND WHAT'S HAPPENING IN, UH, IN PALESTINE. UH, EVERYTHING STARTED BEFORE OCTOBER SEVEN IS BEING IGNORED. WHY OUR LIFE IS NOT IMPORTANT. THE RESISTANCE IS OUR RIGHT. WHAT IS HAPPENING IN PALESTINE AND RAZA IN THE WEST BANK IS A THREAT TO HUMANITY. HOW CAN YOU LEAVE ZA IN 2005 BUT YOU STILL BLOCKED EVERYTHING IN AND OUT. THE GENOCIDE YOU ARE WITNESSING RIGHT NOW DID NOT STARTING RIGHT NOW. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 75 YEARS. IF YOU CARE ABOUT HUMANITY IN THE OCCUPATION, FREE TESTIMONY FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA. THANK YOU. OKAY, ADAM, BEFORE YOU GO, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT 10 AND, UH, SO WE HAVE AHMA AL VEER, MCKENNA, STUMP, DIANE BERKHOLDER, ELIZABETH G, JUDE STONE, TONY MARIE, AVA, VALDO, BROWN ACT, CHRISTOPHER COVINGTON, AVA, JAVA, HARRY, AND UMAR TI AND I'M ALSO GONNA ANNOUNCE THAT THE SPEAKER'S LIST IS CLOSING. UH, WE'RE GONNA LEAVE IT OPEN, UH, FOR ANYONE WHO'S IN THE OUT OUTSIDE TRYING TO MAKE IT IN. UH, THE LINE IS ENDING. UM, I UNDERSTAND THERE'S MAYBE ONE OR TWO ADDITIONAL PEOPLE, SO MAKE YOUR MAKE YOUR WAY HERE. NOW, IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE IN THE LOBBY TRYING TO, UH, GET ON SPEAKER'S LIST, IT IS CLOSING, UH, IN THE NEXT FIVE MINUTES OR SO. OKAY, THANK YOU. PLEASE PROCEED. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU SO [03:00:01] MUCH. UM, GOOD EVENING, COUNSEL MAYOR. MY NAME'S ADAM OVERTON. I'M A LONG BEACH RESIDENT LIVING IN ALAMEDO BEACH AND I'M A JEW. I STAND HERE TONIGHT IN SOLIDARITY WITH MY PALESTINIAN, PALESTINIAN SIBLINGS AND WITH OTHER JEWS OF CONSCIENCE AND URGING YOU TO JOIN US IN CALLING FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA. I'M THE GRAND AND GREAT-GRANDSON OF JEWISH REFUGEES WHO BARELY ESCAPED WITH THEIR LIVES FROM POLAND IN THE 1930S. I'M INTIMATELY AWARE OF THE INTERGENERATIONAL TRAUMA WE'VE INHERITED FROM THEM, BUT JEWS OF MY GENERATION AND YOUNGER HAVE SEEN AGAIN AND AGAIN ISRAEL WEAPONIZE OUR TRAUMA IN ORDER TO JUSTIFY THE VENGEFUL SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENT PALESTINIANS. IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS, ISRAEL'S OCCUPATION FORCES HAVE KILLED MORE THAN 20,000 INNOCENT PALESTINIANS. UH, NEARLY 70% OF WHOM ARE WOMEN AND CHILDREN. ISRAEL HAS KILLED MORE PALESTINIAN WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS THAN WERE KILLED IN 20 YEARS IN THE US WAR IN AFGHANISTAN. THIS IS NOT SELF-DEFENSE, THIS IS NOT A JUST WAR. WHAT WE'RE WI WITNESSING IS ETHIC, CLEANSING, AND GENOCIDE. THIS V UH, VIOLATES ALL OF MY MY CORD JEWISH VALUES. THANK YOU. YOUR TESTIMONY CAN PLACE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. SPEAK. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. THAT WAS YOUR 60 SECONDS. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS AHAD. IS AHAD HERE? AHAD IS AHAD HERE. PLEASE COME FORWARD AFTER AHAD IS MCKENNA AND THEN DIANE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. AHAD, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY. THE WAR DID NOT START ON OCTOBER 7TH. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE WAR DID NOT START ON 1948. I THINK EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT AS WELL. THE WAR STARTED WHEN THE HAGANA THE GON CAME WITH THE AUTHORITY OF THE ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF BRITAIN TO KILL RAPE, DISPLACED 750,000 INNOCENT CIVILIANS. THAT'S WHEN THE WAR STARTED. WHEN YOU WATCH A MOVIE, YOU DON'T WATCH IT FROM THE BIG, FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE MOVIE. YOU WATCH IT FROM THE START. SO YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT OF THE MOVIE. YOU WOULD KNOW THAT THE ERGON, THE HAGANAH ARE TERRORIST GROUP. THAT'S NOT FROM ME, THAT'S FROM THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE GOVERNMENTAL WEBSITE SAYS THAT THESE ARE TERRORIST PEOPLE. THIS IS WHERE IT STARTED. YOU HAVE RIGHT NOW 20,000 PEOPLE KILLED. THAT'S NOT HUMAN. THAT'S NOT, THAT'S YOU HAVE, IF YOU HAVE ANY HUMANITY IN YOU. CEASES FIRE NOW. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS MCKENNA. HELLO, MY NAME IS MCKENNA STUMP AND I AM A LONG BEACH RESIDENT AND VOTER FROM DISTRICT EIGHT AND A LONG BEACH STATE ALUMNI. I'M HERE TONIGHT BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN PEACE. THE CONTINUED INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING OF INNOCENT MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN IN GAZA IS INDEFENSIBLE. ALL IT IS DOING IS FUELING ANGER AND DIVISION AND HATRED. THE LIVES OF ISRAELI HOSTAGES AND INNOCENT CIVILIANS AND GAZA ARE EQUALLY VALUABLE. EVERY HUMAN LIFE IS VALUABLE. EVERY PERSON, REGARDLESS OF FAITH, GENDER, OR COLOR, HAS A RIGHT TO LIFE, TO FOOD, TO WATER, TO SAFETY, TO SELF-DETERMINATION IN A COUNTRY TO CALL THEIR OWN. I WILL NOT SIT QUIETLY AS PEOPLE DEHUMANIZE PALESTINIANS CALLING THEM SHIELDS OR COLLATERAL DAMAGE. I WILL NOT SIT QUIETLY AS AMERICAN POLITICIANS ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY A GENOCIDE. I WILL NOT SIT QUIETLY AS AMERICAN TAX DOLLARS, INCLUDING MY OWN FUND, A GENOCIDE. WE HAVE A DUTY AS AMERICANS TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO STOP THIS CYCLE OF VIOLENCE WHICH BEGAN LONG BEFORE HAMAS EXISTED. CEASEFIRE, NEGOTIATE AND THE OCCUPATION AND FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. YOU ALRIGHT? DIANE IS NEXT? YEAH. HELLO. HELLO. I'M A SECOND DISTRICT RESIDENT. I'M GLAD THAT THIS COUNCIL IS FINALLY ADDRESSING THIS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS ON THE AGENDA. THE PRO THE PROCLAMATION THOUGH HOWEVER, IS A GOOD STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT IT FALLS SHORT, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS NOT A RESOLUTION. ALSO, WE CANNOT FORGET THAT ISRAEL HAS FUNDED HAMAS AND THAT THE US FUNDS ISRAEL. IT DOESN'T CALL FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. A PAUSE IS NOT ENOUGH. EVERYBODY IS DYING. 20% OF IOF SOLDIERS ARE KILLED BY FELLOW SOLDIERS. UM, IT ALSO DOESN'T NAME THAT THE OCCUPATION AND ISRAEL ISRAELI APARTHEID. Y'ALL REMEMBER SOUTH AFRICA BDS WAS SUPPORTED. BDS RESOLUTION WAS SUPPORTED BY CAL STATE STUDENTS IN 2017. THIS IS A ISSUE OF THE CITY. DEVELOPERS ARE SELLING PRE-SELLING LOTS IN DESTROYED GAZA GUARANTEEING BEACH FRESH PROPERTY. ZIONISM IS WHITE SUPREMACY, PERMANENT CEASE FIRE NOW. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ELIZABETH G ELIZABETH G. OKAY. AFTER ELIZABETH G IS JUDE STONE, AND THEN TONY MARIE. IS JUDE HERE? [03:05:02] ALRIGHT, JUDE, YOU'RE UP THEN. TONY MARIE AND THEN BROWN ACT. YOU'RE UP JUDE. THANK YOU ELIZABETH. OH NO. OH, YOU'RE ELIZABETH. YEAH. ALRIGHT, YOU'RE UP. THANK YOU. AS SHAKUR SAID, NOBODY IN THE WORLD, NOBODY IN HISTORY HAS EVER GOTTEN THEIR FREEDOM BY APPEALING TO THE MORAL SENSE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE OPPRESSING THEM. SO I AM NOT HERE TO CONVINCE YOU OF THE HUMANITY OF THE PEOPLE OF GAZA. THE BEAUTIFUL PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY HAS SHOWN MORE HUMANITY IN THE LAST TWO MONTHS IN THE FACE OF UNRELENTING ATROCITIES, MASSACRES AND WAR CRIMES IN THE FACE OF FAMINE AND DISEASE THAN THE REST OF US WOULD HOPE TO EXPERIENCE IN A LIFETIME. THERE IS NO QUESTION HERE. ISRAEL IS COMMITTING A GENOCIDE. COUNSEL TODAY IT IS YOUR HUMANITY THAT IS CALLED TO QUESTION. YOU ARE EITHER AGAINST GENOCIDE OR YOU ARE COMPLICIT IN IT. SILENCE IS COMPLICITY, SILENCE IS VIOLENCE. AS SYMBOLIC AS THIS RESOLUTION, IT IS, IT'S THE VERY LEAST WE OWE THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE. WHEN THE BOMBS HAVE STOPPED AND THE DUST HAS SETTLED FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA, PALESTINE WILL BE FREE. IT IS AN INEVITABLE FACT. THE ONLY CHOICE YOU HAVE IN THE MATTER IS WHETHER YOU STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY OR NOT. HISTORY WILL REMEMBER YOUR ACTIONS. LONG LIVE PALESTINE, LONG LIVE THE RESISTANCE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO, UH, JUDE? YES. OKAY, YOU'RE UP. UM, MY NAME IS JUDE STONE. I'M A RESIDENT IN THE SECOND DISTRICT. I'M ALSO A COMMUNITY MEMBER HERE. UM, I WORK FOR ONE OF THE FEW BUSINESSES THAT STAND WITH PALESTINE IN LONG BEACH. UM, I'M VERY GRATEFUL TO SEE A REFLECTION OF MY PERSONAL VALUES IN MY COMMUNITY. I URGE YOU TO SEE TONIGHT THE SAME REFLECTION IN YOUR CONSTITUENTS IN THIS ROOM AND WAITING OUTSIDE. I'M HERE TODAY TO ASK FOR ONE LASTING CEASE FIRE, NOT JUST A HUMANITARIAN AID, CEASE FIRE. TWO HISTORICAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE CONFLICT AND THREE RECOGNITION OF THE DEVASTATION IN GAZA. I ALSO WANT TO SHARE MY SUPPORT OF A LASTING CEASEFIRE IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE PROCLAMATION FROM PALESTINE TO THE PHILIPPINES AND THE US WAR MACHINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS TONY MARIE VIDO. HELLO. UM, I AM A CULTURAL WORKER, ARTIST, A VOLUNTEER, AND A CITIZEN OF DISTRICT TWO AND A COMMUNITY ORGANIZER. IT IS OUR DUTY TO PUSH WITH ALL OUR MIGHT TOWARDS A LASTING CEASEFIRE. NOT JUST BECAUSE IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, BUT TO MAKE AN EFFORT TO PROTECT OUR PALESTINIAN, MUSLIM, ARAB, AND ALLIED CONSTITUENTS HERE IN LONG BEACH. I URGE YOU TO REFLECT THE DESIRES OF ALL YOUR CONSTITUENTS. SUPPORT THE END OF GENOCIDE WITHOUT EXCEPTION AND WITHOUT ANY MANIPULATION OR DISTORTION. LET'S USE OUR POWER AS A LARGE, POWERFUL, DIVERSE CITY TO CALL IT WHAT IT IS. A GENOCIDE AND OCCUPATION. I AM HERE TODAY TO ASK THAT THE LANGUAGE IN THE PROCLAMATION REFLECT LASTING CEASEFIRE, NOT JUST A HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE HISTORICAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ISRAEL'S MILITARY OCCUPATION OF PALESTINE. RECOGNITION OF THE DEVASTATION IN GAZA BECAUSE ACKNOWLEDGING FACT AND TRUTH AND LIFE IS AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT. FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. NEXT IS BROWN ACT. IS BROWN ACT HERE. OKAY. AFTER BROWN ACT IS CHRISTOPHER COVINGTON. EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS JUAN MARTINEZ. I AM THE DELEGATE OF THE 64 DISTRICT FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY. AND I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT A, A LOT PEOPLE WHO CAME FROM ANCESTORS WHO WERE IN THE HOLOCAUST ARE DENYING THE GENOCIDE THAT IS BEING PERPETRATED ON THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. IT IS SO SAD TO SEE THAT, UH, THE PEOPLE WHO UNDERSTAND THE SUFFERING AND THE DEATH THAT OCCURS FROM SUCH A, SUCH A DEVASTATING PROCESS ARE NOW DENYING IT TO OTHER PEOPLE. THEY'RE NEIGHBORS. I WANNA SAY THAT PALESTINIANS ARE SEMIS. SO IF YOU'RE CLAIMING THAT ANY THAT DENYING THEIR RIGHTS IS ANTI-SEMITIC, THEY ARE SEMIS, YOU ARE BEING ANTI-SEMITIC AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. I ALSO WANT TO TELL EVERYONE THAT AS A MEMBER OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, IF YOU VOTE AGAINST THIS RESOLUTION, I WILL PERSONALLY BE PULLING YOUR ENDORSEMENT FROM THE FLOOR OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND SEE THAT YOU ARE NEVER ELECTED INTO OFFICE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY EVER AGAIN. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER IS CHRISTOPHER COVINGTON AND THEN AVA CHRISTOPHER, YOU'RE UP. THANK YOU. CHRISTOPHER IS UP. ALRIGHT, UH, THANK YOU MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR HEARING THIS ITEM. UH, IT'S BEEN A TWO MONTH JOURNEY AND I WANT TO APPRECIATE ALL WHO ARE HERE WITH YOUR DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS AND IDEAS AND BELIEFS AS WELL. UM, I WILL SPEAK IN MY CAPACITY AS A COMMISSIONER. I'M THE VICE CHAIR OF THE EQUITY AND HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION. AND, UH, ON BEHALF [03:10:01] OF THE COMMISSION, WE WANT TO APPRECIATE YOU FOR BRINGING THIS ITEM TO COUNCIL AND ALLOWING THE COMMUNITY TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO YOU. I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN HEARING THEM FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MEETINGS, BUT TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION IN AN OPEN FORUM, UM, I'M GONNA END MY COMMENT THERE AND SPEAK TO YOU. AS A RESIDENT OF THE SIXTH DISTRICT, UH, I, UH, THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE STAND FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE, NOT JUST A HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE. SO AN ASK OF ME TO YOU ALL IS TO INCLUDE THE LANGUAGE FOR, UH, PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. ADDITIONALLY, UM, I HAD A WEIRD ALTERCATION COMING TODAY AS A CO, AS A COMMISSIONER. UH, I HELD UP THIS SIGN, IT SAYS, UNITED FOR PEACE CEASEFIRE NOW. AND SOMEONE TOOK A PICTURE OF ME AND THREATENED TO REPORT ME TO THE ETHICS COMMISSION. THANK YOU. I DON'T THINK ANYBODY SHOULD BE THREATENED FOR THEIR STANCES. AND THANK YOU AND RESIDENT. WE SHOULD BE ALL ADVOCATING FOR PEACE JUST AS WE DID IN SUPPORTING THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR PEACE. THAT'S COMING UP NEXT SEPTEMBER. THANK YOU, CHRISTOPHER. WORK. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, NEXT IS AVA. NEXT IS AVA A VA. ALL RIGHT FOLKS, THEY CAN'T HEAR US WHEN WE CALL THEIR NAMES. WE STILL HAVE 60 MORE PEOPLE TO GO. ALRIGHT, AVA. HI, MY NAME IS AVA AND THANK YOU. I'M AN INTERIOR DESIGNER HERE IN LONG BEACH. TODAY I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH MY PALESTINIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS. I STAND WITH THE 300 HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS THAT HAVE WRITTEN AN OPEN LETTER CALLING FOR CEASEFIRE. IN THE PAST 60 DAYS, I'VE SEEN HORRIFYING IMAGES COMING OUT OF GAZA. I HAVE SEEN FATHERS PULLING THEIR KIDS FROM UNDER THE RUBBERS THAT WAS THEIR HOUSE. I HAVE SEEN FATHERS HOLDING HALF OF HER DAUGHTER, HALF OF HER WAS MISSING. I HAVE SEEN FATHERS THAT HAD TO AMPUTATE THE LEG OF HIS DAUGHTER WITHOUT ANY PAINKILLERS. I'VE SEEN TWO DAUGHTERS STANDING ON TOP OF THE RUINS OF THEIR HOUSE WHILE THEIR FIRE WAS BURNING AND FIRE LIVE. WE NEED TO ASK FOR CEASE FIRE. NOW. ALL THE PEOPLE THAT UH, SAY WE SHOULD CONDEMN HAMAS, DON'T THEY THINK 20,000 PEOPLE DEAD IS ENOUGH? 7,000 DEAD CHILDREN IS NOT ENOUGH TO 0.5 MILLION DISPLACED PEOPLE IS NOT ENOUGH. WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HUMAN BEINGS. WHEN WILL IT BE ENOUGH? THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, UMAR IS NEXT. UH, UMAR. I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT 10 NAMES. AND YOU'RE UMAR CORRECT? YEAH. OKAY. BEFORE YOU START, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT TWO NAMES. WA NEXT 10 NAMES JOAQUIN SIMPSON. MARION ZADEN. JOSE I KITT. UH, MAAM. ADAM FAGAN. F-A-G-I-N-Z, ZEIDAN, Z-E-I-D-A-N. CHARITY CASTRO, LAYLA, SAL AND CHARLOTTE. AUSTRIA. OKAY. UH, UMAR, YOU'RE UP. HELLO, MY NAME IS UMAR. I'M A PALESTINIAN RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH. THERE ARE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE HOW DISAPPOINTING IT IS TO SEE THAT THE WHOLE WORLD CAN MAKE THE KILLING AND DESTRUCTION END. IF WE ALLOW PALESTINE TO UNDERGO ETHNIC CLEANSING, ANNEXATION, WE WILL ALL PAY A HEAVY COST FOR IT. BY DOING SO, WE WOULD BE SENDING A SIGNAL TO EVERY FASCIST REGIME THAT THEY CAN DISREGARD HUMAN RIGHTS WITHOUT CONSEQUENCES. IT WOULD DEMONSTRATE TO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY THAT THE MOST ATROCIOUS CRIMES WILL BE ACCEPTED AND TOLERATED. NOWHERE WILL BE SAFE, INCLUDING HERE IN LONG BEACH. WHAT KIND OF A FUTURE ARE WE CREATING? WHAT ISRAEL IS DOING IS, IS SHOULD BE DEFINED AS AN ACT OF TERRORISM. ISRAEL IS CARPET BOMBING GAZA, A DEFENSELESS POPULATION OF MOSTLY CHILDREN WHILE FIRING INTERNATIONALLY PROHIBITED PHOSPHORUS BOMBS IN LEBANON AND BOMBING AIRPORTS IN SYRIA. IT'S THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD THAT CAN SIMULTANEOUSLY BOMB THREE COUNTRIES AND STILL CLAIM TO BE THE VICTIM IN THIS SITUATION. AND IN THE WORDS OF ALBERT EINSTEIN, THE WORLD WILL NOT BE DESTROYED BY THOSE WHO DO EVIL, EVIL, THANK YOU. YOUR TESTIMONY, BUT BY THOSE WHO WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING FREE PALESTINE WORLD WAR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT IS JOAQUIN SIMPSON. JOAQUIN IS JOAQUIN HERE? JOAQUIN SIMPSON? IS JOAQUIN SIMPSON HERE? OKAY, SKIP MARION AFTER MARION IS JOSE MARION ZAYDEN. OKAY. AND AFTER MARION IS JOSE THEN KIT. SO PLEASE LINE UP. GOOD EVENING MAYOR, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND ALL PEOPLE ATTENDING. MY NAME IS MARWAN ZAN AND I'M A I'M A PALESTINIAN AMERICAN. I HAVE JEWISH CHRISTIAN AND MUSLIM IN MY FAMILY. I'M HERE, UH, TO SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE VOICES, UH, CHILDREN IN PALESTINE. I'M HERE TO SHOW SUPPORT FOR CALLING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AND STOP THE GENOCIDE. [03:15:01] LET'S BE CLEAR, THIS IS A WAR ON CHILDREN. OVER 8,000 PALESTINIAN CHILDREN MURDERS SO FAR, UH, THIS IS A WAR TO KILL HOPES FOR ALL PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. YES, US GIVES ISRAEL OVER FOUR BILLIONS EVERY YEAR. SO WE ARE COMPLICIT. FIRST, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR CARRIAGE FOR PUTTING THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION ON THE AGENDA TONIGHT. MY FAMILY DON'T LIVE IN LONG BEACH. WE LIVE IN BEAUTIFUL CITY OF IRVINE. WE DROVE TWO HOURS TODAY TO BE HERE WITH YOU TONIGHT. UH, I HEARD MANY GREAT THINGS ABOUT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. I HOPE LONG BEACH FOLLOWS OTHER GREAT CITIES IN CALIFORNIA AND ALL OVER THE US CALLING FOR CEASEFIRE. BOTH OUR MAYOR AND VICE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF ERVAN CALLED FOR CEASEFIRE. LAST WEEK. US CONGRESSWOMAN KATIE PORTER, CALLED FOR CEASE FIRE YESTERDAY. THIS IS THE MOMENT OF TRUTH. THIS THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING YOU ON THIS HISTORICAL DAY. SO I HOPE YOU DO THE RIGHT THING. PLEASE CALL FOR SEASONED FIRE NOW. THREE FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS JOSE. AFTER JOSE IS KIT AND THEN MARAM. M-A-R-A-M. JOSE, YOU'RE UP. HELLO, I'M JOSE AND I'M RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN. UM, THIS RESOLUTION IS NOT ENOUGH. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESOLUTION THAT ACKNOWLEDGES ALL THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE, THOSE EXPERIENCE IN GENOCIDE, INZA, AND THOSE FACING CON CONTINUOUS OPPRESSION AND ETHNIC CLEANSING IN THE WEST BANK. A CALLER, A CEASEFIRE ISN'T ENOUGH. AND FRAMING A RESOLUTION AS TWO-SIDED IS NOTHING BECAUSE IT'S NOT TWO-SIDED. ONE WITH ONE SIDE CONTROLS THE WATER, THE FOOD, AND THE MOVEMENT OF ANOTHER. IT'S NOT TWO SIDED. ONE, ONE SIDE CONTROLS THE ENTIRETY OF WESTERN MAINSTREAM MEDIA. IT'S NOT BOTH SIDES. WHEN ONE CALLS FOR LIBERATION AND THE OTHER CALLS FOR EXTERMINATION, THAT WILL NEVER BE BOTH SIDES. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESOLUTION THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THEIR OCCUPATION, THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A RESOLUTION AND THAT ACKNOWLEDGES EVERY SINGLE INSTANCE OF BRUTALIZATION, EVERY INSTANCE OF ETHNIC CLEANSING, EVERY INSTANCE OF VIOLENCE AND SUPPRESSION AND SURVEILLANCE. AND THE LIST CAN GO ON AND ON ON WHAT ISRAEL HAS DONE TO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE ON WHAT THE ZIONIST STATE OF ISRAEL INTENDS TO DO TO THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. AND THEY DO IN THE NAME OF JUDAISM ORIGINALLY THAT HAS NO MENTION OF A ZIONIST STATE. THE SUPPORTERS AND POLITICIANS OF ISRAEL CALLED FOR GAZA TO BECOME A PARKING LOT. THEY WANT A THEME PARK. THEY WANT NOTHING LEFT COMPLETELY FLAT. A RESOLUTION THAT FRAMES THIS AS TWO-SIDED ISSUE DOES NOTHING BUT NORMALIZES WHAT ISRAEL IS DOING AS SOMETHING THAT JUST HAPPENS, SOMETHING THAT IS UNAVOIDABLE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. SOMETHING THAT IS INEVITABLE. I'M HERE TO SAY NO MORE. NO. ALL RIGHT. I'M HERE TO SUPPORT A FREE OF SUPPORT. THANK YOU, SIR. THE MICROPHONE IS OFF, BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH. COLONIAL STATE OF ISRAEL IS NOT ONLY ALLOWED TO COMMIT GENOCIDE, BUT ALSO APPLAUDED FOR IT. THANK YOU. WE'RE RESPECTING EVERYONE'S TIME. PEOPLE. THIS IS HAPPENING. IF YOU'RE NOT AGAINST IT, YOU STAND IN SUPPORT OF IT. THIS IS NOT HELPFUL. REMEMBER THAT IT IS A GENOCIDE AND THERE ARE 60 PEOPLE BEHIND YOU THAT NEED THAT WANT TO SPEAK. ALRIGHT, KIT, THANK YOU. AS WE HAVE SEEN FOR THE PAST 73 DAYS, ISRAEL HAS RUTHLESSLY BOMBED SCHOOLS, HOMES, AND HOSPITALS MURDERING OVER 20,000 PALESTINIANS. AS WE HAVE ALSO SEEN FOR THE PAST 73 DAYS, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IS DEEPLY UNITED IN DEMANDING A CEASEFIRE. AND AS OUR REPRESENTATIVES, IT IS YOUR JOB TO REPRESENT YOUR CONSTITUENTS. IT IS YOUR JOB TO REPRESENT THE PALESTINIANS AND THEIR ALLIES LIVING IN LONG BEACH WHO SAY NO TO THE ONGOING GENOCIDE AND OCCUPATION. WHILE A CEASEFIRE PROCLAMATION IS VITAL IN CONDEMNING THIS ONGOING GENOCIDE, THE COUNCIL MUST AMEND AND RETHINK SECTIONS OF THIS PROCLAMATION. ISRAEL DOES NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO SELF-DEFENSE AND IN SUPPORTING, SO THE COUNCIL WOULD BE JUSTIFYING THE ONGOING ATTACKS IN GAZA AND IN THE WEST BANK, WHERE WITHIN THE PAST 73 DAYS, HUNDREDS OF PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED, DETAINED, BEATEN JOURNALISTS HAVE BEEN CENSORED, HOMES HAVE BEEN RATED AND DESTROYED. FAILING TO INCLUDE THE DETAILS WITHIN THE PROCLAMATION, WHICH DEMAND PALESTINIANS JUSTICE, LIBERATION, AND THE RIGHT TO RETURN DISMISSES THE REALITY OF LIFE UNDER SIEGE DISPLACEMENT AND 75 YEARS OF OCCUPATION. IT IS IMPERATIVE AND URGENT THAT THE CITY COUNCIL TAKES ACTIONS AND SAYS YES TO A CEASEFIRE PROCLAMATION CONDEMNING THE GENOCIDE OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, CONDEMNING THE 75 YEAR LONG OCCUPATION AND CONDEMNING THE IMPRISONMENT, HOME RATES AND CENSORSHIP AT THE HIN HANDS OF THE ZIONIST STATE OF ISRAEL. THANK YOU THAT HIS TIME. NEXT IS MAAM MA, AFTER MAAM IS ADAM. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND THE MAYOR. MY, MY NAME IS MADAM AND I AM A PALESTINIAN, UH, COMMUNITY MEMBER. UM, THIS RESOLUTION DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH TO END THE NORMALIZING LANGUAGE AROUND THE, THE 75 YEARS OF OCCUPATION AND DESTRUCTION AND GENOCIDE AGAINST MY PEOPLE. A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IS THE BARE MINIMUM WE CAN STAND FOR AS WE FUND THIS GENOCIDE. LONG BEACH RESIDENTS HAVE GIVEN OVER $6 MILLION TO THE STATE OF, UH, DESIGN A STATE OF ISRAEL USING OUR TAX DOLLARS. UM, SECTION TWO OF THIS RESOLUTION SHOULD NOT ONLY EXPLICITLY CALL FOR PERMANENT CEASEFIRE, BUT ALSO AN END TO ISRAEL'S MILITARY OCCUPATION. AN END TO THE 17 YEAR SEIZED ON . THERE WAS NOT A CEASEFIRE PRIOR TO OCTOBER 6TH. THERE HAS BEEN A 17 YEAR S AND AND AN END TO THE APARTHEID SYSTEM PLAGUING THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE FOR THE PAST 75 YEARS. AN END TO THE OCCUPATION IS A MUST. IT IS NOT A, AN ACT OF SELF-DEFENSE TO ACT AN ACT AN ACTIVE [03:20:01] GENOCIDE, NOT A CONFLICT, A GENOCIDE AGAINST THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. THANK YOU, CEASEFIRE. NOW NEXT SPEAKER IS ADAM, AFTER ADAM IS Z ZADEN. ADAM FAGAN. HELLO, I'M ADAM FAGAN. I'M A-C-S-U-L-B STUDENT OVER AT, UH, WITH BEACH. HELLO. UM, I DON'T REALLY THINK THAT SIGNING YES OR NO ON THIS PROCLAMATION WILL DO MUCH. I THINK IF YOU SIGN NO, YOU'RE GONNA ANGER A LOT OF PEOPLE. IF YOU SIGN, YES, YOU'RE GONNA ANGER A LOT OF PEOPLE. UM, AS A JEW, IF YOU SIGN, NO, IT, IT MIGHT REALLY TURN PEOPLE AGAINST ME. I DON'T KNOW, BUT I CAN SPEAK ON WHAT I SEE ON MY CAMPUS. I, I'VE SEEN HAIL HITLER WRITTEN IN MULTIPLE PLACES. I'VE HEARD, I'VE BEEN TOLD HITLER WAS RIGHT. I'VE SEEN THAT WRITTEN ALL OVER MY CAMPUS. I'VE BEEN CALLED A NAZI, UH, JUST FOR WEARING MY KIPA ON CAMPUS. AND I WOULD JUST LIKE THERE NOT TO BE ANTISEMITISM. UH, THAT'S KIND OF WHY I'M HERE TO MAYBE FOCUS ON LIKE THE PROBLEMS AT HOME. I CAN'T SPEAK FOR THE MUSLIMS BECAUSE I'M NOT A PART OF THAT COMMUNITY, BUT I DO HOPE THAT THERE'S NOT HATE THROWN THEIR WAY EITHER. UH, THAT'S ALL. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS Z AFTER Z IS CHARITY. GOOD EVENING COUNCIL, COUNCIL MEMBERS AND EVERYONE ATTENDING TODAY. I'M HERE WITH MY FATHER MARWAN. I'M CALLING FOR A CEASE FIRE. MY NAME IS ZANE ZAN. I'M A 14-YEAR-OLD PALESTINIAN MEXICAN AMERICAN. MY FAMILY HAS MUSLIM, CATHOLIC AND JEWISH BACKGROUNDS. I'M HERE CALLING FOR A CEASEFIRE AND THIS IS JUST THE START TO END THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION AND WORK TOWARDS PEACE. WHEN WE SAY FREE PALESTINE, IT SHOULD NOT MEAN AN ATTACK ON THE JEWISH PEOPLE. PIONEERS OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND ACTIVISM LIKE NELSON MANDELA AND MALCOLM X SUPPORT, FREEDOM FOR PALESTINIAN AND SO DOES MY JEWISH GRANDFATHER AND FAMILY MEMBERS. FREE PALESTINE MEANS EQUAL RIGHTS AND COEXISTENCE FOR PALESTINIANS, ISRAELIS, MUSLIMS, CHRISTIANS, AND JEWS LIKE IT WAS PRIOR TO 1948. CEASES FIRE NOW AND FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS CHARITY AFTER CHARITY IS LAYLA. NEXT SPEAKER IS CHARITY. CHARITY. THAT'S OUR, SORRY, ACTUALLY IT'S JOSHUA SIMPSON. NOW JOAQUIN SIMPSON. COULD I STILL GET MY TIME? JOAQUIN SIMPSON. UH, JOSHUA SIMPSON ACTUALLY. SORRY. FROM COURT HANDWRITING. OKAY. IT'S SPELLED WRONG. GO AHEAD. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. UM, THIS IS MY THIRD TIME IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL HERE. AND UH, YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION. YOU REALLY DO. UM, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IT'S GONNA TAKE. MAYBE IT'S LEARNING THAT BLACK JEWS HAVE BEEN GIVEN FORCED STERILIZATION THROUGH DEVERA. MAYBE IT'S LOOKING AT APAC GIVING MONEY TO BOTH SIDES OF THE EQUATION AND THAT'LL INTERFERE WITH YOUR POLITICAL IDEAS. I DUNNO IF Y'ALL ARE HERE FOR A GOOD TIME OR A LONG TIME, BUT YOU REPRESENT US. YOU DO. I AM A BUSINESS OWNER IN DISTRICT ONE AND I KNOW BUSINESS OWNERS AND HOMEOWNERS IN EVERY SINGLE DISTRICT THAT REPRESENT YOU AND VOTE FOR YOU. UM, FROM OAKLAND TO CHICAGO AND MANY OTHER PLACES, CITY COUNCILS ARE VOTING FOR CEASEFIRE RESOLUTIONS. YOU ARE OUR FIRST LINE IN OUR REPRESENTATION. PLEASE TAKE THAT SERIOUSLY. THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. VERY GOOD TESTIMONY. NEXT IS CHARITY AFTER CHARITY IS LAYLA, THEN CHARLOTTE. HI. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. MY NAME IS CHARITY CASTRO. I'M A LONG BEACH RESIDENT, A HOMEOWNER AND A CONSTITUENT OF COUNCIL MEMBER ORANGA. THANK YOU SO MUCH DR. ODI AND ORANGA FOR BRINGING THIS IMPORTANT MOTION TO THE BOARD, TO THE, UH, DIOCESE. UM, I'D LIKE TO SORT OF DEDICATE MY TIME HERE TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE HERE TO REPRESENT THE 2000 PEOPLE WHO CAN'T BE HERE TONIGHT AND THE MILLIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING BOMBED AT THIS EXACT MOMENT. UM, AND I'D LIKE TO REMIND US THAT OUR WORK ISN'T OVER. THAT THIS IS JUST ONE STEP AND THAT THIS MOTION ISN'T ENOUGH AND THAT WE STILL NEED TO CONTINUE OUR WORK AND THAT WE'RE HERE FOR MOAZ, WE'RE HERE FOR BESAN, WE'RE HERE FOR EVERY CHILD, EVERY CHILD WHO CAN'T SPEAK UP TODAY. AND WE'RE NOT GONNA STOP UNTIL WE CAN FREE PALESTINE OR PARTICIPATE IN THAT MOVEMENT AND BE EFFECTIVE AND BE HELPFUL. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND NOT JUST THE COUNCIL MEMBERS HERE, BUT EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL THAT IS ABOVE THIS, UH, OR OUTSIDE OF THIS ROOM, THAT WE ARE ACTIVATED AND WE'RE READY TO VOTE. AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE YOU SOON ON THE 2024 BALLOT. SO, UM, KEEP US IN MIND. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS LAYLA. AFTER LAYLA IS CHARLOTTE. HI, MY NAME IS LAYLA AND I URGE THE COUNCIL TO VOTE IN FAVOR OF A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. MY MOTHER SURVIVED ISRAEL'S RUTHLESS BOMBINGS ON BEIRUT WHEN SHE WAS ONLY 10 YEARS OLD. THAT TRAUMA LASTS FOR A LIFETIME, BUT SHE DESCRIBES IT AS NOTHING COMPARED TO WHAT PALESTINIANS NOW FACE. WE MUST DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO PREVENT THIS GENOCIDE FROM CONTINUING. [03:25:01] THE FACT THAT 20,000 LIVES HAS BEEN LOST IN PALESTINE IN A FEW SHORT MONTHS IS UNFATHOMABLE. OUR COMMUNITY MUST DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO PREVENT FURTHER LOSS OF LIFE. WARREN BOMBS HAVE NEVER CREATED PEACE, ESPECIALLY NOT FROM A GOVERNMENT THAT DESCRIBES INNOCENT HUMAN BEINGS AS ANIMALS OR INNOCENT CHILDREN. AS CHILDREN OF DARKNESS. A GOVERNMENT THAT DEPRIVES CIVILIANS OF FOOD, WATER, AND HUMANITARIAN AID DOES NOT CARE FOR LIFE OR SAFETY OR HUMAN OR FOR HUMANITY ONLY OPPRESSION AND THE OCCUPATION IN FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, UH, CHARLOTTE, BEFORE YOU GO, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT 10. SO WE HAVE RAY PRATO, VEVA, MOEZ, ALANA ENRIQUEZ, SONYA KHALIL, JOY, YAMA, GUCCI, CAITLYN, BEIS, ELIZABETH JOY MORRISSEY, GIGI YOUNG, TERRY NINO AND WAYNE MARCIAN. OKAY, CHARLOTTE, YOU ARE UP. OKAY. HELLO. I'M A FILIPINO YOUTH AND STUDENT FROM ANAK BAYAN LONG BEACH. AND I'M HERE TODAY TO SUPPORT CALLING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN PALESTINE AND AN END TO THE WHORES BEING COMMITTED BY THE SETTLER COLONIAL ENTITY ISRAEL. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERESTIMATE THE CRUELTY AND UNIMAGINED WHILE SUFFERING BEING INFLICTED UPON THE INDIGENOUS PALESTINIANS BY THE ILLEGITIMATE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT. I NEED THE CITY COUNCIL TO TRULY COMPREHEND AND SIT WITH THE DEATH OF OVER 20,000 PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, WHICH HAS THE FULL FUNDING AND SUPPORT OF OUR US GOVERNMENT AND OUR TAX DOLLARS. AND YET, DESPITE THE OBVIOUS GENOCIDE TAKING PLACE, WE HAVE CONTINUOUSLY BEEN MET WITH OPPOSITION AND REPRESSION, ESPECIALLY FROM THOSE IN POWER. AS A STUDENT AT CSU LONG BEACH, I KNOW FIRSTHAND THAT YOUTH AND STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY BROWN ARAB AND MUSLIM STUDENTS HAVE FACED RACISM, DEATH, THREATS, AND ISLAMOPHOBIA FROM ZIONISTS ACROSS ALL SECTORS, ALL FOR SUPPORTING THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF PALESTINIANS. I WANT EVERYONE HERE TO KNOW THAT SO LONG AS THIS GENOCIDE CONTINUES, WE WILL NOT STOP. DO NOT EVER DOUBT THE RESILIENCY OF INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY IN THE BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS THAT WE HAVE POURED AND WILL CONTINUE TO POUR INTO FIGHTING FOR OUR SIBLINGS, BOTH HERE AND ALL ACROSS THE COLONIZED WORLD TO BE A CIVIL SERVANT AND TO GENUINELY SERVE THE PEOPLE IN. THANK YOU, CHARLOTTE. WE CARE ABOUT THE THANK YOU CHARLOTTE. IT'S CHILDREN, BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, WORKERS, AND YOU CARE ABOUT PALESTINE. THANK YOU CHARLOTTE. THANK YOU CHARLOTTE. SO, ALL RIGHT, SO THE NEXT SPEAKER IS RAY PRODO. AFTER RAY IS VEVA. ARE YOU RAY? ARE YOU RAY? OKAY, PLEASE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. I'M A FILIPINO YOUTH AND STUDENT ORGANIZER, ALSO AN AN BAY AND LONG BEACH. I HAVE LIVED IN THIS CITY FOR ALL 21 YEARS OF MY LIFE. I'VE SEEN STUDENTS AND FAMILIES SUFFER FROM FOOD INSECURITY. I'VE WALKED THE STREETS AND SEEN COUNTLESS OF UNHOUSED PEOPLE. I'VE SEEN CHILDREN SUFFER FROM AN UNDERFUNDED EDUCATION SYSTEM IN AN INSULATED POLICE AND SURVEILLANCE BUDGET, I'VE SEEN MY FILIPINO KABA BAYAN SUFFER FROM WAGE THEFT, HIGH RENT, AND STATE NEGLECT. WHY IS IT THIS COUNTRY THAT THIS COUNTRY AND THIS CITY CAN ALLOCATE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO POLICING OUR WORKING CLASS COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN SUPPORTING GENOCIDE AND PALESTINE, BUT IT CANNOT MEET THE NEEDS OF ITS OWN CONSTITUENTS WHOSE TAX DOLLARS AND LABOR ARE WHAT KEEP THE CITY RUNNING. REX RICHARDSON AND COUNCIL, IF YOU CARE FOR THE NEEDS OF OUR FILIPINO COMMUNITY AS YOU CLAIMED YOU DID, WHEN CAMPAIGNING DO NOT DARE TURN YOUR BACK ON THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF FILIPINOS WHO ARE CALLING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AND AN END TO THE US WAR MACHINE. IN THAT SENSE, BOMBS RAINING DOWN, NOT JUST ON THE PEOPLE OF PALESTINE, BUT ALSO IN THE COUNTRYSIDE OF THE PHILIPPINES. JUST AS I DO NOT CONDEMN THE STRUGGLE OF MY PEOPLE FIGHTING BACKS AGAINST THIS IMPERIALIST MILITARY VIOLENCE, I WILL NOT CONDEMN THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE FIGHTING AGAINST OVER 75 YEARS OF COLONIALISM AND GENOCIDE BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. I'M SICK AND TIRED OF SEEING PALESTINIAN PEOPLE BEING BRUTALLY, BRUTALLY MURDERED, KNOWING THAT IS MY TAX DOLLARS. THAT ARE FUNDING THAT VERY VIOLENCE. MA'AM, YOUR TIME'S CONCLUDED. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU RAY COLONIAL IN LONG ISRAELI OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, ALL FOLKS. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. OKAY. ALRIGHT. JUST PAUSE A MOMENT. WE'RE AT A DECISION POINT HERE. EITHER WE'RE GONNA CONTINUE AND RESPECT THE RULES THAT WE'VE HAD. WE'RE GONNA HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE TO 60 SECONDS SO EVERYONE HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK OR WE HAVE TO ACCOUNT FOR THE EXTRA TIME BY CUTTING THE TIME OFF AT 30 SECONDS BECAUSE THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF CHEERING AFTER AND PEOPLE AREN'T RESPECTING THE RULES. WE'RE ALMOST THERE FOLKS. WE HAVE GONE THROUGH 120 PUBLIC COMMENTS AND WE HAVE ABOUT 40 LEFT TO GO. WE ARE ALMOST THERE. SO I ASK, HOLD ON. I COULDN'T EVEN GO TO THE RESTROOM FOLKS. LET ME GET THROUGH THIS. I'M ASKING FOLKS TO HELP, UH, GET THROUGH THIS PROCEEDING, UH, WITH RESPECT AND LET'S RESPECT THE GROUND RULES. THANK YOU. AND NOW YOU HAVE THE FLOOR, HOPEFULLY FOR THE ENTIRE 60 SECONDS. THANK YOU. YOU ARE NEXT. VEVA, BULA. BIVA. THANK YOU. YES. GOOD EVENING CITY COUNCIL. I'M A MEMBER OF THE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY AND I CALL ON YOU FOR A LASTING AND PERMANENT CEASE FIRE RESOLUTION. [03:30:01] AS AN ADULT I HAD TO RE-FAMILIARIZE MYSELF WITH US IMPERIALISM, SULER, COLONIALISM AND HOW MORE IMPORTANTLY HOW MASS GENOCIDES AND WAR AROUND THE WORLD IN THE NAME OF PROPHET WERE KEPT QUIET AND WRITTEN OUT OF HISTORY BY THE US IT HAPPENS BY SILENCING THOSE WITH THE TRUTH. DON'T SILENCE THE VOICES OF THOSE WHO SPEAK FOR THE OPPRESSED NO LONGER. THOSE WHO WRITE THE TEXTBOOKS ARE CONTROLLING THE NARRATIVE. THE PEOPLE ARE RECORDING HISTORY LIVE FROM THEIR PHONES. WE ARE MAKING HISTORY TODAY, TODAY, SO PLEASE DON'T BE THE PASSIVE ENTITY THAT ALLOWED GENOCIDE TO HAPPEN. DO NOT MAKE LONG BEACH RESIDENTS COMPLICIT IN THE DEHUMANIZING OF PALESTINIANS. PALESTINIANS ARE BEING SLAIN ON OUR TAX DOLLARS INSTEAD OF BEING USED FOR BASIC HUMAN NEEDS. THANK YOU. I CALL ON YOU FOR LAST. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS ALANA, AND THEN SONYA. ALANA. AND, AND THE CLOCK IS, UH, LOOKS LIKE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE CLOCK? WE'RE HAVING SOME TROUBLE WITH THE CLOCK. UM, OKAY. BUT WE'RE TAKING, HERE'S WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO AT 45 SECONDS, JUST SAY 15 SECONDS TO GO SO THEY KNOW WHERE THEY ARE. OKAY. GIVE US A MINUTES, A MINUTE, MINUTES AND WE'LL GET IT FIXED. YES. WE'LL, WE'LL, CLERK WILL LET YOU KNOW WHEN IT'S AT A MINUTE. OKAY. THANK YOU. PLEASE PROCEED. I AM HERE IN SUPPORT OF MY, UH, ELECTED OFFICIALS AND MY LOCAL GOVERNMENT, UH, CALLING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE FROM ISRAEL TOWARDS GAZA. THIS IS BECAUSE MY TAX DOLLARS ARE FUNDING THIS GENOCIDE AND THIS IS ALSO BECAUSE MY POLITICIANS AND ELECTED OFFICIALS ARE TAKING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FROM APAC. THIS UNDERMINES DEMOCRACY. AT THE SAME TIME, ANTISEMITISM CAN BE FOUGHT IN MANY WAYS, EDUCATION, ORGANIZING. WE, WE, WE LIKE NEED TO END ANTISEMITISM, WHICH HAS BEEN ON THE RISE, UH, SINCE LONG BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH. AND, UH, THE A DL ITSELF ATTRIBUTED THIS TO ORGANIZED EFFORTS FROM NEO-NAZI AND WHITE SUPREMACIST GROUPS IN A MARCH AUDIT IN 2022. WHY IS, WHY DO WE HAVE A STRONG KKK PRESENCE IN ORANGE COUNTY, WHICH IS OUR NEIGHBORS? LIKE, I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY ZIONISTS STAND HERE IN DEFENSE OF JUDAISM AND JEWS BY, BY OPPOSING CEASEFIRE FROM ISRAEL AND GAZA. THESE, THIS IS A STATE, YOUR TAX INCLUDED. ISRAEL IS A STATE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, THAT WORKED WELL. OKAY, NEXT IS, NEXT IS SONYA, AND THEN JOY. HI, MY NAME IS SONYA KHAL AND I'M AN ARAB AMERICAN. I'M IN DISTRICT FIVE. I'M A RENTER THERE. WE JUST MOVED TO LONG BEACH A YEAR AGO AND WE LOVE IT HERE AND I LOVE THAT WE CAN HAVE THIS CONVERSATION RIGHT NOW. AND ALL I WANNA SHARE RIGHT NOW IS I HOPE WE CAN JUST PAUSE FOR A MINUTE, TAKE IN WHAT WE'RE SEEING, THE ENERGY AND THE TRAUMA THAT PEOPLE ARE LIFTING UP AND CARRYING RIGHT NOW, AND THE MESSAGE WE'RE SHARING TO SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING THIS IN. AND I WANNA LEAVE WITH JUST THIS, UM, THIS RIGHT HERE IS WHAT STANDS OUT FOR ME. THOSE OF US, THE HUNDREDS OF US THAT ARE COMING IN RIGHT NOW, WE ARE ASKING YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHY PALESTINIANS SHOULD LIVE AND THOSE WHO ARE IN OPPOSITION TO THIS ARE ASKING YOU TO UNDERSTAND WHY ISRAEL SHOULD CONTINUE 15 SECONDS TO KILL. WE HAVE A MOMENT TO SIT WITH THIS NOW, AND WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW UP AND BE A STAND. I'M NOT GONNA LIST THE FACTS. IF YOU'RE READING SOCIAL MEDIA, IF YOU'RE WATCHING ANYTHING, IT'S, IT'S A NIGHTMARE WHAT'S GOING ON. I HOPE WE CAN STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE HERE AND CONCLUDED. THANK YOU. OKAY. WE HAVE JOY AND THEN CAITLYN, UM, THEY'RE JUST RESETTING THE CLOCK. WE GOT YOU. GO FOR IT. KIND OF DISTRACTING. IT'S OKAY. HI, MY NAME IS JOY. I AM A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH, THE FIFTH DISTRICT. I WAS BORN AND RAISED HERE. I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH YOUR CHILDREN, UM, AND I'M A NOW A TAX PAYING VOTER IN THE DISTRICT AND I AM HERE TO SUPPORT A PERMANENT AND LASTING CEASEFIRE. UM, IT IS A LOCAL PROBLEM BECAUSE OUR MONEY IS GOING THERE AND I, FOR ONE, WOULD LOVE FOR MY MONEY TO GO TO THINGS LIKE CONTINUED PCR TESTING DURING AN ONGOING PANDEMIC. HEALTHCARE, HOUSING, AIR CONDITIONING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH WE DID NOT HAVE GROWING UP. AND INSTEAD WE ARE SITTING HERE WATCHING OUR MONEY GO TO FUND DEATH AND GENOCIDE AND MURDERS ABROAD. UM, AND SO AS SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN THE CITY, LOVES THE CITY, I REALLY HOPE, HOPE THAT WE TAKE THE CHANCE TO BE THE LARGEST CITY TO PASS THIS RESOLUTION, TO STAND UP FOR JUSTICE, LIKE WE SAY WE DO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS KAITLIN. AFTER KAITLIN [03:35:01] IS ELIZABETH. HI, UH, MY NAME IS KAITLYN BALLIS AND I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT THREE, UM, AND A BOARD MEMBER OF RE AND I'M SPEAKING IN BOTH CAPACITIES TONIGHT. UM, I SUPPORT THE ADOPTION OF THIS PROCLAMATION, BUT I ALSO URGE YOU TO GO FURTHER CALLING FOR A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AND CONDEMNING THE APARTHEID SYSTEM AND OCCUPATION. AS MANY OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE SAID, WE'RE WITNESSING A GENOCIDE AND ONE IN WHICH THE UNITED STATES IS DIRECTLY IMPLICATED BECAUSE OUR GOVERNMENT IS FUNDING IT, IT'S CRITICAL THAT EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL ADD THEIR VOICE AND PRESSURE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO STOP FUNDING THE ISRAELI MILITARY. WE'RE SEEING INCREDIBLE MOBILIZATION AND I WANNA ACKNOWLEDGE THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE IN THE LOBBY AND WHOM I SAW OUTSIDE, UM, URGING A CEASEFIRE. I HAVE TO BELIEVE, SORRY. UM, THAT WE ARE MOVING THE DIAL. WE MUST ALL DO EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO STOP THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ELIZABETH. AFTER ELIZABETH IS GIGI. YEP. UM, HELLO, MY NAME IS ELIZABETH YAN MORRISSEY AND I'M A LONG BEACH RESIDENT. I AM HERE TO CALL ON YOU TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY. 60% OF AMERICANS SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE. I HAVE A DEGREE IN MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES AND THIS DID NOT START ON OCTOBER 7TH. ZIONISM IS AN EXPLICITLY COLONIAL IDEOLOGY PREDICATED ON GENOCIDE AND ETHNIC CLEANSING. IT IS NOT JUDAISM. OVER 20,000 GOINS HAVE BEEN MURDERED 10,000 CHILDREN AND NOTHING JUSTIFIES THE MURDER OF 10,000 CHILDREN. A FRIEND OF MINE LOST 17 MEMBERS OF HER FAMILY WHEN ISRAEL BOMBED ONE OF THE WORLD'S OLDEST CHURCHES. THEY WERE KILLED BY AMERICAN BOMBS. GAZA'S CHRISTIAN POPULATION IS AT RISK OF BEING COMPLETELY WIPED OUT. THIS IS NOT A RELIGIOUS ISSUE. THIS IS NOT MUSLIMS VERSUS JEWS. THIS IS GENOCIDE AND CEASEFIRE IS THE BARE MINIMUM. SHAME ON ANYBODY WHO SUPPORTS THE GENOCIDE AND DOES NOT CALL FOR A LASTING PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS GIGI. AFTER GIGI IS TERRY GIGI YOUNG. OKAY. THEN TERRY NINO JUST LINE UP NEXT AND THEN WAYNE MARCIAN. OKAY, PLEASE. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. NELSON MANDELA WAS CALLED A TERRORIST. MALCOLM X WAS CALLED A TERRORIST. NAT TURNER WAS CALLED A TERRORIST. MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS IN THIS ROOM ARE SAYING TERRORISTS, BUT THERE ARE SO MANY MORE ALL OVER THE WORLD SAYING FREEDOM FIGHTER. MAYBE YOU CAN'T DECIDE, WHICH YOU SAY MAYBE YOU DON'T EVEN WANNA HAVE TO DECIDE. BUT HERE, AS A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH, I'M HERE TO ASK YOU TO DECIDE HOW WE SPEND MY TAX DOLLARS. I WANT MY TAX DOLLARS SPENT HERE TO HELP PEOPLE NOT ABROAD, TO KILL THEM. INDISCRIMINATE BOMBING OF WOMEN, CHILDREN, HOSPITALS, PRESS UNION, UNITED NATIONS, UH, FACILITIES AND HUMANITARIAN AID WORKERS. THAT IS NOT HOW I WANT MY DOLLARS SPENT. CEASEFIRE NOW AND I'LL INCLUDE, CONCLUDE WITH THE WORDS OF MARTIN LUTHER KING THAT IN THE END WE WILL THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY, BUT THE SILENCE OF OUR FRIENDS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS TERRY AREA FLOOR. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS TERRY NINO AND I WANTED TO, UH, SAY THAT I'M SPEAKING FROM DISTRICT ONE. I ACTUALLY CANVASSED FOR YOU REX RICHARDSON AND DR. JONI, RICK SODI BECAUSE OF YOUR MISSION TO SUPPORT LONG BEACH AND TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE RIGHT NOW MEANS RECOGNIZING THAT WE NEED TO STAND WITH PALESTINE AND RECOGNIZING HOW LONG BEACH IS SENDING $6 MILLION FROM OUR TAXPAYER FUNDS TO GO TO GENOCIDED AND COMMITTING TERRIBLE ATROCITIES TO MY PEOPLE. AS A PALESTINIAN LEBANESE PERSON AND SOMEONE WHO STANDS FOR HUMANITY, I URGE YOU TO SUPPORT A CEASEFIRE. THE OCCUPATION AND DISPLACEMENT OF PALESTINIANS SPANS A 75 YEAR HISTORY. TAP INTO YOUR HUMANITY PLEASE AND SEE THAT A CEASEFIRE IS VITAL. HOW MANY MORE LIVES MUST BE TAKEN BEFORE YOU REALIZE IT'S TOO LATE? 20,000 PALESTINIANS IN GAZA AND HAVE BEEN KILLED, INCLUDING 90 JOURNALISTS AND THE US IS USING OUR TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO FUND THIS. NOWHERE IS SAFE. IN GAZA, MY AUNTIE'S RELATIVES WERE KILLED IN THE CHURCH BOMBING OF THE OLDEST GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH IN GAZA. SO I URGE YOU PLEASE THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. SUPPORTIVE PEACE. OKAY, WAYNE, BEFORE YOU GO NEXT, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT 10, UH, WAYNE MARCIAN, MAHA AFRA, PRUDENCE DZAN, RABBI MICHAEL LOVING, MOHAM MOSAN. ANTHONY BRYSON, JUSTICE CRUP, SAMIA MUHAMMAD, AYA AZIZI, LEE GOLDSTEIN AND ANO BLAKE. AND WE ARE ON OUR FINAL PAGE. WAYNE, YOU'RE [03:40:01] GETTING BETTER AT MY NAME WAYNE . ALRIGHT. HI, UH, SECOND DISTRICT WAYNE MARCHON AS YOU, AS YOU SAID. UH, YOU'RE NOT BEING ASKED TONIGHT TO CHOOSE A SIDE. YOU'RE ASKED TONIGHT TO VOTE AS HUMANITARIANS. HOW MANY PEOPLE, HOW MANY LEADERS, HOW MANY UH, POLITICIANS HAVE BEEN KILLED IN PALESTINE, ISRAELI WAR? NONE. HOW MANY RICH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED? NONE. IT'S THE PEOPLE THAT ARE BEING KILLED. THE PEOPLE. IT WAS A MINUTE BEFORE WHILE TUCKED IN THEIR BED, A BOMB WENT OFF AND NOW THEY'RE DEAD. THANK YOU. NEXT IS MAHA AFRA. GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS DR. MAHA AFRA, A LONG BEACH RESIDENT AITE AND THE SURVIVOR OF THE CONSTANT ATTACKS OF ISRAEL ON LEBANON. ELLAN PAPE SAYS ISRAEL IS IN AN EXISTENTIAL CRISIS BECAUSE IT IS A COLONIAL SETTLER PROJECT DEPENDENT ON US MONEY. AN IMMORAL CRISIS BY DEHUMANIZING PALESTINIANS AS SEEN IN HERE WITH THESE ENTITLED ZIONISTS AGAINST A SIMPLE CEASE FIRE LYING, INVOKING THE HOLOCAUST, A HEINOUS HISTORICAL EUROPEAN CRIME, NOT PALESTINIAN CRIME. BRING THEM BACK. THEY SAY, CAN THEY BRING BACK THE THOUSANDS OF MURDERED, KIDNAPPED, IMP PRISON PALESTINIANS FOR OVER 75 YEARS, WHOSE LAND THEY STOLE? MOST RECENTLY OVER 20,000 IN THE CONCENTRATION CAP OF GAZA. THERE WOULD BE NO BLACK PANTHERS IF THERE WAS NO ENSLAVEMENT, SEGREGATION, DEHUMANIZATION OF BLACK PEOPLE. THERE WOULD BE NO HAMAS IF THERE WAS NO ZIONISM, NO COLONIALISM, NO US SUPPORT. THANK JESUS IS A FOR YOUR TIME CEASE QUIET NOW. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, AND I'LL ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER. JUST COME A LITTLE BIT CLOSER. A LITTLE BIT CLOSER. OKAY. NEXT IS PRUDENCE DZAN AND THEN MICHAEL MICHELLE LOVING. MY NAME IS PRUDENCE. I'M A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT SEVEN. I HAVE LIVED IN LONG BEACH SINCE I WAS TWO YEARS OLD. I'M A LONG BEACH STATE ALUMNI AND I USED TO WORK FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE DEPARTMENT AS A CLERICAL AID. I FIND IT INTERESTING THAT NO ONE SPEAKING AGAINST THE CEASE FIRE IS ADDRESSING THE FRIENDLY FIRE COMMITTED BY THE IDF ON OCTOBER 7TH, OR THE THREE ISRAELI HOSTAGES THAT THEY SHOT AND KILLED RECENTLY. IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS ISN'T ABOUT ISRAEL DEFENDING ITSELF OR GETTING THE HOSTAGES BACK. IT'S ABOUT WHITE SUPREMACY AND SETTLER COLONIAL COLONIALISM. PERMANENT CEASEFIRE NOW FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. YOUR NEXT SPEAKER IS RABBI LOVING. AFTER RABBI LOVING, IT'S MOHAMED HASSAN. HELLO, MY NAME IS RABBI MICHA LOVING. FIRST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR THE CALM AND CONSIDERATE WAY THAT YOU ARE TREATING ALL CITIZENS HERE THIS EVENING. I GREW UP IN LONG BEACH AND IN ISRAEL MY FATHER AND MY SIBLINGS ARE BEING BOMBED EVERY DAY. I BELIEVE IN PEACE. I HURT FOR ALL THOSE KILLED ON ALL SIDES. BUT I ASK YOU TO PLEASE REJECT THIS PROCLAMATION. IT IS DECISIVE. YOU'LL NOTICE THERE ARE MANY, MANY MORE PRO-PALESTINIAN SPEAKERS HERE THAN JEWS. WE'RE A MINORITY AND FRANKLY WE'RE SCARED. WE ARE TERRIFIED OF RISING ANTI-SEMITISM. ALL RIGHT FOLKS, RABBI, JUST A MOMENT. HEY FOLKS, I DISAGREE. WE TALKED ABOUT, WE TALKED ABOUT FREEDOM OF SPEECH. THAT'S WHAT THIS PODIUM REPRESENTS. EVERYONE IS ENTITLED TO SPEAK FREELY HERE. I'VE DEFENDED EVERYONE WHO COMES FORWARD. IT IS NOT HELPFUL. YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR ME LECTURE. YOU WANT TO GET THROUGH THIS? PLEASE. LET'S RESPECT EVERYONE WHO'S AT THE PODIUM. PLEASE CONTINUE YOUR STATEMENT. WALTER, THANK YOU. WHILE THE RESOLUTION IS VERY WELL INTENDED, IT DOES NOT REPRESENT ALL CONSTITUENTS AND I ASK THAT YOU REJECT IT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS UH, MOHAMMED HASSAN AND THEN ANTHONY BRYSON. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. I'M SURE YOU GUYS'S TIRED. I'M TIRED, BUT IT'S WORTH IT TO STAY. IT'S A GOOD CAUSE. WE'RE HERE TO PRAY FOR THE PEOPLE WHO PASSED AWAY AND GET KILLED IN OCTOBER SEVEN. WE'RE HERE TO PRAY FOR THE CHILDREN AND THE WOMANS OF PALESTINE IN GAZA WHO'S BEEN BUTCHERED. WILL WE SPEAK AT THIS MOMENT? WE ARE TO ASK FOR CEASEFIRE. IS THE SEASON FOR HOLIDAY? IT'S THE CHRISTMAS. I THINK IF JESUS IS HERE, HE'S GONNA ASK YOU TO VOTE FOR CEASEFIRE. PLEASE VOTE IN CEASEFIRE IF FREE FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN BUTCHERED AT THIS MOMENT. WOMAN, CHILDREN, FREE FOR EVERYBODY FROM THIS WAR. LET'S HAVE A PEACE IN THIS EARTH FOR OUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, FOR EVERYBODY'S CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. ENOUGH OF THIS WARS IN THIS WORLD, STAND IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE BUSH. THE HISTORY OF THE BOOK. DON'T STAND IN THE SIDE. WHERE'S OUR PRESIDENTS GONNA BE IN [03:45:01] THAT HISTORY OF A BAD BOOK. PLEASE VOTE YES IN THIS FILE. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ANTHONY BRYSON. ANTHONY BRYSON. ANTHONY BRYSON. OKAY. AFTER ANTHONY BRYSON IS JUSTICE CRUDUP AND THEN SAMIA MUHAMMAD. THANK YOU. CITY COUNCIL SIBLINGS. YOU KNOW I COME ON THE BACKS OF ANCESTORS LIKE MALCOLM X, ANGELA DAVIS, STOKELY CARMICHAEL. AND THEY STOOD UP FOR A FREE PALESTINE BECAUSE THEY SAW THE INTERCONNECTIVITY BETWEEN THE OVERPOLICING HERE IN AMERICA. AND THE DISCRIMINATION ON THE BLACK COMMUNITY HERE IN AMERICA IS ALL SO FAMILIAR TO THE LIFESTYLE IN PALESTINE THAT THE PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY FACE ON A DAILY BASIS. WHY? BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS NATIONALISM. JUST LIKE WHITE SUPREMACY, THE ZIONISTS HOLD A NATIONAL REGARD OF NATIONALISM THAT DOESN'T ALLOW THE PALESTINIAN COMMUNITIES TO FIND A HOME, A LAND OR A FEET OR A SPACE TO BREATHE. THEY HAVE SUCH A GRIP AROUND THE PALESTINIAN COMMUNITY. THEY CONTROL THEIR MOVEMENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE. HOW CAN WE WITNESS ALL THIS MASS BOMBING? WHEN THEY CAN DO PRECISION TACTICS, THEY CAN DO GROUND RAIDS. THEY CAN CALL ANYONE IN PALESTINE AND SAY, HEY, YOU'RE ON THE THIRD FLOOR. WE KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE. COME ON DOWN. LET'S BE REAL ABOUT THIS. ISRAEL'S ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL MILITARIES IN THE WORLD. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS AND WHY ARE WE OKAY WITH IT? NEXT IS JUSTICE. CRUDUP IS JUSTICE HERE AGAIN. JUSTICE IS JUSTICE. CRUDUP HERE. OKAY, NEXT IS SAMIA MUHAMMAD AND THEN AYA AZIZI SAMIA. YOU WANNA SAY SOMETHING? HI. THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING ME. ALL HOSPITALS IN GAZA ARE BOMBED. THE HOSPITALS THAT CONTAIN PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN BRUTALIZED FOR 75 YEARS. THESE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN BRUTAL, BRUTALIZED. AND YOU GUYS CONTINUE TO SIT AND DO NOTHING. IS THAT ISRAEL DEFENDING ITSELF BOMBING ALL THE HOSPITALS IN GAZA, THAT'S ISRAEL DEFENDING ITSELF. A LITTLE GIRL GETTING HER LEG CUT OFF, AMPUTATED WITHOUT ANY ANESTHESIA, ONLY TO BE BOMBED AGAIN. AND HER FAMILY MASSACRED IS THAT ISRAEL DEFENDING ITSELF, THEY'RE BOMBING THE NORTH AND THEN THEY TELL PALESTINIANS, GO SOUTH. AND THEY GO SOUTH AND THEY BOMB THE SOUTH AND THEN THEY BOMB THE WEST BANK. HAMAS ISN'T IN THE WEST BANK. IS THAT ISRAEL DEFENDING ITSELF? ISRAEL IS NOT DEFENDING ITSELF. IT'S TRYING TO ETHNICALLY CLEANSE ALL OF THE PALESTINIANS. WHO ARE THEY DEFENDING THEMSELVES AGAINST? THE 10,000 CHILDREN BEING BOMBED, BURIED, ALIVE UNDER THE, AND UH, STARVING IN PALESTINE. THANK YOU. FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS IA BAZI AND THEN LEE GOLDSTEIN. AYA BAZI. AFTER THAT IS LEE GOLDSTEIN AND THEN ANO BLAKE. UM, JUST WANTED TO START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU GUYS FOR HAVING US HERE. MY NAME IS AYA AZIZI. I'M AN ALGERIAN AMERICAN AND I JUST WANNA START OFF WITH THIS. THE SPIRIT OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE LIVES IN ALL OF US. YOU CANNOT KILL A PEOPLE WHO DO NOT SEE DEATH AS THE END. YOU CANNOT KILL THE PALESTINIANS BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU KILL EVERY PALESTINIAN, ALL OF US ARE PALESTINIAN. HOW CAN ZIONISTS BE SO FRAGILE THAT THEY SEE CHILDREN AND PEOPLE IN SANDALS AND PEOPLE WITH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES AND THEY'RE LIKE, YEAH, LET ME BOMB THEM. LET ME KILL THEM. YEAH, THAT'S COOL. AND BY THE WAY, MOST OF THE, ALMOST EVERYONE IN PALESTINE RIGHT NOW IS DISABLED. JUST ANYWAYS, IF YOU ARE JEWISH AND WANT TO CLAIM THE EFFECT OF THE HOLOCAUST, HONESTLY, HOW DARE YOU. THE PALESTINIANS OPENED, WE, THEY WELCOMED YOU OF OPEN ARMS. US IN THE ARAB AFRICAN AND MUSLIM WORLD. WE FOUGHT FOR YOU DURING WORLD WAR II. IT WASN'T ONLY YOU THAT DIED, WE STOOD WITH YOU AND WE FOUGHT FOR YOU. IF YOU ARE, IF YOU ARE JEWISH AND YOU SUPPORT ISRAEL, THIS IS EMBARRASSING AND IT SHOULD NOT BE IN YOUR NAME. FOR THOSE THAT ARE SAYING, BRING THEM BACK. BRING ALL OF THEM BACK. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT IS LEE. HELLO, MY NAME IS LEE GOLDSTEIN. I'M A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH AND I AM A QUEER ANTI-ZIONIST JEW. I HAVE HEARD ZIONIST HERE TODAY SAY THEY ARE AFRAID AS JEWS. WELL, I'M AFRAID OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SUPPOSED TO BE MY JEWISH COMMUNITY. AFTER HEARING THE THINGS YOU HAVE ALL SAID TONIGHT, SHAME ON ALL OF YOU. I WANTED TO BE CLEAR TO THE COUNCIL THAT ANTI-ZIONISM IS NOT ANTISEMITISM, WHICH ANYWAY IS BETTER REFERRED TO AS AN AS AS JUDEOPHOBIA BECAUSE OF THINGS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY EXPLAINED. IF YOU WANT TO ACCURATELY REPRESENT JEWISH VALUES, THEN YOU WILL STAND AGAINST ZIONISM AND THE GENOCIDE PERPETRATED BY ISRAEL, THE IDF NETANYAHU AND SUPPORTED BY THE US IT SONS AND HORRIFIES ME TO SEE OTHER JEWS UP HERE TODAY. ADVOCATING FOR THE CONTINUED [03:50:01] GENOCIDE OF INNOCENT PEOPLE AS CEASEFIRE WILL SAVE INNOCENT LIVES SOON TO BE STOLEN ENOUGH, HAVE BEEN KILLED ALREADY. GENOCIDE IS NOT JUST ISRAEL'S MASS KILLING OF PALESTINIANS, BUT ALSO THE ISRAELI BLOCKADE OF FOOD SANITATION ITEMS AND HEALTHCARE ACCESS. IF THE IDF BOMBS, IF THE ID BOMBS AND BULLETS DON'T KILL THE PEOPLE IN GAZA, MANY ARE AND WILL DIE FROM DISEASE AND STARVATION. YOU DECIDE TONIGHT IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH THAT CEASEFIRE NOW AND THE OCCUPATION. ALRIGHT, UH, ANO BEFORE YOU GO, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT 10 SPEAKERS, UH, ALICIA CARRELL NOIR. MUHAMMAD CEASEFIRE, NOW DIANA, UH, DIANE HERNANDEZ, JACQUES LOPEZ. UH, JULIAN RIKARD. UH, LYDIA ALVA DEQUAN. ZAINAB ALGIE AND TK LEE. SO WE HAVE ANO THEN ALICIA, THEN NO ANO YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. OKAY. I KNOW. HI THERE. MY NAME IS ELLIE. NOAH BLAKE. I'M A RENTER IN DISTRICT ONE, ONE PART OF MY JOB IS TO AGGREGATE AND LOOK AT DATA. SO I'M JUST GONNA SHARE A FEW OBSERVATIONS ABOUT THE CROWD TONIGHT THAT AREN'T MEANT TO BE A JUDGMENT. JUST AN OBSERVATION. THE RACIAL, ETHNIC AGE AND RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE WHO STAND FOR A FREE PALESTINE AND A CEASEFIRE TONIGHT IS PRETTY REPRESENTATIVE OF THE, THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. THE WHITE, PRIMARILY OLDER GROUP SUPPORTING ISRAEL IS MORE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE US CONGRESS. ARE YOU A COUNCIL FOR THE ENTIRE CITY OF LONG BEACH OR ARE YOU A COUNCIL FOR PRIMARILY WHITE PEOPLE, MOSTLY HOMEOWNERS USING ZIONISM AND WHITE WOMEN TEARS AS A THINLY VEILED SHIELD FOR RACISM? AMEN. YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE BIGGEST CITY SO FAR IN THIS COUNTRY TO STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY AND CALL FOR AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. AS A JEWISH PERSON WHO ABIDES BY CORE JEWISH VALUES OF NEVER AGAIN FOR ANYONE, MY ANCESTORS WOULD BE HORRIFIED IF I CALLED FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE AND A FREE PALESTINE FOREVER. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT. OKAY, NEXT IS ALICIA. ALICIA, YES. ARE YOU ALICIA? OKAY, THANK YOU. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. ALICIA CARROLL, DISTRICT TWO CONSTITUENT. I'M A NATIVE AMERICAN AND INDIGENOUS STUDIES PROFESSOR TEACHING IN CALIFORNIA FOR 16 YEARS. WE'RE GATHERED HERE NOW IN THE STOLEN ANCESTRAL LAND OF THE TONGA KI AND A HAMAN NATIONS INDIGENOUS PEOPLES WHO CONTINUE TO LIVE HERE AND STEWARD THESE LANDS. DESPITE HUNDREDS OF YEARS OF US SETTLER COLONIAL VIOLENCE AND OCCUPATION, THE US FUNDS ISRAEL TO EXPAND ITS MILITARY AND ECONOMIC EMPIRE TO THE MIDDLE EAST. ISLAMOPHOBIC PROPAGANDA NORMALIZES ISRAEL'S COLONIAL SETTLEMENT IN PALESTINE OCCUPIED PEOPLES HAVE A HUMAN RIGHT TO RESIST COLONIAL OPPRESSION AND DISPLACEMENT INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AROUND THE WORLD, SUPPORT AND DEMAND OF FREE PALESTINE. I ASK YOU TO REPRESENT MY VOICE AND VOTE FOR AN IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. NOW I WANNA USE THE REST OF MY MINUTE TO ASK FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR 20,000 MURDERED PALESTINIANS WHO CAN NO LONGER SPEAK. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS NOIR MUHAMMAD AND AFTER YOU NOIR IS CEASEFIRE NOW. AND THEN DIANE HERNANDEZ, IF YOU COULD COME UP A LITTLE BIT CLOSER, THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL. NEWER. HELLO, MY NAME IS NO MOHAMMED. AND AS A CITIZEN OF LONG BEACH AND ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF LONG BEACH, I AM UTTERLY ASHAMED OF OUR GOVERNMENT THAT WE EVEN NEED A PROCLAMATION TO END A CLEAR AND OBVI OBVIOUS BLOODSHED AMONGST THE PALESTINIANS AND ZA TO BELIEVE THAT I MUST PAY A SINGLE DOLLAR IN TAXES TO HAVE BLOOD ON MY HANDS, TO HAVE THE AUDACITY TO SIT UP THERE THROUGH SUCH MISERY. IS THERE NO SHAME OR MORE, OR MORALITY OR DO YOU ONLY SIT THERE TO LISTEN TO US? RAMBLE FOR US TO BELIEVE IN THE CONCEPT OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH, ONLY FOR YOU TO CHOOSE TO CLOSE OUR MICS AND TO WHICH SHOWS CLEAR BIAS INDICATION TO WHERE YOU STAND. I URGE YOU NOT TO WAG YOUR TAILS TO THE TERROR STATE THAT WE CALL OUR PRESIDENT, THAT WE ALLOW THE ONGOING TERROR AMONG PALESTINIANS FOR A PRETTY PENNY. IF YOU ARE TRULY THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, FOR YOU WILL HEAR THE MAJORITY OF OUR VOICES DO NOT DISAPPOINT US ONCE MORE AND VOTE YES TO NOT ONLY FOR A PERMANENT CEASE FIRE, BUT TO FURTHER ENSURE THE SAFETY AND MEDICAL TREATMENT OF WHAT REMAINS OF OUR PALESTINIANS. ZA THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. PLEASE COME FORWARD. ALRIGHT. STATE YOUR NAME. DIANE HERNANDEZ. OKAY, YOU'RE DIANE. [03:55:01] OKAY, SO I'M SCRATCHING THE NAME, WHOEVER. OKAY. WELL PLEASE COME FORWARD AND STATE YOUR NAME. UH, YES. SO CEASEFIRE NOW. ALRIGHT. AND I REALLY WANNA SAY THAT I APPRECIATE THE COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE HERE. I REALLY APPRECIATE DR. JONI RICKS OTI AND MR. ORANGA FOR, UH, MOTIONING FOR THIS, THIS IS WHAT WE NEED. IT'S, I THINK IT'S REALLY SHAMEFUL THAT WE HAVE TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT ARE MISSING. SO THAT LEAVES, UM, UH, THE REST OF YOU TO PLEASE SIGN ON TO THIS. IT IS TIME TO CALL IT WHAT IT IS. IT OF COURSE, IT'S A GENOCIDE. IT'S BEEN AN APARTHEID AND A GENOCIDE FOR A LONG TIME, FOR DECADES. SO TWO OF YOU, COME ON. YOU GOTTA VOTE IN THIS RIGHT WAY. JOIN THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT ARE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY. JOIN BARBARA LEE, JOIN KATIE PORTER. WE JUST HEARD, AND NOW WE HAVE A CHANCE, EVEN IN OUR, IN OUR OWN DISTRICT, WE HAVE JOAQUIN BELTRAN FOR PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. WOW, THAT'S A LOT OF COURAGE TO PUT THAT ON THERE AS A CANDIDATE, JUST LIKE BARBARA LEE SAID MANY YEARS AGO, NO, TO THE AFGHANISTAN WAR. THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IN OUR COMMUNITY. PEACE HERE AND PEACE ABROAD. SO END THE APARTHEID, YES. TO THE PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. NEXT IS DIANE, YOU'RE UP AND I'LL SUBMIT THIS FOR THE RUN. DIANE, YOU'RE UP NEXT. THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT. HI. UM, SO, UH, I WAS HESITANT TO COME UP HERE ONLY BECAUSE IT'S SUCH A HEAVY TOPIC, BUT I FEEL LIKE I HAVE THE OBLIGATION TO USE MY VOICE FOR THOSE WHO DON'T. UM, AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW, YOU KNOW, DEEP DOWN THAT THIS IS MORE THAN JUST CEASE FIRE AND MORE THAN JUST, YOU KNOW, PRO WHATEVER SIDE YOU'RE ON. UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S A HUMANITARIAN ISSUE WHERE EACH LIFE REALLY, WE, WE CAN'T, UM, WE CAN'T LOOK THE OTHER WAY. AND YOU KNOW, IT, I, I CAN'T SLEEP AT NIGHT SOMETIMES THINKING ABOUT HOW I'M BROUGHT INTO THIS WITH, YOU KNOW, MY OBVIOUSLY MY TEXT DOLLARS AND YOU KNOW, IF I DON'T SAY SOMETHING, IF I DON'T DO ANYTHING AT ALL, I BECOME PART OF THAT PROBLEM. SO I'M ASKING YOU TO USE YOUR VOICE. ALL OF US HERE WHO ARE STANDING BEFORE YOU TODAY, UM, YOU REPRESENT US, YOU KNOW, SO USE THAT AND PLEASE VOTE YES. UM, OR NO. YES. YES. HOMELESS CEASE FIRE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS JACK LOPEZ, THEN JULIAN RIKER. HI, MY NAME IS JACK. UM, I WAKE UP THINKING ABOUT PALESTINE. I GO TO SLEEP THINKING ABOUT PALESTINE. I'M BORN AND RAISED IN LONG BEACH AND I'M HERE TO SAY THAT I AND MANY OTHER LONG BEACH DIS CONSTITUENTS DO NOT WANT OUR TAX DOLLARS TO FUND THE GENOCIDE OF PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. I'M AN EDUCATOR AND AT A TIME WHEN SCHOOLS ARE BEING DEFUNDED, IT IS DESPICABLE TO THINK THAT OUR TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING USED TOWARDS THE MURDER OF INNOCENT CHILDREN, WOMEN AND MEN IN PALESTINE. WE'RE WATCHING ATROCIOUS CONDITIONS IN GAZA AND THEY'RE BEGGING US TO CONTINUE TO SPEAK FOR THEM TO CONTINUE TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. WE HAVE BEEN SEEING LESS AND LESS OF THE PALESTINIANS SHARING THEIR EXPERIENCES AND I CAN'T HELP BUT THINK IT'S BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN KILLED ALREADY. SOME PEOPLE SAY, WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH LONG BEACH? AND I SAY EVERYTHING, WE ARE HUMAN BEINGS AND OUR WORK AND OUR TAXES ARE BEING USED FOR MASS MURDER. IT SHOULD NOT BE CONTROVERSIAL TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE. I WANNA BE PROUD OF LONG BEACH AND I WANT LONG BEACH TO BE THE NEXT CITY TO PASS A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION. PLEASE MOVE FORWARD IN MAKING HISTORY. PLEASE JOIN CHICAGO IN 153 COUNTRIES AND ASKING FOR A CEASEFIRE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS JULIAN. AND THEN LYDIA. HI, MY NAME IS JULIAN. I'M A PALESTINIAN AMERICAN AND DISTRICT TWO CONSTITUENT. MY GRANDMA SWA IMMIGRATED TO LONG BEACH DECADES AGO. AND AS I STAND HERE BEFORE YOU ALL, UH, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO CONSIDER THIS, UH, TO EVEN HAVE IT ON THE AGENDA, BUT IT SHOULDN'T BE NECESSARY. UM, ALTHOUGH IT MAY SEEM LIKE CAREER SUICIDE AS AN AMERICAN POLITICIAN TO OPPOSE THE WILL OF THE ANTI-SEMITIC RACIST ZIONIST REGIME THAT IS ISRAEL, IT IS YOUR DUTY AS OUR REPRESENTATIVES TO CONSIDER ISSUES THAT AFFECT US. I URGE YOU NOW TO NOT ONLY STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY, BUT TO STAND ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF HUMANITY. ALL THESE PRO-ISRAELI PROTESTORS HERE TO SIMPLY SABOTAGE SHAME ON YOU. TRUE ACTIVISTS POURED THEIR BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS TO EVEN GET THIS ON THE COUNCIL'S AGENDA. CEASE FIRE NOW. YES, THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS LYDIA. AFTER LYDIA IS DAQUAN LOS VO, WHICH IN YO [04:00:01] ME MEANS MAY YOUR CREATOR BLESS AND FORGIVE YOU. UM, MY NAME IS LYDIA. I'M A RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH AND I'M HERE TO SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION FOR A CEASEFIRE. EVEN THOUGH IT DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH, WE SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT ENDING ANY MONEY TO ISRAEL, WHICH IS AN APARTHEID STATE. AND, UH, MY FAMILY CAME HERE AFTER THE MEXICAN WAR TO EXTERMINATE THE YAKI PEOPLE. AND I SEE THE VERY SAME THING HAPPENING WITH ISRAEL AND THE WAY THAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT GAZA AND MY HEARTBREAKS ARE SO MANY GOOD POINTS MADE TODAY. BUT I ALSO WANNA BRING TO THE ATTENTION OF THE COUNCIL THAT THERE ARE HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS IN ISRAEL WHO HAVE TO BEG FOR FOOD AND ISRAEL DOES NOT TAKE CARE OF ITS HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS AND IS USING THAT TRAUMA TO JUSTIFY GENOCIDE. AND I I REALLY JUST WANT TO ALSO SAY THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING. WE NEED TO END THE CH, WE NEED TO END THE OCCUPATION. WE NEED TO STOP. THERE ARE PEOPLE IN HERE WITH NO MEDICAL INSURANCE. WHY ARE WE SENDING MONEY TO ISRAEL? SO, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS DAQUAN. AFTER DAQUAN IS ZAY NAB AND THEN TK LEE DAQUAN. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. UM, LAST WEEK A TWO WORKERS AT HOTEL MAYA, WOMAN OF COLOR WERE ATTACKED BY GUEST. AND SO I MARCHED ON THE PICKET LINE IN SOLIDARITY AGAINST VIOLENCE. AND IF I'M AGAINST VIOLENCE HERE, I MUST ALSO BE AGAINST VIOLENCE IN PALESTINE. I COME FROM A UNION FAMILY AND THE UNION TELLS ME TO LOVE AND STAND BY ALL WORKERS, NOT JUST AMERICANS, NOT JUST WHITE PEOPLE, NOT JUST CHRISTIANS, ALL WORKERS ACROSS THE WORLD. SO I WANT TO COME IN SOLIDARITY WITH WORKERS IN PALESTINE, NOT JUST IN GAZA, BUT ALSO THE WEST BANK. I WANT TO COME CONSOLIDATE WITH ALL OPPRESSED AND COLONIZED WORKERS AND SAY, I WANT AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE NOW, A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE, PERMANENT PEACE PLEASE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT IS ZA NAP ZAINA JI DISTRICT TWO. I AM HERE TO URGE YOU ALL TO LISTEN TO THE MAJORITY OF YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND ADOPT THIS PROCLAMATION IN SUPPORT OF A CEASEFIRE. AS A SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST WHO PROUDLY SERVES RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS, I BELIEVE I HAVE A PROFESSIONAL AND MORAL OBLIGATION TO SPEAK FOR THE EVER INCREASING NUMBER OF DISABLED PALESTINIANS WHO HAVE SUFFERED PERMANENT AND LIFE ALTERING DISABILITIES AT THE HANDS OF THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT AND THEIR MERCILESS BOMBING CAMPAIGN. A CEASEFIRE IS THE ONLY WAY THESE CIVILIANS CAN RECEIVE THE NECESSARY MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND CARE THEY DESPERATELY NEED. AND AS A REMINDER TO EVERYONE HERE, LET'S REMEMBER, JEWISH SAFETY AND PALESTINIAN FREEDOM ARE NOT OPPOSING CAUSES. DEBE DEBE DE BEAD. FREE PALESTINE. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER. OKAY, TK, BEFORE YOU GO, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT 10. UH, SARAH GRIPPO, UH, BEHE PALMER, LILIANA CORTEZ, JENNIFER BENITEZ, SEK SCHAFER, AMINA AZIZ, CAROLINE INGRAM, VANESSA MEJIA, SHIMON GREENSPAN, AND JOSE FERNANDO MARTINEZ. THOSE ARE THE NEXT 10. IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD. OKAY, TK, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. HELLO, MY NAME IS TK AND I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE, CHRISTINA DUGGANS DISTRICT. I SUPPORT THE CITY SIGNING ONTO A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE LONG HISTORY OF ISRAEL'S VIOLENT OCCUPATION OF PALESTINE AND RECOGNITION OF THE DEVASTATION IN GAZA. CALLING FOR AN END TO GENOCIDE. CHRISTINA IS NOT A DIVISIVE ISSUE. GENOCIDE IS LITERALLY A DIVISIVE, A DIVIDING ISSUE. IT DIVIDES FAMILIES. MANY CONSTITUENTS COME FROM FAMILIES WHO HAVE BEEN SEPARATED BY WAR AND GENOCIDE. I AM ONE OF THOSE CONSTITUENTS. DUGGAN HAS A PSYCHOTHERAPY PRACTICE AND ADVOCATES FOR MENTAL HEALTH. THE LEGACIES OF WAR, SEPARATION, BOMBARDMENT, SIEGE, AND GENOCIDE HAVE GIVEN ME AND MY LOVED ONES. SEE PTSD DISABILITIES, CHRONIC PAIN AND LOW LIFE EXPECTANCIES. THE VIOLENCE OF WAR LIVES ON IN THE GENERATIONS THAT FOLLOW. SOME OF US HAVE LEARNED THESE LESSONS AND CONTINUE THE STRUGGLE FOR TOTAL LIBERATION. OTHERS INTERNALIZE OPPRESSION AND BECOME OPPRESSORS AND GENOCIDE. APOLOGISTS, WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. SIGN THE RESOLUTION NOW. THANK YOU. THE NEXT SPEAKER IS SARAH. AFTER SARAH IS BETH HEED. SO YES, SARAH GUR. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING US SPEAK TONIGHT. I COULD TALK ABOUT ISRAEL. I'VE BEEN THERE 14 TIMES. I COULD TALK ABOUT PALESTINIAN CITIES AND ALSO PLACES I'VE BEEN. I COULD TALK ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST, THE LAND MY FAMILY IS FROM, BUT I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT LONG BEACH. MY CITY. I'VE BEEN A LONG BEACH RESIDENT FOR MOST OF MY LIFE. I'M A DISTRICT THREE HOMEOWNER. I'M A WILSON HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNA. I'M AN IRANIAN JEW. MY FAMILY LEFT IRAN DUE DUE DUE TO SYSTEMIC ANTISEMITISM FROM THE IRANIAN REGIME, THE SAME REGIME THAT IS FUNDING HAMAS. JUST TWO WEEKS AGO AS WE WERE BEGINNING TO CELEBRATE [04:05:01] HANUKKAH, A MAN, SLOWLY, DR. DRIVING PAST ME WHILE I WALKED MY DOG ON A SMALL NEIGHBORHOOD STREET HERE IN LONG BEACH, SAW THE JEWISH STAR NECKLACE AROUND MY NECK, STOPPED HIS CAR AND AS HE DROVE AWAY, ROLLED HIS WINDOW DOWN AND YELLED AT ME. EFFING K***S. JUST HERE TONIGHT, A PERSON IN THIS ROOM WALKED PAST ME AND CALLED ME A BABY KILLER. I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE SECURITY HERE TONIGHT, YET I STILL FEARFUL FEAR FOR MY PHYSICAL SAFETY. THE MOMENT I LEAVE THIS ROOM AT THE END OF THE NIGHT, HATE IS AROUND US, BUT WHAT TRULY WORRIES ME IS THAT ANTI-SEMITES OR JEW HATERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. TIMES CONCLUDED. ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT IS BEHE PALMER, UH, BEYA, BUT BETH, BETHANY OR BETH, HE IS MUCH COOLER, SO I WISH THAT WAS MY NAME. OKAY. . UM, I, I ALSO WAS HESITANT TO COME UP HERE LIKE A PREVIOUS SPEAKER SAID, I REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO, BUT I AM HERE BECAUSE I AM DISTURBED AT THE CORE OF MY SOUL. UM, AT THE DEATH OF CIVILIANS, THE THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN BEING KILLED IN GAZA. I CAN'T STAND BY AND WATCH WHILE MY TAX DOLLARS ARE BEING USED, UM, TO, TO CONTINUE THIS AND ENABLE THIS CYCLE OF VIOLENCE TO CONTINUE. UM, I WAKE UP EVERY DAY AND I THINK ABOUT IT, IT WEIGHS ON ME EVERY DAY. I HAVE A PAIN IN MY CHEST THAT FEELS LIKE HEARTBREAK EVERY SINGLE DAY SINCE THIS STARTED. AND I CAN'T TOLERATE IT ANYMORE. AND I REALLY JUST CAN'T STAND THE THOUGHT THAT, UM, OUR GOVERNMENT IS ENABLING IT. OUR NATIONAL GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED US. SO I KNOW YOU DON'T HAVE DIRECT EFFECT ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, BUT WE'RE HERE TO RAISE OUR VOICES IN DISSENT AND SAY, WE DON'T CONSENT TO THIS MASSACRE OF CIVILIANS ANYMORE. AND THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. THANK YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS LILIANA, AFTER LILIANA IS JENNIFER LILIANA, THEN JENNIFER. THANK YOU. HI, MY NAME IS LILIANA CORTEZ. I JUST WANNA START OFF BY SAYING THAT CRITICIZING THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC. THE, UH, CONFLICT BETWEEN PALESTINE AND ISRAEL IS DEVASTATING. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW A COUNTRY LIKE THE UNITED STATES CAN SUPPORT SUCH ATROCITIES. I HAVE BEEN UPDATING MYSELF DAILY WITH NEWS ABOUT THE CONFLICT, AND IT IS VERY CLEAR THAT ISRAEL SHOULD NOT BE RECEIVING ANY MORE MONEY FROM THE UNITED STATES TO CONTINUE THEIR BOMBING CAMPAIGN. WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7TH IS DEVASTATING. NOBODY SHOULD BE GOING THROUGH ATTACKS LIKE THAT. I COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND. THAT IS WHY WE NEED A CEASEFIRE. THE TRUTH WAS NOT ONLY BROKEN BY HAMAS, BUT ALSO BY ISRAEL. ISRAEL HAS ACTIVELY BEEN GOING TO PALESTINE CAMPS IN THE WEST BANK AND GAZA TO ARREST CIVILIANS, MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS THE AGE OF 12. MANY OF THE PEOPLE ARRESTED ARE HELD ON ADMINISTRATIVE HOLDS. THERE IS BASICALLY NO CHARGE. THEY CAN BE THERE FOR MONTHS AND YEARS. THAT IS UNLAWFUL. ISRAEL IS KNOWN TO SHOOT CIVILIANS FROM A DISTANCE. THERE ARE MANY SNIPERS THAT HAVE KILLED THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIANS EVEN BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH. THE OPPRESSION FROM ISRAEL HAS CAUSED ANGER, GRIEF, DEPRESSION AMONGST THOSE THAT ARE EXPERIENCING. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT IS JENNIFER AND THEN KASIK. MY NAME IS JEN. I'M WITH PUSO A SOLIDARITY ORG FOR THE PHILIPPINES AND OTHER LIBERATION STRUGGLES LIKE PALESTINE. THERE'S MISINFORMATION BEING PUSHED ONTO CONSTITUENTS BY MASS MEDIA. THERE'S ERRONEOUS STATEMENTS MADE THAT CITY COUNCIL IS OUT OF JURISDICTION FOR VOTING YES ON THE PROCLAMATION, AS IF THE MONEY THAT OUR AS IF THE MONEY OUR CITY'S TAXPAYERS PAY EVERY YEAR ISN'T BEING USED RIGHT THIS MINUTE TO COMMIT ATROCIOUS WAR CRIMES AGAINST THOUSANDS OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. OUR BILLIONS OF TAX DOLLARS IS FUNDING GENOCIDE AGAINST OUR WILL. INSTEAD OF FUNDING OUR HOUSING, HEALTHCARE, EDUCATION AND BETTER PAYING JOBS ALL FOR THE INTEREST OF US ISRAELI WAR MONGERING CLASS TO EXTRACT NATURAL GAS AT THE EXPENSE OF OVER TWO 20,000 PLUS MURDERED CIVILIANS IN CAL COUNTING. NO MATTER IF YOU ARE SWAYED BY THE MISINFORMATION, YOU CANNOT IGNORE THE GLARING FACT THAT THE PALESTINIANS HAVE NO CHOICE AND EVERY RIGHT TO RESIST GENOCIDE BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. NEXT SPEAKER IS KASIK, K-E-S-I-C. AFTER CACIQUE IS AMINA, THEN CAROLINE. UH, IT'S SSIC. UH, MY NAME IS KESS SCHAEFFER. I'M A LIFELONG RESIDENT OF LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA. I FEEL COMPELLED TO USE MY VOICE TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT THE ATROCITIES BEING COMMITTED IN GAZA CURRENTLY AS A WHITE PERSON WITH A POINT OF PRIVILEGE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, NOT FACING CONSTANT BOMBARDMENT DAILY. I THINK WHEN WE THINK OF ISRAEL AND THE MILITARISTIC RULE THAT IS CURRENTLY OPPRESSING THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE, ONE MIGHT SAY IT'S NOT A LOCAL ISSUE, BUT DOES EVERYONE KNOW THAT TONIGHT THE LOCAL, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS VOTING ON WHETHER OR NOT TO RENEW THE USE OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT IN LONG BEACH? WHEN YOU THINK OF THE MILITARY OPPRESSIVE REGIME, THE [04:10:01] FASCIST REGIME THAT IS CURRENTLY IN PLACE IN ISRAEL IS PROPPED UP BY THE US GOVERNMENT. JUST KNOW THAT WE ARE NOT FAR BEHIND. WE NEED TO STAY INFORMED AND UNITED TOGETHER AND BE PREPARED. THANK YOU. FREE, FREE PALESTINE. SHE'S FAR NOW. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS AMINA, THEN CAROLINE IS AMINA HERE? AMINA. AZIZ. A ZIZ. OKAY. NEXT IS CAROLINE INGRAM. AFTER CAROLINE INGRAM IS VANESSA MEJIA. JUST A MOMENT, VANESSA. OKAY, GREAT. ALRIGHT, YOU'RE UP CAROLINE. MY NAME IS CAROLINE INGRAM AND I LIVE IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT. I STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH PEOPLE CALLING FOR IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE AND AN END TO GENOCIDE CARRIED OUT BY ISRAEL AND FUNDED BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. THE TERRORIST ACTIONS OF HAMAS ON OCTOBER 7TH ARE DESPICABLE AND THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE UN ATTACKS ON HOSPITALS AND ATTACKS, TARGETING CIVILIANS ARE BOTH CONSIDERED WAR CRIMES. IN A UN ARTICLE ON DECEMBER 18TH, IT STATED THAT LESS THAN A THIRD OF GAZA'S 36 HOSPITALS ARE AT LEAST PARTIALLY FUNCTIONAL, INCLUDING ONLY ONE IN THE ENCLAVES NORTH. MORE THAN 20,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN GAZA AT THE TIME OF THIS MEETING. THE DAILY ATTACKS ARE KILLING HUNDREDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLE AND MAKING MAJOR PORTIONS OF GAZA INHABITABLE FUNDING. ISRAEL AT THIS TIME IS CONDONING AND ENABLING THE ATTEMPTING CLEANSING OF PALESTINIANS IN THE REGION. AND ANYTHING OTHER THAN YOU USING YOUR POSITION TO CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE AND VERBALLY DENOUNCING US FUNDING, SUPPORTING ISRAEL'S ATTACKS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. WE'LL BE SEEING A SUPPORT AND APPROVAL OF THE WAR. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS VANESSA MEJIA. AFTER VANESSA IS SHIMON GREENSPAN. HEY, GREETINGS. UM, SO I'M HERE TODAY. I AM A HOMEOWNER IN DISTRICT FIVE. UM, BEEN A LONG BEACH TOURISM MY WHOLE LIFE, BASICALLY FROM THE STREETS OF LONG BEACH. SO I CAN'T FIGURE OUT FOR SURE WHY OUR MONEY IS GOING ANYWHERE BUT IN THESE STREETS. UH, ASIDE FROM THAT, IF YOUR, IF YOU TONIGHT, IF Y'ALL'S ARMS ARE BEING, YOU KNOW, UH, BENT ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, LET 'EM BREAK IT OFF AND VOTE WHAT'S RIGHT. DO WHAT'S RIGHT FOR YOUR LEGACY, FOR YOUR PEOPLE. AND, AND JUST IN LIKE, FOR YOU, YOUR LIVES TO BE ABLE TO LAY YOUR HEADS DOWN AT NIGHT, YOU KNOW, FOR A FACT THAT YOU'RE HERE OVER HERE IN SIGNAL HILL, THEM PRACTICING THEIR LITTLE BOOM BOOMS. YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS. YOU KNOW WHAT'S NEXT FOR US. SO DO WHAT IT IS THAT YOU ALREADY KNOW SO YOU COULD SLEEP GOOD SO YOUR GRAND BABIES COULD SLEEP GOOD. AND ALL OF YOUR LEGACY FROM THERE ON. THAT'S JUST WHAT IT IS. SAY NO CEASE FIRE. I MEAN SAY, I MEAN VOTE TO CEASE FIRE. ALRIGHT, UH, NEXT SPEAKER IS SHIMON. ALRIGHT FOLKS. ALL RIGHT FOLKS, WE'RE ALMOST AT THE END. WE HAVE SHIMON AFTER SHIMON IS JOSE FERNANDO. MR. MAYOR, ESTEEMED COUNSEL, THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME THIS EVENING. I WANNA THANK YOU GUYS. JUST TWO WEEKS AGO IN THIS VERY ROOM, AN ANGRY MOB INTERRUPTED YOUR PROCEEDINGS. UH, MANY OF THOSE SAME PEOPLE ARE STILL HERE TONIGHT. AGAIN, YELLING AND BEING VERY LOUD. IT'S VERY CLEAR. SOMETIMES IT'S EASY TO DO WHAT THE ANGRY MOB YELLS, BUT IN REALITY, WE NEED TO STAND UP FOR WHAT'S RIGHT. I HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT WHAT'S RIGHT. IF ISRAEL WANTED TO COMMIT GENOCIDE, THEY COULD DO IT IN A MINUTE. 29,000. 29,000 BOMBS HAVE BEEN DROPPED BY THE ISRAELI AIR FORCE ON GAZA IN THE LAST EIGHT WEEKS. 15,000 ARTILLERY SHELLS AND 22,000 CIVILIAN PEOPLE WERE KILLED. NOW EITHER ISRAEL REALLY SUCKS AT AIMING OR THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO COMMIT GENOCIDE. WE CAN CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE, BUT REALITY THAT WON'T BRING PEACE. THE ONLY THING THAT WIN PRE PEACE IS, IS FOR HAMA TO SURRENDER AND TO RETURN OUR HOSTAGES AND TO COMMIT TO PEACE LIKE ISRAEL'S BEEN TRYING TO HAVE FOR OVER 20 YEARS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PETE. ALRIGHT FOLKS, COME ON. WE'RE ALMOST EVERYBODY GETS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK HERE. UH, AND WE HAVE JUST A FEW MORE TO GO. SO LET'S RESPECT EVERYONE'S COMMENTS. NEXT SPEAKER IS JOSE. FERNANDO, BEFORE YOU START, JOSE, I'M GONNA READ THE NEXT, UH, THE NEXT, THE FINAL SPEAKERS. UM, WE HAVE IMRON, BAHE, UH, CAS B, MENDEL, ROSEN, BLA, ANNA CHRISTENSEN, NOLAN WOOD, AND CHRISTINE MARIE. SO THOSE ARE THE FINAL SPEAKERS. PLEASE COME FORWARD. UH, JOSE, YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. THANK YOU. GOOD EVENING EVERYBODY. UH, MY NAME IS JOSE MARTINEZ AND THE REASON WHY I'M HERE OFFERING SOME WORDS IS BECAUSE IF I DON'T SPEAK, WHICH IS WHAT I CAN DO, I WILL BECOME COMPLICIT OF WHAT I'VE BEEN OBSERVING. I'VE BEEN WATCHING THE FOOTAGE AND IT IS HORRENDOUS. LIKE MANY OF, UH, THE OTHER SPEAKERS MENTIONED, THERE [04:15:01] ARE, UM, CHILDREN BEING REMOVED FROM RUBBLE IN PIECES. NOW, UH, WHAT HAPPENED IN OCTOBER 7TH WAS HORRENDOUS. BUT WHAT IS WRONG IS TO ASSUME THAT INDIVIDUALS THAT FIRED THOSE ROCKETS ON OCTOBER 7TH ARE THE TOTALITY OF THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE. WE CANNOT SUPPORT THE GENOCIDE AND WHAT I HAVE SEEN CANNOT BE DEFINED AS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN A WAR CRIME. UH, SO I CAN SAY THAT I SUPPORT A PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. AND, UH, SPEAKING IS ALL WE CAN DO AT THIS MOMENT. SO I AM DOING IT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS IMRON. AFTER ENRON IS CASS. B IS ENRON BAHIR HERE. OKAY, YOU ARE NEXT. SIR PLE, YOU HEAR YOUR NAME PLEASE COME FORWARD. EMRON IS, WHERE'S CASS? B? OKAY, CASS IS NEXT AFTER THAT. UH, AND THEN ANNA CHRISTENSEN, NOLAN WOOD, AND CHRISTINE MARIE. LET'S LINE UP THAT ORDER. DID I MISS YOUR NAME? MY NAME'S AMIRA AZIZ. YOU CALLED ME WITH THE LAST GROUP. OKAY, LET'S HAVE, LET'S HEAR YOUR TESTIMONY AND THEN THAT ORDER THAT I SAID WAS THE LAST SPEAKERS. THANK YOU SO MUCH. THANK YOU FOR BEING PATIENT. YOU HAVE THE FLOOR. HELLO, MY NAME IS AMIRA. I AM HERE TODAY TO CALL ON THE CITY OF LONG BEACH TO PASS A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING A PERMANENT AND UNCONDITIONAL CEASEFIRE IN NA GAZA. AS THE COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO MOBILIZE MORE AND MORE EACH DAY, WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US AS OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN DEMANDING JUSTICE FOR PALESTINE PALESTINIANS AND OPPRESSED PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. PASSING THIS RESOLUTION TODAY IS EXTREMELY URGENT. AFTER 73 YEARS OR 73 DAYS OF UNRELENTING INDISCRIMINATE CARPET BOMBING OF ZA, OVER 20,000 PALESTINIANS HAVE BEEN MURDERED BY THE STATE OF ISRAEL, INCLUDING OVER 10,000 CHILDREN. NOT PASSING A RESOLUTION WOULD BE AKIN TO NORMALIZING THIS ONGOING GENOCIDE AND CONDEMNING THE, AND CONDONING THE MURDER OF THE THOUSANDS MORA CIVILIANS. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE CLAIMS THAT THE ZIONIST GENOCIDE INZA IS AN INTERNATIONAL ISSU ISSUE, DISCONNECTED FROM OUR LOCALE, IT ACTUALLY HAS DEEP IMPLICATIONS ON OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY. US FEDERAL SPENDING ON MILITARISM AND POLICE TAKES DIRECTLY AWAY FROM OUR COMMUNITY'S NEEDS CAUSING MORE VIOLENCE AGAINST OUR PEOPLE HERE AND THERE. LONG BEACH AND CITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY CANNOT SOLVE THE PRESSING PROBLEMS OF HOMELESSNESS AND CRIME. HERE YET OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GIVES BILLIONS TO ISRAEL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND IS GIVING 14 BILLION. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS CAS B CAS, CASS, CAS B. OKAY, YOU ARE NEXT. WAIT, WHAT IS YOUR NAME, SIR? EMRON. OH, EMRON. YOU ARE NEXT. OKAY, I'M ON THE NEXT PAGE. FORGIVE ME. HE'S GETTING LATE. EMRON, YOU ARE NEXT. I ASKED FOR TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPOKEN BEFORE ME, OUTRAGE ABOUT THE ISRAELI HOSTAGES. I ASK YOU TO PLEASE BE MORALLY CONSISTENT WITH YOUR OUTRAGE BECAUSE THIS YEAR THERE ARE CURRENTLY 120 PALESTINIAN CHILDREN HELD IN ISRAELI PRISONS, MANY WITHOUT TRIAL AND MANY FOR THROWING ROCKS AT AN OCCUPYING MILITARY. AND I ASK YOU TO PLEASE BE CONSISTENT IN YOUR OUTRAGE WHEN IN NINE WEEKS, 1% OF THE CHILDREN IN GAZA HAVE BEEN WIPED OFF THE MAP. AND YES, THAT IS A GENOCIDE. IF YOU ARE OUTRAGED BY OCTOBER 7TH, PLEASE BE MORALLY CONSISTENT IN YOUR OUTRAGE OF THE HORRIBLE SIEGE AND ECONOMIC STRING HOLD BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH, WHERE PALESTINIANS AND GAZA WERE FORCED INTO A GHETTO WITH LIMITED FOOD, WATER, MEDICAL AID ALLOWED IN AND ARE NOW BEING SPRAYED BY CHEMICAL WEAPONS. AND DROPPING LEAFLETS BEFORE YOU MASSACRE A PEOPLE DOES NOT MAKE IT. OKAY, I'M JUST GONNA END BY CALLING OUT THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM, THE SIDE OPPOSING THE CEASEFIRE. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS CASS. B THANK YOU. HI, ALL OF YOU. I'M CASS. I'M A QUEER FRIEND, RENTER AND VOTER IN LONG BEACH DISTRICT TWO. WISHING CINDY ALLEN WAS HERE TO VOTE WITH YES WITH US. THIS, UM, TONIGHT FOR CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU EVERYONE IN SOLIDARITY FOR SPEAKING BEFORE ME. PALESTINIANS CAN'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION. WHEN ISRAEL CONTROLS THEIR FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT, THEIR, THEIR FOOD, WATER, AND ANY SEMBLANCE OF LIVELIHOOD FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA IS NOT ANTI-SEMITIC. IT IS A CALL FOR FREEDOM AND FOR LIFE, ENTIRE BLOODLINES AND FAMILIES BEING KILLED. THIS IS ETHNIC CLEANSING, NOT SELF-DEFENSE. THIS WILL NOT STOP UNTIL THERE'S A CEASEFIRE. JOURNALISTS ARE BEING TARGETED AND KILLED BECAUSE THEY'RE SHOWING THE TRUTH THAT THE BIASED MAINSTREAM MEDIA IS FAILING TO SHOW. WE NEED TO HELP THEM AND CALL FOR THE CEASEFIRE FOR ANYONE WHO OPPOSES MURDER AND BOMBING AND OCCUPIED PALESTINE. VOTING NO ON THE CEASEFIRE IS VERY CONFUSING. CALLING FOR CEASEFIRE IS NOT CALLING FOR MURDER OF ANYONE IN FACT'S CALLING FOR THE LIFE OF EVERYONE. UM, PALESTINIAN PEOPLE IN THE WEST BANK ARE BEING KILLED TOO. SO IF THE ISSUE IS HAMAS, THEN WHY IS THERE SO MUCH VIOLENCE IN THE WEST BANK AS WELL AS CEASEFIRES NEEDED FOR ALL OF OCCUPIED PALESTINE. UM, I WANT TO ECHO WHAT SAID THANK YOU, ACKNOWLEDGING FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT IS MENDEL ROSE. MENDEL IS MENDEL. HERE. M-E-N-D-E-L [04:20:01] MENDEL, M-E-N-D-E-L MENDEL ROSEN BLOCK. OKAY. MENDEL AND THEN ANNA, AND THEN NOLAN AND CHRISTINA. AND THOSE ARE FINAL FOUR. MENDEL, YOU. HI, NAME IS RA MENDEL. I'M AN EDUCATOR HERE IN LONG BEACH BY JONATHAN SACKS THAT YOU PROBABLY OF THE UNITED KINGDOM ONCE SAID THAT ANTISEMITISM, AND WE'LL CALL IT CORRECTLY JEW HATRED IS A VIRUS AND IT MUTATES JEW HATRED. STARTED WITH THOUGH THE JEWS KILLED THE SAVIOR, THEN IT BECAME THE JEWS POISON THE WELLS. THEN IT BECAME WITH AZI, GERMANY. THE JEWS ARE A INFERIOR RACE. AND TODAY, THE MODERN FORM OF JEW HATRED IS THE VICIOUS HATRED, THE LIES AND THE BLOOD LIBELS ASSOCIATED WITH THE STATE OF ISRAEL TODAY. MY FRIENDS, THIS COUNCIL WAS PRIVY TO THAT FORM OF ANTISEMITISM AND JEW HATRED REARING ITS UGLY HEAD ONCE AGAIN. WHERE COUNTLESS UPON COUNTLESS, YOU CAN'T EVEN COUNT THEM. LIES AND BLOOD LIBELS WERE PARROTED. HERE. IT, IT IS SHOCKING. AND TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY WATCHING, I'M, I'M WITH YOU UNDERSTAND THE FEAR THAT YOU FEEL AS WE STOOD HERE AND ALLOWED OURS OF BLOOD LIBELS TO BE PARROTED AGAINST THE JEWISH PEOPLE. TO MY JEWISH FRIENDS, I SAY VERY SIMPLY, WE HAVE WITHSTOOD THE CRUSADERS. WE HAVE WITHSTOOD THE INQUISITIONS. WE HAVE WITHSTOOD THE HOLOCAUST. WE'RE STILL HERE. WE WILL STAND THIS MODERN FORM OF JEWISH HATRED, AMBIENT TRIAL HIGH. WE ARE ARE NOT AFRAID. WE ARE PROUD WHO WE ARE, AND WE STAND STRONG WITH OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. ALL RIGHT, FOLKS. OKAY, WE, WE DON'T NEED HELP POLICING THE TIME. WE DO NOT NEED HELP. THREE FINAL SPEAKERS. I THINK THEY'VE SEEN HOW IT GOES. LET'S HEAR THESE FINAL THREE SPEAKERS. ANNA CHRISTENSEN. ANNA CHRISTENSEN. UM, I MET A LADY TONIGHT, HER NAME'S DONNA NUNLEY. THERE WERE SO MANY PEOPLE IN HERE THAT IT'S SPILLED TO THE OUTSIDE. AND THEN THOSE OF US WHO ARE OLDER GOT TIRED OF STANDING AND WE ENDED UP SITTING NEXT TO EACH OTHER LIKE MYSELF. DONNA GREW UP IN LONG BEACH. UM, SHE DIDN'T GO TO WILSON HIGH SCHOOL. SHE WENT TO POLY. UM, BUT WE, WE STARTED TALKING AND WE REALIZED THAT WE, WE DIDN'T MEET EACH OTHER WHEN WE WERE YOUNGER BECAUSE WE TOO SUFFERED FROM RACISM AND APARTHEID IN OUR TOWN. SHE'S AFRICAN AMERICAN. I'M WHITE. THE NEIGHBORHOOD I LIVE IN IN BELMONT HEIGHTS WAS REDLINED. UH, YOU KNOW, WE, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT. WE HAD HISTORY THAT WE REMEMBERED THE VIETNAM WAR. HOW DID THAT WORK OUT FOR US? , YOU KNOW, WE, WE REMEMBERED HER. HER, UH, THANK YOU FORAL. HER HUSBAND WAS AN ACTIVIST. SHE SAID HE WOULD LOVE IT HERE TONIGHT. THANK YOU. NOT LOVE, BUT I'LL SAY THANK YOU. WE BOTH SUPPORT THIS. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. OKAY, NEXT IS NOLAN WOOD. HI, I AM NOLAN WOOD. UH, THANK YOU FOR FINALLY GETTING THIS IN FRONT OF US. I CAN'T SPEAK AS ELOQUENTLY AS SO MANY OTHERS HAVE BEFORE. BUT I WILL SAY AS A LOCAL BUSINESS TONER IN DISTRICT TWO, UH, WHO SOME OF YOUR VERY FACES I HAVE SEEN IN THERE BEFORE? IT'S NOT LOST ON MEDIUM AND PRIVILEGE. I HAVE TO CREATE AND HOLD SPACE FOR COMMUNITY. I HAD MILD APPREHENSION WHEN CHOOSING TO GO PUBLIC WITH MY SUPPORT FOR, FOR PALESTINE. AGAIN, I RECOGNIZE THAT MY APPREHENSION WAS MY PRIVILEGE AT PLAY. IN NO WAY HAS MY BUSINESS SUFFERED. SO IMAGINE YOU ALL UP HERE AS REPRESENTATIVES FOR US ALL AND THE PRIVILEGE YOU HAVE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS, THE DUTY YOU SIGNED UP FOR TO REPRESENT YOUR COMMUNITY. I THINK IT'S OBVIOUS HERE TONIGHT WHAT WE WANT, AS MANY OF YOU HAVE SHARED BEFORE, THE BARE MINIMUM IS A LASTING PERMANENT CEASEFIRE. AND FURTHER, WHAT IS NEEDED IS IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN AID ENDING ALL FUNDING AND ACKNOWLEDGING THE APPARENT AND ABHORRENT WAR CRIMES ENACTED BY THE ISRAELI OCCUPATION LONG BEFORE OCTOBER 7TH. PLEASE DO THE RIGHT THING, CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE AND OUR FINAL SPEAKER, CHRISTINE MARIE. HI, I AM CHRISTINE MARIE. I'M A BROKE SINGLE MOTHER LIVING CHECK TO CHECK LIKE 80% OF AMERICANS. AND I'M HERE TO TELL THE 10 GUESTS THAT ARE LEFT THAT'S STANDING WITH PALESTINE IS NOT ANTI-SEMITISM. WE DO NOT HATE JEWS. I HEARD A JEWISH GIRL OUTSIDE SAY, I'M AFRAID TO WEAR MY STAR OF DAVID BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I MAY BE PERSECUTED AND I JUST WANNA SAY I'M BLACK WITH AN AFRO WEARING A KFI. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I'M HERE WITH YOU. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. EDUCATION IS POWER. 75 YEARS OF OCCUPATION. PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELF. BUT I'M CONVINCED THEY DON'T WANNA BE SAVED. IT'S THAT SIMPLE. THE DEFINITION OF NARCISSISM IS A LACK OF EMPATHY AND THE GASLIGHTING IS REAL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TESTIMONY. 20,000 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MURDERED. AND I'M JUST GONNA SHARE THIS AND I'M DONE. NELSON MENDE, THE MICROPHONE IS OFF X. ANGELA DAVIS. [04:25:23] OKAY. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PUBLIC COMMENT THAT SATISFIES, UH, PUBLIC COMMENT. WE ARE NOW GONNA TAKE THE DISCUSSION BACK BEHIND THE RAIL. UH, I WILL STATE, UH, FIRST THAT, UH, I SAID AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING THAT IT'S THIS, YOU KNOW, THIS REPRESENTS FREE SPEECH. NOT EVERYONE WILL AGREE WITH THE STATEMENTS THAT WERE SAID HERE. I WILL SAY THAT I, I, YOU KNOW, ANY INSTANCES OR STATEMENTS SAID EITHER IN THE LOBBY OR HERE THAT REPRESENT HATE, WE DO NOT CONDONE THOSE HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. THEY DON'T REPRESENT LONG BEACH'S VALUES, OUR CORE VALUES OF INCLUSION AND PEACE AND RESPECT. SO TO BE VERY, VERY CLEAR, WE CANNOT CONTROL WHAT INDIVIDUALS SAY, BUT IT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE CONDONE, UH, ANY, ANY, UH, HATE SPEECH, UH, HERE AT CITY HALL. SO I NEED TO SAY THAT, UH, RIGHT NOW BEFORE WE, UH, GET INTO THE DISCUSSION. SECONDLY, I DO WANNA REITERATE, AND THIS WAS STATED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE MEETING, UH, TWO COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE NOT HERE, BUT THIS WAS STATED WELL IN ADVANCE. IT IS THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND IT'S A LOT GOING ON. SO WE KNEW FOR A WHILE THAT THEY COULD NOT BE HERE. THE CITY COUNCIL STILL MADE THE DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD, AND THAT IS OKAY. SO NO ONE DUCKED OUT TONIGHT'S DISCUSSION. UH, JUST SO THAT WE'RE VERY CLEAR, I ALSO, UH, BEFORE WE HAND IT OFF TO THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THEIR DISCUSSION, UH, I THINK, UM, IT'S IMPORTANT JUST TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE AMOUNT OF WORK, UH, THAT HAS DONE, THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE TO GET TO THIS POINT. UH, YOU KNOW, SO ALL OF THE HANDS FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, CITY STAFF, AND WE UNDERSTAND THAT FOLKS HAVE COME TO COUNCIL MEETINGS AND COMMISSION MEETINGS AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS. THAT PROCESS NEEDED TO RUN ITS COURSE. YOU NEEDED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PROCESSES WERE DONE SO THAT THE CITY COUNCIL COULD BE IN THIS POSITION. SO ALL OF THAT, WE ARE A BIG CITY. WE DO NOT JUMP VERY QUICKLY AT THINGS. IT TAKES A LITTLE BIT OF TIME FOR PROCESS AND THAT IS OKAY. SO THIS CITY COUNCIL, I THINK IS IN THE APPROPRIATE TIME GIVEN A LOT OF CITIES OUR SIZE ARE ARRIVING AT THIS DISCUSSION. SO YOU ARE NOT AHEAD, YOU ARE NOT LATE. IT'S SORT OF, UH, THE APPROPRIATE TIME FOR THE DISCUSSION. UH, I WILL ALSO SAY THE LAST THING I'LL SAY BEFORE I HAND IT TO CITY COUNCIL FOR THE DELIBERATION. I WANT TO THANK AND ACKNOWLEDGE THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS. A LOT OF WORK HAS ALSO GONE INTO ENGAGING WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND ENSURING THAT THE ENGAGEMENT IS INCLUSIVE. WE BELIEVE IN INCLUSION. WE HAVE NOT GONE AND ONLY SPOKEN WITH ONE SIDE OF THIS. WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH FAITH LEADERS. I, MYSELF AND MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL HAVE MET WITH FAITH LEADERS OF MORE THAN JUST TWO FAITHS ABOUT THIS TOPIC. UH, WHETHER YOU ARE, UH, MUSLIM OR JEWISH, GUESS WHAT, EVERYONE IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE ISSUE. WE MET WITH MINISTERS. WE MET WITH BEN. SHOUT OUT TO THE BUDDHIST MONKS WHO CAME IN AND OPENED UP WITH A PRAYER FOR PEACE. SO WE ARE A LARGE INTEGRATED COMMUNITY AND WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO ME AS MAYOR IS ESTABLISHING, UH, GROUNDWORK FOR, UH, FOR PEACEFUL RELATIONS IN OUR CITY. WE ARE A DIVERSE CITY THAT IS HOME TO MOSQUES, TO SYNAGOGUES, TO CHURCHES. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE, WE TREAT EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT AND WE CREATE A FRAMEWORK FOR MORE CONVERSATIONS THAT CENTER ON PEACE. NOW, THAT IS IMPORTANT TO STATE BECAUSE A LOT HAS OF THOUGHT AND EFFORT HAS GONE INTO THE WORK, UH, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS DONE. AND I WANNA PASS IT TO COUNCIL MEMBER X OTI TO REALLY TALK ABOUT, UH, SOME OF THOSE EFFORTS THAT, THAT SHE HAS TAKEN TO REALLY ARRIVE AT THIS MOMENT. COUNCILMAN BRICKS, OTI. UM, THANK YOU MAYOR. UM, FIRST I WANNA JUST START OUT BY SAYING THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO CAME OUT TONIGHT AND PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC COMMENT IN PERSON AND VIRTUALLY. UM, I KNOW MEETINGS LIKE THIS CAN BE DIFFICULT AND INTIMIDATING AND IT MEANS TIME AWAY FROM YOUR FAMILY AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS. I DO NOT TAKE IT FOR GRANTED THAT YOU HAVE TAKEN YOUR TIME TO COME AND SHARE YOUR PERSPECTIVE WITH US. UM, AND BEFORE WE GO TO COUNCIL COL, YOU KNOW, I JUST, BEFORE WE GO TO MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, I JUST WANNA SHARE, UM, THE FACT THAT AS THE MAYOR SAID, AND I SAID IN MY OPENING STATEMENTS, RIGHT, WE SPENT THE TIME NECESSARY TO, FOR THE CONCERNS TO BE HEARD, RIGHT? AGAIN, I TELL YOU ALL, I'M A I'M A PRIMARY SOURCE. IT WASN'T ME SAYING I'M THINKING ABOUT THIS BASED ON WHAT OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT THE ISSUE. I WENT TO MANY GROUPS. I TALKED TO A DIVERSE NUMBER OF CONSTITUENTS AROUND THIS. AS WE WERE THINKING ABOUT THE INTENTIONALITY DOWN TO THE VERY WORDS THAT WERE USED, INDIVIDUAL WORDS USED IN THIS PROCLAMATION TO TRY TO BE AS INCLUSIVE AS WE POSSIBLY CAN AROUND [04:30:01] AN ISSUE THAT WE KNOW THAT SO MANY OF YOU ARE ENGAGED IN AND HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT VIEWPOINTS ON. AND SO I JUST WANNA REITERATE THAT AT NO POINT DID WE TAKE THIS SITUATION OR THIS ISSUE LIGHTLY. UM, AS I KNOW AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I COULD SPEAK FOR MYSELF. UM, I CAME TO THIS WITH HU WITH, UM, HUMILITY, RIGHT? AS I CAME IN, ENGAGED AND TALKED TO PEOPLE AND ASKED THEM TO SHARE THEIR STORIES, SHARE THEIR PERSPECTIVES, SHARE THEIR FEARS, SHARE THEIR CONCERNS. BECAUSE AGAIN, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS HAD THE SPACE TO FEEL SEEN AND FEEL HEARD. AND I MEAN THAT LEGITIMATELY FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART. AND SO I JUST WANT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES, AND FOR YOU AS RESIDENTS THAT HAVE COME AND FOLKS ENGAGED IN THIS PO IN THIS IN, UM, IN THIS CONVERSATION, I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT. MM-HMM, . OKAY. WELL, YOU GOTTA DELIVER A MOTION. WE CAN START THE DISCUSSION. . YEAH. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANNA SAY? OTHERWISE I'LL GO THROUGH. WELL, SO THE OTHER ADDITION I, THINGS I WILL ADD TO THIS IS I WANT TO CLARIFY A COUPLE OF THINGS THAT CAME UP, UM, DURING THE, THE PUBLIC COMMENT THAT I JUST KIND OF, I JUST WANNA CLARIFY. UM, SO THE FIRST WAS, UM, THERE WAS A LOT OF CONVERSATION AROUND THE TERM OF HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE, RIGHT? AND WHY WE DID NOT SAY LASTING CEASEFIRE OR PERMANENT CEASEFIRE, THAT THOSE, THAT WORDING WAS INTENTIONAL. UM, WE USED THE WORD, UH, HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE BECAUSE THAT'S THE TERM THAT CAME OUT OF OUR UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY. IT'S THE LANGUAGE OF OUR GLOBAL COMMUNITY, AND WE ARE SHOWING OUR SOLIDARITY WITH THAT INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE. YOU KNOW, THAT PHRASING CAN BE, IS, HAS BEEN USED BY A CREDIBLE SOURCES LIKE THE UNITED NATIONS, THE INTERAGENCY ON STANDING COMMITTEES, THE INTERNATIONAL RESCUE COMMITTEE, RIGHT? SO THAT WASN'T JUST SOMETHING THAT WE CHOSE. THAT IS THE, THAT IS LITERALLY THE LANGUAGE OF OUR INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY, AND IT WAS INTENTIONAL. UM, SOME OF THE SPEAKERS HAVE DISCUSSED A NEED FOR EDUCATION, AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE PROCLAMATION ITSELF, YOU'LL SEE THAT, UM, WE NOTED IN SECTION THREE OF THE PROCLAMATION, AND I'LL ACTUALLY READ IT. SECTION THREE SAYS, THE CITY COUNCIL REQUESTS CITY STAFF TO IDENTIFY AND PROMOTE COMMUNITY EDUCATION, RESOURCES AND SERVICES TO SUPPORT LONG BEACH RESIDENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS AFFECTED BY THE ONGOING CONFLICT, INCLUDING COUNSELING, MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, AND SUPPORT GROUPS LED BY CULTURE AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. AGAIN, WE CONSIDER THIS A FIRST STEP, RIGHT? THE, THE, THE WORK CONTINUES FROM HERE. IT DOES NOT END HERE, WHICH IS WHY THAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PROCLAMATION. UM, I'VE HEARD A LOT OF LANGUAGE TONIGHT AROUND WHY, YOU KNOW, WHY IS LONG BEACH WEIGHING IN ON, ON INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, RIGHT? AND I, LET ME JUST KIND OF SET A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT HERE. LONG BEACH HAS PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED STATEMENTS AND RESOLUTIONS ON NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. SO WE'RE NOT NECESSARILY, WE'RE NOT SETTING PRECEDENT HERE. UM, AS RECENTLY AS NOVEMBER 14TH OF THIS YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS UNANIMOUSLY ADOPTED A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING, YOU KNOW, UH, EVERY SEPTEMBER 21ST IS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE, RIGHT? WHICH IS FOUNDED ON THE UNITED NATIONS AS A CALL TO END WAR, POVERTY, HUNGER, AND HUMAN HARDSHIP. UM, WE HAVE PREVIOUSLY ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS AROUND THE ANNIVERSARIES OF THE ARMENIAN GENOCIDE AND THE HOLOCAUST, AND THE CAMBODIAN GENOCIDE, RIGHT? SO YOUR, YOUR CITY HAS WEIGHED IN ON INTERNATIONAL ISSUES. UM, I HEARD THAT, THAT THERE IS A DESIRE TO, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A DESIRE TO RECOGNIZE THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND DE DEVASTATION IN GAZA. SECTION ONE, UM, OF THE, OF THE RES OF THE PROCLAMATION, YOU KNOW, RESOLVES FOR, HAS A SERIES OF CLAUSES, RIGHT? AND IT ACKNOWLEDGES THE CURRENT HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA. YOU HEARD IN MY OWN, IN MY OWN COMMENTS, RIGHT? AS A PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTITIONER TALKING ABOUT THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN GAZA AND ITS IMPACTS, SECTION TWO RECOGNIZES THE NEED TO ENSURE THE SAFE PASSAGE OF FOOD, WATER, AND SUPPLIES AND OTHER SA LIFE-SAVING HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA TO PROTECT, UH, CIVILIAN LIVES, RIGHT? THAT, AGAIN, WAS SOMETHING THAT'S IN THE PROCLAMATION. AND IN MY OPENING STATEMENTS, UH, IN THE CONTEXT OF POPULATION, UH, THE PROCLAMATION DOES HIGHLIGHT THE STATEMENTS THAT CITY HAS PREVIOUSLY MADE RECOGNIZING THE SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF PALESTINIAN AND IS REALLY LIFE DUE TO THE CONFLICT. UM, I ALSO HEARD, UM, FROM SOME, UH, PUBLIC COMMENTERS THAT THERE WAS NO EXPLICIT CALL FOR THE RELEASE OF HOSTAGES. AND SPECIFICALLY IN SECTION TWO, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A LAST, YOU KNOW, UH, SUPPORT NEGOTIATIONS THAT LEAD TO A LASTING HUMANITARIAN CEASE FIRE, AND, AND ISRAEL AND GAZA, RIGHT AFTER THAT IS THE RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES, RIGHT? SO THAT IS IN THE PROCLAMATION. UM, I ALSO HEARD THERE WAS A DESIRE TO INCLUDE LANGUAGE THAT CONDEMNS HAMAS. AGAIN, SECTION ONE OF THIS, OF THIS PROCLAMATION EMPHASIZES THE CITY'S REPEATED CONDEMNATION OF HAMAS' ATTACKS ON ISRAEL. WE STARTED THE, AND YOU'LL SEE IN OUR DISCUSSION SECTION, THAT WAS A, UH, ALONG WITH THE AGENDA ITEM, WE START WITH WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7TH. UH, AND THEN LASTLY, I JUST WANNA [04:35:01] ADDRESS, UH, THE NEED, UM, THE CONVERSATION ON THE NEED FOR LANGUAGE TO CONDEMN ANTI PALESTINIAN RHETORIC. AGAIN, SECTION FOUR, IF YOU READ, IT SAYS, THE CITY COUNCIL UNEQUIVOCALLY CONDEMNS ALL FORMS OF VIOLENCE AND INTOLERANCE, RACISM AND XENOPHOBIA, INCLUDING THE RECENT RISE OF ANTISEMITIC, ISLAMAPHOBIC, ANTI-JEWISH AND ANTI-ARAB SENTIMENTS, RHETORIC, AND ATTACKS ON OUR REGION AND ACROSS THE NATION. WE, WE EXPLICITLY SAID RACISM, XENO, AND XENOPHOBIA, RIGHT? SO WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ANTI, ANTI PALESTINIAN RHETORIC IS INCLUDED IN ALL OF THAT, RIGHT? SO I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL SITTING HERE TONIGHT, AND MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES KNEW THAT AGAIN, WE USE THE MOST INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE THAT WE, UM, THAT WE FELT LIKE OUR, UM, OUR COUNCIL COULD SUPPORT, RIGHT? MY HOPES HERE, UM, IS THAT MY COUNCIL COLLEAGUES WILL JOIN ME TONIGHT. AND IT, THE GOAL HERE IS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, RIGHT? ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE CONCERNS OF THOSE IMPACTED BY THE ISSUE, AS WELL AS THE EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT OF OUR COMMUNITIES AROUND THIS ISSUE. UM, AND AGAIN, MY HOPE IS THAT THE LANGUAGE THAT IS USED IN THIS PROCLAMATION IS SOMETHING THAT THE ENTIRE CITY COUNCIL CAN SUPPORT. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA. THANK YOU MAYOR. AND, UH, I REALLY WANNA THANK, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER, UH, JODY HICKS FOR HER COMMENTS AND FOR TAKING THIS ON THIS MONUMENTAL VERY DIFFICULT TASK OF GETTING THIS RESOLUTION TOGETHER. I SECONDED THE MOTION. WHY? BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WE VETTED THIS ISSUE A LOT. SHE DID HER HOMEWORK, SHE TALKED TO A LOT OF GROUPS, AND THE LANGUAGE THAT WE CAME UP WITH IN THE LANGUAGE THAT I AM COMFORTABLE WITH, I WOULDN'T SIGN ON TO RESOLUTION IF I WAS NOT COMFORTABLE WITH IT. AND THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE HERE TONIGHT. YES, WE DID HEAR A LOT OF DISCUSSION OF REGARDING THE RESOLUTION ITSELF, THAT FOR SOME IT GOES TOO FAR FOR OTHERS, IT DOESN'T GO FAR AT ALL. NOT EVERYBODY'S GONNA BE PLEASED WITH OUR DECISION TONIGHT, BUT THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS, IS THAT WE DID LOOK AT IT, WE DID VET IT, WE DISCUSS IT, AND WE'RE BRINGING IT FORWARD TONIGHT FOR THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES TO LOOK AT AND DECIDE ON THEIR OWN HOW THEY WANT TO GO WITH THIS TO THIS ISSUE. IT IS MY SINCERE HOPE THAT THEY WILL GO AND SUPPORT OTHER OF THIS RESOLUTION. UH, THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME KNOW THAT WHEN IT COMES TO DECISION MAKING, I TRY TO DO WHAT'S RIGHT, ALWAYS, AND I FEEL THIS IS RIGHT, AND I'M GONNA STICK TO THAT. SO IN THE END, I WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. YOU'VE BEEN HERE ALL NIGHT, IT'S BEEN CLOSE TO FOUR HOURS, MORE THAN FOUR HOURS. WE'RE GOING FIVE NOW. AND YOU'VE, YOU'VE BEEN HERE A LONG TIME. SO NOW YOU KNOW WHAT MY MIND IS GOING THROUGH. MY BODY'S TIRED, AND I'M SURE YOURS IS TOO, BUT IT NEEDS TO BE BECAUSE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE AND WE NEED TO DISCUSS THIS, AND WE NEED TO GET THE RESOLUTION THAT IS MAYBE NOT A PIN MODE TO ALL OF US, BUT TO MOST OF US. AND WITH THAT, I PASS, I PASS ALONG TO MY COLLEAGUES, PLEASE SUPPORT THE RESOLUTION. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER IS COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. THANK YOU SO MUCH. UH, I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S MUCH TO BE SAID THAT HASN'T ALREADY BEEN SAID, UM, IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. UM, MY HEART AND CONSCIOUS MOVE ME TO BE A CO-SPONSOR OF THIS ITEM, REQUESTING A CEASE FIRE TODAY, ALONG WITH MY COLLEAGUES, DR. JODY RICK OTI, AND, UM, COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA. UH, I WANT TO, UM, ESPECIALLY APPRECIATE, UH, MR. MAYOR AND DR. OTI FOR THEIR THOUGHTFUL LEADERSHIP AND COLLABORATE COLLABORATION AROUND THIS ISSUE TO GET US TO THIS POINT. AND ALSO WANT TO THANK THE DOZENS AND DOZENS OF RESIDENTS WHO HAVE REACHED OUT TO MY OFFICE, UH, AND TO THE OVER 150 PUBLIC COMMENTERS HERE THIS EVENING, WHO TOOK TIME TO SHARE YOUR TRUTHS WITH US? WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ONGOING, UH, CONFLICT IN ISRAEL AND GAZA, AND THAT THEY HAVE CAUSED IMMEASURABLE SUFFERING AND TRAUMA. UH, I BELIEVE IT TO BE OUR MORAL DUTY AS A CITY THAT VALUES DIVERSITY MOST FOR US TO LEND OUR VOICE TO PEACE AND TO THE PRESERVATION OF HUMAN LIFE DURING THIS DIFFICULT CRISIS. UH, A WORLD RECOGNIZED HUMAN RIGHTS LEADER ONCE SAID THAT OUR LIVES BEGIN TO END THE DAY WE BECOME SILENT ABOUT THE THINGS THAT MATTER. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING ALSO SAID THAT, UH, AN INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO INJUSTICE, UH, TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE [04:40:01] AND THROUGH THIS POPULATION, I HOPE WE CAN SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE THAT THE CITY OF LONG BEACH IS ANTI-VIOLENCE, ANTI HATE, BUT VERY MUCH PRO HUMANITARIANISM, UM, ANTI-SEMITE, ANTI-SEMITISM, AND ANTI-ISIS. ISLAMOPHOBIA HAVE NO PLACE IN OUR COUNTRY, AND ESPECIALLY NOT THIS CITY. AND I, I WANT TO JUST SAY THAT IT HAS BEEN, UM, SOMEWHAT HEARTBREAKING, UH, TO, TO SEE THE HORRORS PLAY OUT ON THE NEWS AND IN SOCIAL MEDIA, UH, FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. AND AS A REACTION, UH, I THINK MANY FOLKS ARE NOW EXPERIENCING THE RISE IN HATE CRIMES AND VIOLENCE AND DISCORD LOCALLY AND THROUGHOUT OUR COUNTRY. THE HATE WE ARE WITNESSING IN THE WORLD IS SADDENING AND, AND VERY DEEPLY CONCERNING. AND AGAIN, I FEEL COMPELLED THIS EVENING TO SPEAK ON THIS AND TO TAKE A POSITION. AND I'M GLAD THAT WE ARE FINALLY AT THIS POINT, UH, AS A RE AS A HUMAN RACE. I THINK WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON, UM, THAN THE ISSUES THAT DIVIDE US. AND I THINK, UM, REALLY, I WOULD JUST ASK EVERYBODY TO TAKE A PAUSE, PARTICULARLY AS WE GO INTO THE HOLIDAYS WHERE WE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE CELEBRATING FAMILY AND COMMUNITY AND, AND LOVE. LET'S, LET'S TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND A PAUSE AND LOOK AT OUR NEIGHBORS AND, AND UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S MORE, WE HAVE MORE IN COMMON. I AM GOING TO CERTAINLY SUPPORT THIS PROCLAMATION SO THAT WE MAY ADD TO THE CHORUS AROUND THE WORLD CALLING FOR THE WARRING TO END. AND AS WE GO INTO THE HOLIDAY SEASON, LET'S USE OUR COLLECTIVE VOICE AS A CITY TO DENOUNCE TERRORISM IN EVERY FORM. CALL FOR A SAFE RETURN OF ALL HOSTAGES AND END THE BOMBING AND KILLINGS IN GAZA, IN ISRAEL. UH, I SUPPORT THIS CEASEFIRE ON ALL SIDES OF THIS CRISIS, AND ONCE WE ACHIEVE THIS, WE CAN BEGIN THE PROCESS OF HEALING, REBUILDING, AND RECONCILIATION. WE OWE THIS TO OUR FUTURE. I, I ASK FOR MY COLLEAGUES TO SUPPORT. THANK YOU. NEXT IS COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW. YES, THANK YOU, MAYOR, UH, RICHARDSON AND COUNCILWOMAN RICK SODI FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP AND DUE DILIGENCE ON THIS ITEM. UM, I REALLY APPRECIATE THE DIALOGUE, THE INCLUSION OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS, AND COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA AND AUSTIN FOR SIGNING ON. I ALSO WANNA THANK YOU ALL FOR SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS AND TO OUR FAITH LEADERS WHO JOIN US TODAY. AND AS WELL TO THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO SENT IN COMMENTS, UH, VIA EMAIL AND THEIR PHONE CALL. YOU KNOW, THIS IS WHAT DEMOCRACY LOOKS LIKE FOR EVERYONE TO EXERCISE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT, THEIR FOR FREEDOM OF SPEECH, UH, FOR YOU TO SHARE YOUR PAINS, YOUR GRIEF, YOUR FRUSTRATION, YOUR OPINION, AND YOUR IDEAS WITH US. AND I BELIEVE THIS PROCLAMATION IS THE RIGHT DIRECTION, AND FOR THE CITY OF LONG BEACH, AND I SUPPORT IT. I FEEL THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT AS LOCAL CITY OFFICIAL, WE ENSURE THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL FEELS SAFE IN OUR COMMUNITY, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR RACE, RELIGION, ETHNICITY, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, OR ABILITY TO EXPRESS YOURSELF. YOU KNOW, AS A BUDDHIST AND A PERSON WHO'VE COME TO THE US AS A REFUGEE DUE TO WAR IN GENOCIDE IN CAMBODIA, I WANT COMPASSION, UNDERSTANDING, AND PEACE FOR ALL PROTECTION FOR ALL LIFE. AND I UPHOLD THE UNITED NATIONS STUCK LIBERATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS THAT ALL PEOPLE HAVE, FREEDOM, SECURITY, EQUALITY, JUST TO NAME A FEW WHAT'S IN IT. AND I BELIEVE IT IS A UNIVERSAL FRAMEWORK FOR GLOBAL CONFLICTS THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ALL OVER THE WORLD. WHILE THOSE PROCLAMATION WILL NOT SOLVE THE CONFLICT IN GAZA, IN ISRAEL, I BELIEVE IT'S ESSENTIAL FOR PROMOTING SAFETY AND PRESERVING OUR DI OUR VALUES THAT WE CHERISH IN LONG BEACH, UM, TO CONDUCT EDUCATION, FOSTER SAFE DIALOGUES WHERE WE CAN, UM, AS WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW IN OUR COUNCIL CHAMBER, RIGHT, WE SEE THAT GLOBAL ISSUE IS OUR LOCAL ISSUE BECAUSE MANY OF US ARE HERE FROM ONE PART OR ANOTHER AND IS CONNECTED TO OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD. SO AS A MEMBERS OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE COMMITTED AND WE TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY RESOURCE, EDUCATION, MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES, LISTENING AND FOSTERING OPEN DIALOGUE FOR HEALING AND TO MOVE TOWARDS PEACE AND TO WORK COLLABORATIVELY FOR RECONCILIATION. AND THAT IS, AGAIN, WHY I SUPPORT THIS PROCLAMATION. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN . UM, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER, I WAS ELECTED TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE OF THE THIRD DISTRICT. I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A COMMUNITY LEADER WHOSE GOAL IS TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER. I RAN FOR OFFICE BECAUSE I WANTED TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR RESIDENTS, AND I WANTED TO PUSH OUR CITY GOVERNMENT TO BE MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS. [04:45:01] I SPENT A YEAR CAMPAIGNING, TALKING TO RESIDENTS ABOUT THE ISSUES OUR COMMUNITIES ARE FACING AND HOW THE CITY COULD BETTER SERVE OUR RESIDENTS. I HEARD FROM RESIDENTS THAT WE NEEDED TO IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY, TO FIX OUR ROADS, TO IMPROVE OUR RESPONSE TO HOMELESSNESS, AND TO IMPROVE IN AREAS THAT WERE WITHIN THE CONTROL OF THE CITY. I DID NOT PROMISE TO RID THE WORLD OF ALL ISSUES, BUT TO BE FOCUSED ON SOLVING THE ISSUES FACING OUR RESIDENTS IN THE THIRD DISTRICT. AND IN LONG BEACH, I TALKED LITERALLY TO THOUSANDS OF VOTERS AT THEIR DOOR ON THE PHONE AND EVERY OTHER WAY I COULD. AND NOT ONE TIME DID WE EVER DISCUSS THEIR OPINIONS ON THE MIDDLE EAST. NOT ONCE DID I ASK A RESIDENT FOR MY OPINION ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS, BECAUSE I WASN'T ELECTED TO WEIGH IN ON THOSE MATTERS. OUR GOVERNMENT HAS DIFFERENT LEVELS WITH DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES, AND WE HAVE FEDERAL REPRESENTATIVES THAT ARE DULY ELECTED BY RESIDENTS OF LONG BEACH TO REPRESENT US IN THESE MATTERS. SEVERAL WEEKS AGO, I SAID THAT I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS A CITY ISSUE. WE SHOULDN'T BE SPENDING TIME AND RESOURCES ON IT. WE SHOULD BE FOCUSING ON THINGS WITHIN OUR CONTROL. BUT NOW WE ARE HERE. I THINK THE PROCLAMATION IS WELL WRITTEN. I SUPPORT THE SAFE RETURN OF HOSTAGES AND FOR NEGOTIATIONS TO LEAD TO A LASTING CEASEFIRE. I SUPPORT HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA. I SUPPORT ENDING A WAR WHERE INNOCENT PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT THROUGH THE DAY ARE NOW SUFFERING AND DYING. THESE ALL ARE WITHIN THE PROCLAMATION, AND I SUPPORT THIS IN SPEAKING WITH MANY COMMUNITY MEMBERS OVER THE WEEKEND. I THINK THERE ARE A FEW ITEMS THAT ARE STILL MISSING, BUT IMPORTANTLY, I DISAGREE WITH HOW THIS ITEM WAS BROUGHT TO CITY COUNCIL. THIS ITEM WAS BORN OUT OF DIVISION. THE AUTHORS OF THE CURRENT RESOLUTION BROUGHT FORTH A MORE BALANCED AND INCLUSIVE PROCLAMATION, BUT MUCH DAMAGE HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. I DISAGREE WITH THE SCORCHED EARTH ADVOCACY. THAT INCLUDES SHUTTING DOWN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS UNTIL WE TAKE A DESIRED POSITION. I DISAGREE WITH MISREPRESENTING LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS' VIEWS ON THIS ITEM JUST TO PUT PRESSURE ON CITY COUNCIL. AFTER THIS MEETING, OUR COMMUNITIES WILL BE LEFT PUTTING THE PIECES BACK TOGETHER. I DISAGREE WITH THE DIVISIVE TACTICS WE HAVE SEEN USED OVER THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS. I UNDERSTAND THE CITY HAS TAKEN POSITIONS ON ISSUES OUTSIDE OF OUR AUTHORITY BEFORE, BUT I THINK ON THIS ISSUE SPECIFICALLY, OUR RESIDENTS HAVE DEEPLY DIVIDED VIEWS. OUR RESIDENTS ARE BEING DIVIDED ON AN ISSUE THAT DOES NOT MOVE THE CITY'S GOALS FORWARD. AND THAT'S A MAJOR CONCERN. I WANNA THANK EVERYONE WHO REACHED OUT TO MY OFFICE, EMAILS, CALLS FACE-TO-FACE CONVERSATIONS TO SHARE THEIR BELIEF. I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT I CAN, I CAN SHARE THAT THE PAIN OF WHAT IS GOING ON IS VERY INTENSE FOR ME PERSONALLY, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT THAT WAS BROUGHT TO US IN, IN A, A DIVISIVE WAY. I DO WANNA THANK EVERYONE FOR COMING TONIGHT. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, NEXT SPEAKER IS COUNCIL MEMBER. ALRIGHT, FOLKS, WE, YOU HAD YOUR TURN. IT'S THE COUNCIL'S TURN LIST HERE. EVERY COUNCIL MEMBER OUT, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. YES. THANK YOU. UH, THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES FOR ALL THAT'S BEEN SAID. AS COUNCIL MEMBER AUSTIN SAID, I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE THERE IS TO SAY, SO I'LL JUST ADD A LITTLE BIT. I WANNA THANK DR. RICKS OTI FOR YOUR THOUGHTFUL LANGUAGE. UM, AND FOR THOSE OF YOU ACROSS THE COMMUNITY WHO TOOK MY CALLS AND ADDED TO MY LEARNING ON THIS REALLY COMPLICATED AND NUANCED CONVERSATION BEFORE US TONIGHT, I WANT TO TRULY ACKNOWLEDGE THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND RESIDENTS WHO EN HAVE ENGAGED WITH US. THANK YOU FOR ENGAGING WITH US, ENGAGING WITH ME. THERE IS VERY CLEARLY DEEP PAIN AND TRAUMA BEING EXPRESSED ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY. AND WHILE IT'S HAPPENING MORE THAN HALF A WORLD AWAY, THESE EVENTS HAVE VERY LOCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR OUR COMMUNITY. AS EVIDENCED BY YOUR PRESENCE HERE TONIGHT, I WANNA RECOGNIZE THAT THIS IS PERSONAL. FOR MANY OF YOU, I HEAR THAT AND I SEE THAT, AND I THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO SHARE THAT WITH US. [04:50:02] I AM DEEPLY SADDENED AT THE ADDITIONAL PAIN AND DISTRESS THAT THE PROCESS HAS BROUGHT TO OUR COMMUNITY. IF WE AND THE COMMISSION ARE TRULY COMMITTED TO THE WORK OF PEACE, WHICH I BELIEVE THAT WE ARE, AND RECONCILIATION, I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN LONG-TERM RESTORATIVE WORK MOVING FORWARD BY STAYING IN RELATIONSHIP WITH MEMBERS OF OUR VERY DIVERSE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY. BY STAYING IN RELATIONSHIP TOGETHER, THAT CONTINUED WORK CAN BE MORE IMPACTFUL THAN THE SPECIFIC WORDS ON THE PAGE OF THE RESOLUTION. TONIGHT. TOMORROW WE WAKE UP NEEDING TO BRING OUR COMMUNITY BACK TOGETHER AND TO CONTINUE TO HOLD HOPE FOR LASTING PEACE. AND THAT IS WORK THAT I AM DEEPLY COMMITTED TO DOING. IT'S HARD WORK, AND IT'S AN EFFORT THAT CAN DEMONSTRATE IT'S THE TRUE ANSWER TO BRINGING LASTING PEACE. AS I SUPPORT THIS TONIGHT, I HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TO WORK TOGETHER TO BRING LASTING PEACE TO OUR COMMUNITY HERE IN LONG BEACH, ESPECIALLY SO THAT IT CAN REVERBERATE AROUND THE WORLD. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER SUPERMAN. UH, THANK YOU. UH, MANY SPEAKERS, UH, HERE TONIGHT ASK US TO LISTEN TO OUR CONSTITUENTS. I AGREE WITH THAT STATEMENT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IS MY JOB. UH, OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS, RESIDENTS OF THE FOURTH DISTRICT HAVE REACHED OUT TO ME IN OVERWHELMING NUMBERS, ASKING ME TO OPPOSE THE PROCLAMATION. I'M VOTING TONIGHT IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE POSITION OF OUR DISTRICT FOUR CONSTITUENTS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT, SO WE'VE HEARD FROM THE CITY COUNCIL NOW BEFORE WE, I'M SORRY, IT'S MY TERM TO SPEAK. UM, NOW BEFORE WE GO TO A VOTE, UH, I WANT TO JUST, UH, LET EVERYBODY KNOW WHAT'S GONNA, WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN HERE. SO FIRST, UM, AT THE, WE STILL HAVE A WHOLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. THIS WAS ITEM ONE, . UH, SO IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VOTE, THE COUNCIL MEMBERS WILL TAKE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS, RESET THE AUDIENCE, UH, SO THAT WE CAN SET UP FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE WORK TO DO. I ALSO WANNA SAY THAT, UH, I'VE SPOKEN WITH, UH, A NUMBER OF, OF MAYORS DOING JUST DILIGENCE ON HOW PEOPLE ARE HANDLING THIS CHALLENGE. UH, CITIES OUR SIZE, A LITTLE SMALLER, A LITTLE LARGER ACROSS CALIFORNIA. AND I WILL TELL YOU, UH, JUST THE WAY THAT THE CITY COUNCIL IS THINKING ABOUT THIS AND HANDLING IT, HANDLING THIS SHOWS, UH, SOME REAL GRAVITAS, SOME REAL MATURITY. UH, I'M REALLY PROUD OF THE WAY OUR CITY COUNCIL IS ENGAGING WITH ONE ANOTHER, UH, IN MANY CITIES. THIS IS THIS, THIS PROCESS, UH, HAS NOT GONE, GONE WELL. AND I WILL TELL YOU, IT'S A HARD, THIS IS A HARD ISSUE, AND I KNOW THAT, UH, A STATEMENT TONIGHT DOES NOT HAVE AN ABILITY TO IMMEDIATELY END THE CRISIS OVERSEAS. BUT I THINK WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY, AND I THINK YOU'VE DONE REALLY WELL, UH, TO PRESENT SOMETHING THAT LIKE RE REALLY REPRESENTS SHARED VALUES, A COMMITMENT TO ADVANCING PEACE, UM, SAFETY IN A REALLY THOUGHTFUL AND BALANCED MANNER, AND THE LONG BEACH WAY. AND I, I, I APPRECIATE THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, FOR THEIR COMMENTS. NOW, I WILL ALSO SAY THAT AFTER TONIGHT, DEPENDING ON NO MATTER HOW THIS VOTE GOES TONIGHT, UH, AFTER TONIGHT, THERE'S STILL WORK TO DO. UH, AGAIN, THE BEGINNING IS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. BUT WHEN THE TIMING IS RIGHT, WHEN THE TIMING IS APPROPRIATE, WE NEED TO BRING OUR COMMUNITY AND OUR INTERFAITH LEADERS TOGETHER, UH, FOR CONVERSATIONS FOCUSED ON HEALING IN LONG BEACH, FOCUSED ON HOW WE CAN PROVIDE AN EXAMPLE OF HOW WE, WE CAN TREAT ONE ANOTHER WITH DIGNITY. HOW WE CAN BE A CITY THAT REALLY IS STRENGTHENED ON HOW WE HAVE MUTUAL RESPECT FOR ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. UH, WE ALSO NEED TO, WHEN THE TIMING IS RIGHT, WHEN WE SEE MORE NATIONAL INTERNATIONAL MOVEMENT ON THIS ISSUE, WE NEED TO ENGAGE IN MORE COMMUNITY EDUCATION DIALOGUES, RESOURCES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR LOCAL CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. UH, AND SO THIS IS ABOUT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT TONIGHT, BUT IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON. THERE IS A LOT OF WORK THIS CITY COUNCIL HAS TO DO. UH, WE ARE STARTING A FRESH YEAR WITH A BIG AGENDA, WITH THINGS LIKE ADDRESSING BIG CHALLENGES THAT IMPACT OUR CITY AND DELIVERING RESULTS. WE HAVE TO DO THAT. AND WE NEED TO DO THE WORK OF BRINGING OUR COMMUNITIES TOGETHER, A LARGE, DIVERSE COMMUNITY WHERE WE CENTER OURSELVES ON BELONGING. WE TALK ABOUT HOW WE LOVE LONG BEACH 'CAUSE EVERYONE BELONGS. THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN AUTOMATICALLY. IT TAKES INTENTIONAL EFFORT TO MAKE PEOPLE FEEL INCLUDED. THAT IS WHAT INCLUSION IS. THAT'S WHY WE'VE TAKEN STEPS TO BUILD THIS CAPACITY. AND SO I WANNA MANAGE EXPECTATIONS HERE THAT THIS IS THE BEGINNING. IT IS NOT THE END. OKAY, NOW THAT ME BEING SAID, I WANNA THANK SINCERELY THANK THE CITY COUNCIL, UH, FOR THEIR COURAGE. AND NOW MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. [04:55:10] MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. I NOW CALL FOR A 10 MINUTE RECESS. THANK YOU. [05:03:54] ALL RIGHT. UH, LET'S CALL THE, UH, COUNCIL MEMBERS BACK INTO THE, INTO THE ROOM SO WE CAN RECALL THE COUNCIL NOT RECALL. LET'S, UH, CALL TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING. GIVE IT A MOMENT. AS SOON AS WE SEE FIVE, LET'S CALL ROLL. ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR. ALL RIGHT. ROLL CALL PLEASE. COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN. HERE. COUNCILWOMAN KERR. HERE. HERE. COUNCILMAN SUPER NAZ HERE. COUNCILMAN SORROW. [05:05:01] PRESENT. COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA. WHAT IS THAT? DAVID? COUNCILMAN AUSTIN? STILL HERE. COUNCIL MEMBER RICK SOTE. HERE. MAYOR RICHARDSON. I AM HERE. MAYOR QUORUM. ITEM 16, PLEASE REPORT FROM CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO KPMG TO ESTABLISH A STRATEGIC PLAN AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO THE CITY OF LONG BEACH FOR THE PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2028 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES FOR A TOTAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 572,240 CITYWIDE. ALRIGHT, THIS IS OUR ONLY STAFF PRESENTATION OF THE EVENING. THIS IS IMPORTANT. NEXT YEAR WE'RE GONNA BEGIN SOME REALLY IMPORTANT WORK LAND, THE FOUNDATION FOR THE 2028 OLYMPIC GAMES. UH, LOTS OF NEGOTIATIONS ARE TAKING PLACE, LOTS OF PLANNING. UH, THIS CONTRACT ALLOWS US TO BEGIN SOME OF THE IMPORTANT WORK OF REALLY, UH, GETTING OUR OWN INTERNAL PLANS TOGETHER. SO THAT SAID, MR. MOKA, TAKE US AWAY. UH, WELL SAID, MR. MAYOR, THIS IS, UH, A BIG INVESTMENT THAT WE'RE MAKING, UH, IN ORDER TO HELP US PLAN FOR, UH, THE BIGGEST EVENT THAT LONG BEACH WILL HAVE HAD, UH, IN THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES. SO, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO JORGE CORDIS, OUR ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER TO GIVE US A LITTLE OVERVIEW OF THIS CONTRACT. GOOD EVENING MAYOR. MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL. MY NAME ISGE EZ, AND I AM A ASSISTANT TO CITY MANAGER IN A CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE. I'M HERE TO PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF OUR RECOMMENDED 2028 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES STRATEGIC PLANNING CONTRACT AWARD. FIRST, I'LL TOUCH ON OUR ROAD TO THE GAMES AND WHY, AND THE NEED FOR STRATEGIC PLANNING. THEN I'LL DETAIL WHY WE ARE RECOMMENDING KPMG, PROVIDE CONTRACT DETAILS AND IM AND FISCAL IMPACT, AND WRAP IT UP WITH NEXT STEPS. LONG BEACH IS NO STRANGER TO OLYMPIC EVENTS. IN FACT, THE CITY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE OLYMPICS IS DEEPLY ROOTED, HAVING HOSTED EVENTS IN THE 1932 AND 1984 GAMES AND OLYMPIC TRIALS AT THE BELMONT POOL IN 1968 AND 1976, AND AGAIN IN 2004 AT THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER. CONTINUING WITH THAT TRADITION, LONG BEACH IS SET TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN THE UPCOMING 2028 OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES. AS A PROMINENT VENUE CITY, THE CITY WILL TRANSFORM ITS DOWNTOWN AND COASTAL AREAS INTO THE LONG BEACH SPORTS PARK, A VIBRANT HUB FOR BOTH THE COMMUNITY AND ATHLETES. THIS PARK, ONE OF FOUR PARKS IN THE GAMES CONCEPT, WILL HOST KEY EVENTS INCLUDING HANDBALL, TRIATHLON, MARATHON, SWIMMING, BMX RACING, WATER POLO, AND SAILING WITH POTENTIAL PLANS TO HOST ROWING EVENTS. BUT THE GAME PLANS HA HAS YET TO BE FINALIZED, AND ALL EVENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. LA 28 AND THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE ANTICIPATE HAVING THE FINAL GAMES PLAN CONFIRMED IN EARLY 2024. THE CITY HAS ALREADY BEEN ENGAGED WITH LA 28 TO REVISIT OUR IN INITIAL COMMITMENT LETTER, AND THE NEXT PHASE IS TO BRING AN EXPERIENCED CONSULTANT ON BOARD TO SUPPORT OUR INTERNAL STRATEGY EFFORTS AND GET THE COMMUNITY ENGAGED. WHILE OUR CITY BOASTS A RICH HISTORY WITH THE OLYMPICS WENO, WE ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE LANDSCAPE HAS EVOLVED SIGNIFICANTLY SINCE THE LAST OLYMPICS HERE IN 1984, AND OUR CURRENT STAFF DOES NOT HAVE FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE FROM THAT ERA. RECOGNIZING THIS, WE PROACTIVELY SOUGHT TO BRIDGE THIS KNOWLEDGE GAP BY INITIATING AN RFQ PROCESS TO IDENTIFY AN ORGANIZATION WITH A PROVEN TRACK RECORD IN DELIVERING LARGE SCALE SPORTING EVENTS. OUR GOAL WAS TO SECURE A PARTNER CAPABLE OF OFFERING A COMPREHENSIVE SUITE OF SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDES DEVELOPING AN EXTENSIVE ACTION PLAN, OUTLINING A DETAILED LIST OF PLANNING ACTIVITIES, ESTABLISHING CLEAR MILESTONES AND GOALS, AND CRAFTING PRECISE PLANNING TIMELINES. OUR COLLABORATION WITH THIS TYPE OF ORGANIZATION IS DESIGNED TO MEET THE CITY'S OBLIGATIONS FOR THE UPCOMING GAINS AND SURPASS THEM ULTIMATELY CONTRIBUTING TO A SUCCESSFUL AND MEMORABLE EVENT. THROUGH THIS STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP, WE AIM TO ELEVATE LONG BEACH'S STATUS ON THE GLOBAL STAGE AND SEIZE OPPORTUNITIES TO CREATE LASTING LEGACIES AND THE COMMU THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN BE PROUD OF FOR YEARS TO COME. FOLLOWING A COMPETITIVE BID PROCESS, THE SELECTION COMMITTEE IDENTIFIED KPMG AS A STANDOUT FIRM TO PROVIDE THE EXTENSIVE SERVICES WE REQUIRE. KPMG [16. 23-51503 Recommendation to adopt Specifications No. RFQ CM23-261 and award a contract to KPMG LLP, of Los Angeles, CA, to establish a strategic plan and provide preparation tools and resources necessary to guide the City of Long Beach with the planning and implementation of the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, in an amount of $497,600 with a fifteen percent contingency of $74,640, for a total amount not to exceed $572,240 for a period of two years with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any subsequent amendments; Increase appropriations in the Special Advertising & Promotion Fund Group in the City Manager Department by $136,120, offset by funds available; and Increase appropriations in the Tidelands Operating Fund Group in the City Manager Department by $136,120, offset by funds available. (Citywide)       Office or Department: City Manager         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] DISTINGUISHED ITSELF WITH A SOLID TRACK RECORD IN PREPARING CITIES FOR MAJOR SPORTING AND ENTERTAINMENT EVENTS ON A GLOBAL SCALE. THEIR SPECIALIZED PRACTICE IN INTERNATIONAL MULTI-SPORT EVENTS BRINGS INVALUABLE EXPERIENCE FROM OVER A DOZEN OLYMPIC GAMES, INCLUDING BOTH SUMMER AND WINTER, AS WELL AS THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES, PAN AMERICAN GAMES, FIFA, WORLD CUP, ASIAN GAMES, AND RUGBY WORLD CUP. KPMG'S DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF OUR CITY'S OPERATIONS AND ENVIRONMENT GAINED THROUGH THEIR PREVIOUS AUDIT SUPPORT POSITIONS THEM UNIQUELY TO ALIGN OUR SPECIFIC NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS WITH ALL PROJECT ACTIVITIES. THIS WILL ENSURE A TAILORED APPROACH THAT RESONATES WITH LONG BEACH'S UNIQUE ASPIRATIONS. FURTHERMORE, KPMG'S CURRENT INVOLVEMENT IN THE 2028 GAMES THROUGH THEIR ONGOING BUDGET ANALYSIS FOR LA 28 PROVIDES AN ADDED LAYER OF COHESIVENESS AND INSIGHT, FURTHER ENHANCING OUR GAMES, OUR CITY'S GAMES. PREPARATION, KPMG WILL BE [05:10:01] TASKED WITH DELIVERING A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGIC PLAN THAT WILL INCLUDE A STRUCTURED SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES, A DETAILED WORK BREAKDOWN STRUCTURE, AND CRITICAL MILESTONES. CENTRAL TO THEIR APPROACH WILL BE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A ROBUST COMMUNICATIONS PLAN. THIS PLAN WILL NOT ONLY FOCUS ON FOSTERING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, BUT WILL ALSO STREAMLINE INTERNAL COMMUNICATION BY ENHANCING COLLABORATION AMONG THE CITY'S GAMES EXECUTIVE TEAM, THE STEERING COMMITTEE, AND THE VARIOUS WORKING GROUPS, ENSURING SYNERGY ACROSS ALL LEVELS OF PLANNING AND EXECUTION. ADDITIONALLY, KPMG WILL PROVIDE CRUCIAL SUPPORT IN FINANCIAL PLANNING, INCLUDING COST ESTIMATES, AND A FRAMEWORK FOR ONGOING REPORTING AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT. THE STRATEGY ENCOMPASSES THE ENTIRE PLANNING LIFE CYCLE FROM THE INITIAL STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT TO THE FINAL STAGES OF CLOSEOUT AND LEGACY BUILDING. WE ALSO BELIEVE THAT ALIGNING WITH LONG BEACH'S BROADER VISION IS A PRIORITY TO ALL THESE EFFORTS. THE CITY'S GAMES EXECUTIVE TEAM IS DEDICATED TO ENSURING KPMG'S WORK IS CONSISTENT WITH OUR 2030 STRATEGIC VISION. THIS ALIGNMENT WILL ENSURE THAT OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE GAMES CELEBRATES OUR PRESENT ACHIEVEMENTS AND PROPELS US TOWARD THE FUTURE. THE VISION SEEKS TO ACHIEVE BY AFFIRMING THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING THE DIVERSE LONG BEACH COMMUNITY AND RESOLVING TO ACHIEVE A FUTURE IN WHICH ALL RESIDENTS EXPERIENCE LONG BEACH AS A SAFE, CLEAN, AND HEALTHY PLACE TO LIVE, LEARN, WORK, PLAY, AND THRIVE. BASED ON THE TWO YEAR CONTRACT TERM, KPMG HAS DEVELOPED A PROJECT SCHEDULED, DISPLAYED HERE, FOLLOWING A KICKOFF IN JANUARY, THE PROJECT WILL COMMENCE WITH DETAILED INFORMATION GATHERING TO INFORM THE PLANNING EFFORTS OVER THE SPRING AND SUMMER. THEY WILL ESTABLISH A LIST OF ACTIVITIES, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES, AND IDENTIFY ANY GAPS OR SHORTCOMINGS. THEN THEY WILL MOVE INTO CRAFTING THE PROJECT AND RESOURCE PLAN, COMMUNICATIONS PLAN AND COST ESTIMATES. AN IMPORTANT PART OF THEIR APPROACH INCLUDES ONGOING STAKEHOLDER ANALYSIS, A PROCESS, AND INTENDED TO ENSURE ROBUST ENGAGEMENT AND VALIDATION FROM ALL STAKEHOLDERS. WE RECOMMEND A CONTRACT TERM OF TWO YEARS WITH THE OPTION TO EXTEND FOR THREE ADDITIONAL ONE YEAR PERIODS, ALLOWING KPMG TO CONTINUE THEIR SUPPORT RIGHT UP TO THE START OF THE GAMES. SHOULD WE CHOOSE TO RENEW THE CONTRACT, THE TOTAL CONTRACT AMOUNT WILL NOT EXCEED $572,240, INCLUDING A 15 PER PERCENT CONTINGENCY BUFFER. REGARDING THE FUNDING BREAKDOWN, 300,000 OF THIS TOTAL AMOUNT HAS BEEN ALLOCATED FROM ONE TIME FUNDING IN THE GENERAL FUND GROUP EARMARKED IN OUR FY 23 AND FY 24 BUDGETS. SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS PROJECT, THE BALANCE OF THE CONTRACT VALUE WILL BE COVERED BY FUNDS FROM THE SPECIAL ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONS FUND, AND THE TIDELANDS OPERATING FUND GROUPS FOR NEXT STEPS. STAFF WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL APPRISED OF THE CITY'S ACTIONS AND PLANNING EFFORTS RELATED TO THE GAMES. THIS INFORMATION WILL INCLUDE DETAILS ABOUT TERMS AND CONDITIONS, PROPOSED DATES AND VENUES AND FINANCIAL IMPACTS. AGAIN, HERE IS OUR RECOMMENDATION. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. SO I, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS GREAT. UH, TODAY WE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHECK IN WITH SOME OF THE FOLKS AT, AT LA 28, UH, JUST ABOUT, YOU KNOW, UM, THE OPTIMISM. I'LL TELL YOU, IT'S A LOT OF OPTIMISM ABOUT LONG BEACH. UM, YOU KNOW, A LOT STILL TO DETERMINE, RIGHT? ALL THE AGREEMENTS HAVE TO BE NEGOTIATED, BUT I THINK FOLKS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW, LONG BEACH IS A BIG CITY THAT HANDLES CAN ALREADY HANDLE BIG EVENTS, UM, YOU KNOW, THE GRAND PRIX, UM, YOU KNOW, OUR, OUR FESTIVALS THAT WE'RE HOSTING AND, YOU KNOW, THAT WE'RE TAKING THIS VERY, VERY SERIOUSLY. I THINK TAKING THIS STEP TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE A PROFESSIONALLY MANAGED PROCESS THAT HELPS US UNDERSTAND OUR PRIORITIES AS A LOCAL COMMUNITY, MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE, YOU KNOW, MAKING THE RIGHT FINANCIAL DECISIONS AS WE GO INTO, GO INTO THIS, UH, HELP US MAKE SURE THAT WE LEAVE, UH, A LEGACY IN PLACE FOR YOUTH AND YOUNG PEOPLE. THOSE ARE THE DISCUSSIONS THAT WE WILL BEGIN TO HAVE NOW THAT WE WE'RE BRINGING THIS, UH, CREW ON BOARD IN THE NEW YEAR. I LOOK FORWARD TO, UM, UH, BEGINNING TO HAVE, UH, MORE ROBUST DISCUSSIONS ON THIS. UH, MORE DE DEALS DETAILS TO COME, UH, IN JANUARY. UM, UH, COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA, DISAPPOINTED. P EITHER THINK WE'RE MOVING FORWARD WITH OUR, WITH OUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE. THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. YEAH, I APPRECIATE THIS ITEM AND I KNOW SOME FOLKS WILL LOOK AT THE COST AND WONDER WHY WE'RE DOING IT, BUT I THINK WE KNOW, UM, THAT WE DON'T KNOW WHAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS PROCESS AND THIS IS, UM, A PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION THAT'S GONNA HELP US FIGURE OUT THOSE THINGS THAT WE DON'T KNOW YET TO ANTICIPATE. SO, ABSOLUTELY. GOOD. UH, IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE, REALLY? UH, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, I JUST WANNA SAY I THINK THIS IS A GREAT STEP. I FEEL LIKE FOUR YEARS ALMOST ISN'T ENOUGH, BUT IT IS GREAT TO HAVE THIS AND HAVE A PLAN. FOLKS ARE SO EXCITED THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS AND, UM, I'M REALLY HAPPY ABOUT THIS. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU. ALRIGHT. UH, OKAY. MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST [05:15:01] YOUR VOTE. I, UM, MY, UH, STATION IS CYCLING AGAIN, BUT I'M A VERBAL. YES. THANK YOU. NOTED. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. LET'S GO TO ITEM 29, PLEASE. COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN KERR, VICE MAYOR ALLEN, AND COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA. RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE A REPORT FOR COUNCILWOMAN KERR'S. TRAVEL TO WASHINGTON DC FOR MEETINGS WITH CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. [29. 23-51613 Recommendation to receive and file a report for Councilwoman Kerr's travel to Washington, D.C., for meetings with Congressional members and federal agencies.       Office or Department: Megan Kerr, Councilwoman, Fifth District; Cindy Allen, Vice Mayor, Second District; Roberto Uranga, Councilmember, Seventh District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ALRIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. YEAH, THIS IS JUST, UH, PUTTING ON THE PUBLIC RECORD THE TRIP THAT I TOOK, UH, LAST WEEK TO WASHINGTON DC UH, ON AIRPORT BUSINESS TO MEET WITH THE FAA, THE EPA AND OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION. THANK YOU. UH, GREAT WORK. I'M GLAD THE TRIP WAS A, WAS A SUCCESS. UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. UH, WE'LL NOW HAVE GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. NUMBER ONE. ANY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER ONE. OKAY. I DON'T SEE ANYTHING ON THAT. OKAY. ALL RIGHT. HERE IT IS. OKAY. UH, CARLOS, GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER ONE. I HAVE THREE PEOPLE. ANTHONY HOLMES. IS ANTHONY HERE? I DON'T SEE ANTHONY. NEXT IS CARLOS VAL. I DON'T SEE CARLOS AND JOAQUIN BELTRAN IS JOAQUIN HERE. OKAY. THOSE ARE THE THREE PEOPLE SIGNED UP FOR GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, MAYBE YOU SIGNED UP FOR THE ENDING PUBLIC COMMENT, BUT THAT'S THE OPENING OF THE MEETING. WE'RE STILL IN THE BEGINNING OF THE COUNCIL MEETING. UM, OKAY. THANK YOU. WE'LL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 17. PLEASE REPORT FROM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATION TO APPROVE THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 FINAL DEPARTMENTAL AND FUND BUDGET APPROPRIATION ADJUSTMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH EXISTING CITY COUNCIL POLICY CITYWIDE. OKAY, IT'S BEEN MOVED IN. SECONDED. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE, [ PUBLIC COMMENT: OBTAIN SPEAKER CARD FROM THE CITY CLERK Opportunity to address the City Council (on non-agenda items) is given to the first 10 persons who submit Speaker Cards to the City Clerk beginning at 15 minutes prior to 5:00 p.m. Each speaker is allowed three minutes to make their comments. ] MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. [17. 23-51504 Recommendation to approve the Fiscal Year 2023 third and final departmental and fund budget appropriation adjustments in accordance with existing City Council policy. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Financial Management         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] MOTION IS CARRIED. UH, ITEM 18, PLEASE REPORT FROM HARBOR RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE HARBOR DEPARTMENT'S SALARY RESOLUTION FOR FY 2024. OKAY, IT HAS BEEN MOVED. WE NEED A SECOND. [18. 23-51582 Recommendation to adopt resolution approving the Harbor Department Salary Resolution for FY 2024.              Office or Department: Harbor         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. COUNCILWOMAN SORO MOTION IS CARRIED. 19. PLEASE REPORT FROM HUMAN RESOURCES RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT SPECIFICATIONS AND AWARD A CONTRACT TO AT WORK PERSONNEL SERVICES AND APPLE ONE EMPLOYMENT SERVICES TO PROVIDE TEMPORARY STAFFING SERVICES AND A TOTAL [19. 23-51505 Recommendation to adopt specifications No. RFP HR22-046 and award a contract to Alura Workforce Solutions, of Long Beach, CA, Emploi Group, dba AtWork Personnel Services, of Knoxville, TN, and to Howroyd Wright Employment Agency, dba AppleOne Employment Services of Long Beach, CA, to provide temporary staffing services, in a total annual aggregate amount not to exceed $4.5 million for a period of two years, with the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, at the discretion of the City Manager; and, authorize City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents necessary to enter into the contract, including any necessary subsequent amendments. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Human Resources         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ANNUAL AGGREGATE AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED 4.5 MILLION CITYWIDE. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. ITEM 20, PLEASE REPORT FROM HUMAN RESOURCES RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING 2023 TO 2026 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE LONG BEACH CITY PROSECUTORS ASSOCIATION. CITYWIDE. [20. 23-51508 Recommendation to adopt resolution approving 2023-2026 Memorandum of Understanding with the Long Beach City Prosecutors Association. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Human Resources         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. I'LL JUST, UH, THANK OUR CITY PROSECUTORS FOR, UH, HELPING TO WORK WITH THE CITY TO NEGOTIATE A FAIR CONTRACT. AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF YOU. UH, ANYTHING COUNCILMAN AUSTIN? NO, I THINK THIS ITEM JUST SHOWS THAT THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING PROCESS IS WORKING. UH, WE'VE, UH, ENTERED INTO AGREEMENTS WITH MOST OF OUR BARGAINING UNITS IN THE CITY, AND, UH, I'M ENCOURAGED TO BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THIS, ENCOURAGE EVERYONE ELSE TO DO SO AS WELL. THANK YOU. IS THERE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. ITEM 21, PLEASE REPORT FROM HUMAN SERV HUMAN RESOURCES RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING 2023 TO 2026. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE LONG BEACH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION [21. 23-51510 Recommendation to adopt resolution approving 2023-2026 Memorandum of Understanding with the Long Beach Management Association. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Human Resources         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] CITYWIDE. THANK YOU. LIKEWISE. I'LL, UH, THANK OUR MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND SERVICE OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. UH, WE ARE PROUD THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LAND AT AN AGREEMENT THAT, UH, MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO VALUE OUR WORKERS AS WE, UH, MOVE FORWARD IN THE YEARS TO COME. UH, LET'S SEE. COUNCIL MEMBER SORROW, ANYTHING? NO, I SUPPORT, UM, THE ITEM. THANK YOU. COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. UM, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. NEXT WE'LL HAVE ITEM 22. PLEASE REPORT FROM HUMAN RESOURCES RECOMMENDATION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING 2023 TO 2026. MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING WITH THE LONG BEACH ASSOCIATION OF CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES CITYWIDE. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. [05:20:01] UH, WE ALSO, UH, CONGRATULATE [22. 23-51513 Recommendation to adopt resolution approving 2023-2026 Memorandum of Understanding with the Long Beach Association of Confidential Employees (ACE). (Citywide)       Office or Department: Human Resources         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] AND THANK OUR CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYEES ON REACHING A FAIR CONTRACT. UH, AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE. UH, COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. ROBERTO, ANYTHING URANGA ANYTHING? NO SUPPORT. OKAY. UH, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT HERE? THERE IS ONE SPEAKER. CARLOS. AVA IS CARLOS. AVA IN THE ROOM. OKAY. SEEING NONE MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. FA THANK YOU. ITEM 23, PLEASE REPORT FROM POLICE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT. 2022 ANNUAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT REPORT. ADOPT THE 2023 MILITARY EQUIPMENT SPECIAL ORDER AND DIRECT CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE ORDINANCE FORMALLY [23. 23-51506 Recommendation to receive and file the Long Beach Police Department (LBPD) 2022 Annual Military Equipment Report, authorize the department to continue the use of military equipment as defined by California Assembly Bill 481 (AB 481); adopt the 2023 Military Equipment Special Order; and Direct City Attorney to prepare ordinance formally adopting the 2023 Military Equipment Special Order as required by AB 481. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Police Department         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] ADOPTING THE 2023 MILITARY EQUIPMENT SPECIAL ORDER CITYWIDE. THANK YOU. WE HAVE A STAFF REPORT HERE. UH, YES, WE DO HAVE A BRIEF STAFF REPORT. I'LL TURN IT OVER TO OUR POLICE CHIEF WALLY ISH AND HIS TEAM. THANK YOU MR. MOCA. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS STAFF REPORT WILL BE PRESENTED BY DEPUTY CHIEF MEGAN SABEL. GOOD EVENING MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL. I AM DEPUTY CHIEF MEGAN SABEL, AND I OVERSEE ALL ASPECTS OF ASSEMBLY BILL 41 TO INCLUDE IDENTIFYING, ACQUIRING, TRACKING, AND REPORTING OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT UTILIZED BY OUR DEPARTMENT. THE RECOMMEND, THE RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTIONS ARE TO RECEIVE AND FILE THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT'S. 2022 ANNUAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT REPORT. AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT TO CONTINUE THE USE OF EQUIPMENT AS DEFINED BY CALIFORNIA ASSEMBLY. BILL 41, ADOPT THE 2023 MILITARY EQUIPMENT SPECIAL ORDER AND DIRECT THE CITY ATTORNEY TO PREPARE AN ORDINANCE FORMALLY ADOPTING THE 2023 MILITARY EQUIPMENT SPECIAL ORDER AS REQUIRED BY AB 41. ASSEMBLY BILL 41 WAS EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1ST, 2022, AND ESTABLISHED REQUIREMENTS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES REGARDING ACQUISITION AND USE OF EQUIPMENT AS DEFINED BY GOVERNMENT. CODE 70 70 THE CITY COUNCIL REVIEWED AND ADOPTED ORDINANCE 22 DASH 0 2 8 ON OCTOBER 18TH, 2022, AUTHORIZING THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT CONT TO CONTINUE USING THE MILITARY EQUIPMENT LISTED IN THE DEPARTMENT'S JULY 13TH, 2022 SPECIAL ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH AB 41 REQUIREMENTS. THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT POSTED THE 2022 ANNUAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT REPORT ON OUR WEBSITE AND RELEASED IT VIA NEWS RELEASE CONTAINING A SUMMARY OF EQUIPMENT USAGE, RESULTS OF INTERNAL AUDITS, INVENTORY AND PROJECTED ACQUISITIONS ASSOCIATED TRAINING, AND ANY COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS RECEIVED REGARDING THE USE OF THE EQUIPMENT. THE PROPOSED MILITARY EQUIPMENT SPECIAL ORDER HAS ALSO BEEN POSTED AND INCLUDES NEW EQUIPMENT THAT WILL REPLACE ITEMS AT THE END OF THEIR USEFUL LIFE AS WELL AS EQUIPMENT PREVIOUSLY ACQUIRED BEFORE THE INCEPTION OF AB 41, NOT ACCOUNTED FOR ON THE 2022 SPECIAL ORDER, WHICH WAS DISCOVERED AS A RESULT OF AN INTERNAL AUDIT. SO WHY IS THIS EQUIPMENT NECESSARY AND HOW IS IT PROCURED? THE POLICE DEPARTMENT UTILIZES EQUIPMENT FOR THE PURPOSE OF PUBLIC SAFETY WITH THE GOAL OF HAVING A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION FOR ALL POLICE PUBLIC CONTACTS. THE DEPARTMENT RECOGNIZES THAT CRITICAL INCIDENTS ARE UNPREDICTABLE, FLUID AND DYNAMIC IN NATURE. WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON ROBUST TRAINING, BEST PRACTICES, AND FORWARD-THINKING TECHNOLOGY. THIS EQUIPMENT ALLOWS POLICE PERSONNEL TO PROTECT CRITICAL CITY INFRASTRUCTURE, PROVIDE EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND PROVIDE PUBLIC SAFETY DURING MAJOR PRE-PLANNED AND UNPLANNED EVENTS. THIS EQUIPMENT IS CONSIDERED INDUSTRY STANDARD TOOLS OF OUR TRADE AND IS DESIGNED TO DEESCALATE VIOLENT ENCOUNTERS, REDUCE INJURY TO SUSPECTS AND OFFICERS, AND REDUCE THE CHANCE FOR LETHAL FORCE. THE DEPARTMENT DID NOT PROCURE ANY MILITARY EQUIPMENT FROM THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE PROGRAM IN 2022 AND ALL EQUIPMENT IS PURCHASED USING THE CITY'S PROCUREMENT GUIDELINES. FUNDING IS ANTICIPATED TO BE SOURCED FROM THE EXISTING POLICE BUDGET. OUR 2022 ANNUAL MILITARY EQUIPMENT REPORT TO RECEIVE AND FILE INCLUDES THE REPORTING PERIOD FROM OCTOBER 18TH, 2022, THE DATE OF THE ORDINANCE ADOPTION TO DECEMBER 31ST, 2022. DURING THAT PERIOD, THIS EQUIPMENT WAS USED AND OR DEPLOYED A TOTAL OF 51 TIMES. 32 OF THOSE INCIDENTS INVOLVED A BARRICADED SUSPECT. 17 OF THOSE INCIDENTS INVOLVED THE SERVICE OF A SEARCH WARRANT OR SUSPECT APPREHENSION ONCE AT A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENT AND ONCE FOR EVIDENCE COLLECTION AND CONTROL PERSONNEL ATTENDED SEVEN TRAINING SESSIONS RELATED TO THIS EQUIPMENT. THE REPORT ALSO INCLUDES RESULTS OF INTERNAL AUDITS WHEREIN PREVIOUSLY ACQUIRED EQUIPMENT WAS ADDED TO THE PROPOSED 2023 SPECIAL ORDER. IT INCLUDES OUR INVENTORIES DEFINED BY AB 41 AND PROPOSE NEW EQUIPMENT TO REPLACE ITEMS AT END OF [05:25:01] USEFUL LIFE AND RESTOCKING OF CONSUMABLE ITEMS. WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC REGARDING OUR USE OF THIS EQUIPMENT, AND WE RECEIVED THREE INQUIRIES FROM MEDIA OUTLETS REGARDING ITS USE. A QUICK RECAP OF OUR 2022 SPECIAL ORDER AND ITEMS THAT WILL NOT CHANGE IN THE 2023 SPECIAL ORDER. TO BE CLEAR, THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT HAVE EQUIPMENT FROM AB 41 CATEGORIES 3, 4, 6, 7, AND 16. AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THIS SLIDE, THESE CATEGORIES INCLUDE HIGH MOBILITY MULTIPURPOSE WHEELED VEHICLES COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS HUMVEES WITH BREACHING OR APPARATUS ATTACHED TRACKED ARMORED VEHICLES THAT PROVIDE BALLISTIC PROTECTION TO OCCUPANTS, WEAPONIZED AIRCRAFT VESSELS OR VEHICLES OF ANY KIND AND BATTERING RAMS SLUGS AND BREACHING APPARATUSES THAT ARE EXPLOSIVE IN NATURE. THESE ARE ITEMS THAT WE DO NOT POSSESS. WE DO, HOWEVER, HAVE ITEMS IN CATEGORY 1, 2, 5, AND EIGHT THROUGH 15, MOST OF WHICH WAS PREVIOUSLY APPROVED EQUIPMENT. THIS INCLUDES UNMANNED REMOTE PILOTED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS SUCH AS OUR SKY HERO, LOKI, UNMANNED AIRCRAFT, ARMORED PERSONNEL CARRIERS SUCH AS OUR LINCO, BEARCAT AND COMMAND AND CONTROL VEHICLES TO FACILITATE OR PRE TO FACILITATE EMERGENCY OR PRE-PLANNED OPERATIONS SUCH AS OUR MARITIME EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER, FIREARMS AND AMMUNITIONS OF 50 CALIBER OR GREATER, SUCH AS OUR BARRETT EIGHT TWO, A ONE M AND M 33 RIFLES, SPECIALIZED FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION OF LESS THAN 50 CALIBER, INCLUDING ASSAULT WEAPONS SUCH AS OUR SWAT OPERATOR RIFLE AND FLASH BABLA GRENADES SUCH AS OUR DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY, 40 MILLIMETER WARNING SIGNALING MUNITION TEAR GAFF SUCH AS OUR DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY, CSS GRENADE, LONG RANGE ACOUSTIC DEVICE SUCH AS OUR MAGNETIC AUDIO DEVICE, WHICH IS A LOUDSPEAKER 40 MILLIMETER PROJECTILE LAUNCHER SUCH AS OUR DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY, 40 MILLIMETER SINGLE LAUNCHER AND FOAM BATON ROUND, AND OUR A TN NIGHT VISION GOGGLES FOR OUR 2023 SPECIAL ORDER CHANGES. CITY COUNCIL APPROVAL IS REQUESTED TO ADOPT THE ORDINANCE TO ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT'S CONTINUED USE OF THIS EQUIPMENT AS REQUIRED BY THIS BILL. THE PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE SPECIAL ORDER ADDS NEW EQUIPMENT FOR PURCHASE, ADDS PREVIOUSLY ACQUIRED EQUIPMENT IDENTIFIED FROM THE AUDIT LIFTS A 15% RESTOCKING PROVISION THAT IS NOT MANDATED BY LAW AND UPDATES LANGUAGE TO ALLOW THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO RESTOCK CONSUMABLES. FREQUENTLY USED ITEMS THAT ARE NEARING END OF USEFUL LIFE OR DAMAGED EQUIPMENT THAT HAS BEEN PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY COUNSEL, ALTHOUGH GOOD INTENDED, THE 15% RESTOCKING PROVISION CREATED OPERATIONAL CHALLENGES. CRITICALLY, LOW STOCK OF CONSUMABLE ITEMS COMPACTED WITH EXTENSIVE WAIT TIMES FOR DELIVERY OF EQUIPMENT DUE TO SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES. MOST RESTOCKING ITEMS ARE LESS LETHAL TOOLS THAT PROVIDE FOR SAFER SOLUTIONS AND OUTCOMES THAT ARE ALREADY GOVERNED BY EXISTING LAW OR POLICY. THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A HISTORY OF THOUGHTFUL AND JUDICIOUS POLICIES, AS WELL AS TRAINING FOR THE USE OF THESE TOOLS. THIS SLIDE LISTS NEW EQUIPMENT WE ARE REQUESTING TO PURCHASE, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN PREVIOUSLY APPROVED BY COUNSEL. THE DGI MATTRESS 30 SERIES AND DGI MATTRESS THREE 50 RTK ARE SMALL UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS, ALSO KNOWN AS DRONES. THESE WILL REPLACE THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED DRONE SYSTEMS USED FOR EXTERIOR SUPPORT AND WILL BE USED BY TRAINED PERSONNEL FOR THE DEESCALATION AND RESOLUTION OF HIGH RISK CRITICAL INCIDENTS. THE NEW DRONES HAVE UPDATED TECHNOLOGY TO INCLUDE LONGER FLIGHT TIMES, FLIGHT AND INCLEMENT WEATHER, AERIAL CRIME SCENE RECONSTRUCTION, AND SEVERAL OTHER UPDATED CAPABILITIES. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE PRIMARY WEAPON SYSTEM, MK ONE 11 RIFLES THAT WILL REPLACE OUR PREVIOUSLY APPROVED SWAT STANDARD ISSUED RIFLES THAT WERE PURCHASED IN 2014 AND HAVE EXCEEDED THEIR USEFUL LIFE AND ARE NO LONGER PROFICIENT AND HAVE ACCURACY ISSUES. THE REQUESTED RIFLES WILL GIVE A TRAINED OFFICER BETTER CONTROL INSIDE OF STRUCTURES AND WITH GREATER ACCURACY THAN A HANDGUN. THE NEXT ITEM IS THE LAD 100 X. IT IS A SELF-CONTAINED HANDHELD PORTABLE COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE FOR SCENE AND TACTICAL COMMUNICATIONS. THE LAD WILL REPLACE THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED OUTDATED MAGNETIC AUDIO DEVICE. THIS DEVICE EASILY OVERCOMES VEHICLE VESSEL SIREN AND LOUD BACKGROUND NOISE, BACKGROUND NOISE TO ENSURE MESSAGES ARE CLEARLY HEARD AND HAS THE ABILITY TO GIVE PRERECORDED MESSAGES IN SEVERAL LANGUAGES. THIS EQUIPMENT WILL BE DEPLOYED FOR COMMUNICATIONS DURING [05:30:01] NATURAL AND MANMADE DISASTERS, CIVIL UNREST, OR OTHER UNFORESEEN TACTICAL EVENTS. NEXT SLIDE. THERE WE GO. THIS SLIDE LISTS EQUIPMENT ACQUIRED PREVIOUS TO THE INCEPTION OF AB 41 AS PROPOSED FOR INCLUSION IN THE 2023 SPECIAL ORDER. THESE ITEMS INCLUDE FIVE TYPES OF AMMUNITION INCLUDING 3 0 8, 5, 5 6, AND 300 MAGNUM CALIBERS, C TWO AND C3 EXPLOSIVE SHEETS, DEFENSIVE TECHNOLOGY, 40 MILLIMETER EXACT IMPACT TRAINING KIT, DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY, 40 MILLIMETER STINGER RUBBER BALLS, DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY MODEL 701 CI, DISTRACTION DEVICE, DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY, POCKET TACTICAL CSS, GRENADES, DEFENSE TECHNOLOGY RIOT, CS GRENADE FLEX, LINEAR SHAPE CHARGE LEAD AND PEN'S, ARMS, 40 MILLIMETER MULTI-SHOT LAUNCHER. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND TRANSPARENCY IS IMPORTANT TO THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE 2022 ANNUAL REPORT IN THE PROPOSED 2023 SPECIAL ORDER WAS POSTED ON OUR WEBSITE AND ISSUED VIA NEWS RELEASE ON NOVEMBER 3RD, ALLOWING FOR OVER 30 DAYS FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT TO DATE. SINCE POSTING, WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS OR CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC ON THESE ITEMS, WE REGULARLY BRING SOME OF THESE ITEMS TO COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO VIEW, ASK QUESTIONS, AND ENGAGE WITH OFFICERS WHO REGULARLY USE THEM FURTHER, WE HAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS DEDICATED FOR MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO INQUIRE ABOUT OUR AB 41 EQUIPMENT, WHICH IS MONITORED AND FACILITATED BY OUR SUPPORT BUREAU STAFF. THAT EMAIL ADDRESS IS AB FORTY1@LONGBEACH.GOV. THIS CONCLUDES MY REPORT AND PRESENTATION AND WE ARE AVAILABLE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. OKAY. MY THING'S NOT, OH, IT'S ON, BUT IT SHOWS UP RED. OKAY, THERE IT IS. UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT PRESENTATION. UH, THIS IS A, THIS IS A NEW REPORT THAT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR. LAST YEAR WAS OUR FIRST YEAR DOING THIS. UH, AND IT'S IMPORTANT. THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL WAS TRANSPARENCY SO THAT CITY COUNCILS KNOW WHAT IS IN YOUR INVENTORY, UH, WHAT CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE AND ALLOWS FOR, UH, THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISCUSSIONS. AND WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? YOU KNOW, WE'RE A BIG TOWN WITH A BIG PORT AND SOMETIMES, UH, YOU NEED TO BE PREPARED FOR BIG INCIDENTS. LIKE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MOBILE COMMAND UNIT, UH, IS CONSIDERED MILITARY VEHICLE. BUT, UM, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE A STORM, WHEN YOU HAVE A BIG EVENT, WE, WE'VE DEPLOYED THAT. AND SO IT'S NOT EVERYTHING, UH, IN THAT REPORT, UH, IS, IS SOMETHING YOU THE AVERAGE PERSON WOULD THINK OF AS MILITARY, BUT PER STATE LAW, WE ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE THOSE STEPS, UH, EVERY SINGLE, EVERY SINGLE YEAR. SO I SUPPORT THAT TRANSPARENCY. UM, WE'LL NOW GO TO PUBLIC COMMENT. UH, I SEE NINE MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SIGNED UP TO SPEAK. I KNOW MANY OF THEM HAVE LEFT, BUT I WILL CALL ALL THE NAMES. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND JUST SPEAK IN WHATEVER ORDER YOU'RE HERE. UH, JULIE DEAN ADA SNIT, UH, CARLOS AYA, JOSHUA DELEON, SPENCER LARA, SAVANNAH CHRISTENSEN, JOY YAMAGUCHI, WB AND MADISON, IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD. ALRIGHT, YOU'RE RIGHT THERE. LET'S GO. YOU'RE, IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME COME FORWARD, STATE YOUR NAME AND LET'S GET STARTED. HI, MY NAME IS SPENCER. UM, I DID NOT PREPARE ANY PUBLIC COMMENT FOR THIS ITEM, BUT I STILL FELT THAT IT WAS NECESSARY TO COMMENT ON IT, UM, AS WE SPOKE ABOUT EARLIER. NO, NEVERMIND. SORRY, LEMME START OVER. ANYWAYS, I DON'T AGREE WITH THIS AGENDA ITEM. THE LBPD ALREADY EATS UP ABOUT HALF OF OUR CITY BUDGET AND TO CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM, UH, NEW MILITARY WEAPONS THAT ARE EVENTUALLY GONNA INCREASE THE POLICE STATE HERE IN LONG BEACH OR EVEN BE USED AGAINST US CIVILIANS AND MOMENTS OF CIVIL UNREST WHERE WE ARE EXERCISING OUR, UM, FREE SPEECH AMENDMENT. I JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO GIVE THEM MORE MONEY OR CONTINUE TO HAVE THEM USE MONETARY WEAPONS WHEN WE COULD INVEST THAT MONEY IN OUR COMMUNITY AND PROVIDE BETTER SERVICES FOR OUR COMMUNITY WHERE WE CAN SET UP BETTER CONDITIONS WHERE, UM, LIKE DOING LIKE RESTORATIVE JUSTICE STUFF THAT WOULD INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY. UM, THAT'S ALL I HAVE TO SAY. I DON'T REALLY HAVE A REALLY FLESHED OUT COMMENT, BUT I WOULD RATHER SEE THIS MONEY GO TO OUR COMMUNITY INSTEAD OF THE POLICE WHO DO NOT SERVE US, WHO DO NOT WORK FOR US, BUT INSTEAD DEFEND, UM, PUBLIC PRIVATE PROPERTY AND NOT, DO NOT HAVE OUR INTERESTS AT HEART. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI, MY NAME IS MADISON ELLIS. I'M FROM DISTRICT TWO. I'LL KEEP MY COMMENTS SHORT. I AM VERBALLY AGAINST THE MILITARIZATION OF THE LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT [05:35:01] AND FERVENTLY AGAINST THE USE OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT BY THE DEPARTMENT AND IN SUPPORT OF THE INVESTMENT AND USE OF HARM REDUCTION APPROACH WHENEVER POSSIBLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI, MY NAME'S SAVANNAH CHRISTENSEN. I'M A VETERAN. UM, I LIVE IN DISTRICT THREE AND I JUST WOULD LIKE TO SAY I DO NOT APPROVE ANY OF THIS. I THINK THAT THIS MONEY SHOULD BE ALLOCATED TO TEACHERS, TO SCHOOLS, TO THE COMMUNITY, AS MANY BEHIND US HAVE SAID. UM, I THINK NOW IS A PIVOTAL, PIVOTAL TIME FOR YOU TO TAKE A STANCE AGAINST THE MILITARIZATION OF POLICE ALL AROUND THE UNITED STATES. THAT'S HAPPENING RIGHT NOW, COP CITY BEING ONE OF THEM, AND WE NEED TO STOP THIS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. HI. FIRST, WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE EARLIER, UM, AND THE BRAVERY SHOWN BY THAT. UM, I, UH, JOY, MY NAME IS JOY. YES, JOY. THANK YOU. JOY AMAG GCI. I'M A RESIDENT AGAIN OF DISTRICT FIVE. UM, I JUST WANNA START BY SAYING, IN THE PRESENTATION YOU MENTIONED THAT IT WAS INDUSTRY STANDARD. I FEEL LIKE THE STANDARD OF THE POLICE INDUSTRY IS MURDERS OF BLACK AND BROWN CIVILIANS. UM, AND SO I DON'T FEEL COMFORTED BY THAT BEING PART OF THIS, UM, PRESENTATION. UM, I HA SEE THE THINGS IN HERE THAT I HAVE HAD CLOSE FRIENDS WHO WERE BRUISED AND WOUNDED BY RUBBER BULLETS WHEN THEY WERE PROTESTING, UM, AGAINST THE REMOVAL OF ENCAMPMENTS AND PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS BECAUSE THERE IS NO HOUSING. UM, SO JUST SEEING ALMOST $80,000 AND I TRIED TO DO THE MATH QUICKLY, UM, OF THESE HUGE NUMBERS BEING DELEGATED TO THIS RATHER THAN AS PEOPLE HAVE BEFORE. YOU HAVE MENTIONED, UM, THE, UH, FUNDING OF OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS, OF OUR PEOPLE HERE, UM, IS REALLY DISHEARTENING. UM, AND I'M GRATEFUL THAT WAS HERE TO REALIZE THAT THIS WAS HAPPENING AND THIS, THIS WAS ON THE AGENDA TODAY. SO, UM, JUST FERVENTLY AGAINST INCREASING POLICE BUDGET AND FOR INCREASING FUNDING TO OUR PEOPLE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER PLEASE. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. WHAT'S YOUR NAME? UH, WB WB. LET'S GO. UM, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE EARLIER. UM, I'M A GRADUATE STUDENT AT CAL STATE LONG BEACH AND A REGISTERED VOTER IN DISTRICT TWO. UM, I WANNA OPPOSE THE FURTHER MILITARIZATION OF LONG BEACH POLICE DEPARTMENT. WE DON'T NEED MORE FUNDING FOR POLICE WEAPONS AND SURVEILLANCE. WE NEED FUNDING FOR COMMUNITIES, SCHOOLS, HEALTHCARE, AND THE UNHOUSED. WELL-RESOURCED COMMUNITIES KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE. THE CITY OF LONG BEACH HAS ALREADY OVER-INVESTED IN WEAPONIZATION AND SURVEILLANCE. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REJECT THE LOOSENING OF RESTRICTIONS FOR THE ADDITIONAL PURCHASING OF MILITARY WEAPONS. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER, PLEASE. UH, GOOD EVENING COUNCIL MEMBERS. MY NAME IS JOSH DEONE, DISTRICT ONE. GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN. I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LONG NIGHT AND, UH, I'M GONNA HAVE A LOT OF WATER AFTER THIS. UH, YOU KNOW, THE, THIS IS A CONCERNING, UH, YOU KNOW, CHANGE FROM WHAT WE HAD EVEN LAST YEAR WHERE I RECALL THAT MANY OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAME HERE A YEAR AGO FRUSTRATED BY THE FACT THAT AMONG OTHER CLAUSES, UH, THE, THE POLICY AT LONG BEACH WAS TO HAVE BASICALLY AN AUTOMATIC REFILL AT 15% CAPACITY FOR A LOT OF THESE RESOURCES. AND NOW WHAT WE'RE HEARING HERE IS A DESIRE TO LIFT THAT RESTRICTION. AND THAT'S INCREDIBLY CONCERNING. YOU KNOW, WHAT WE HEARD A MOMENT AGO WAS THE IDEA THAT, UH, THERE'S BEEN A FOLSOM COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROCESS TO TRY AND GET OUR FEEDBACK ON THIS. AND YET MOST OF THE FOLKS THAT ARE HERE ARE HERE BECAUSE WHEN THEY HEARD ABOUT IT, THEY WANTED TO STAY. AND SO THERE'S A REALITY THAT THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY'RE GOING INTO TO SHARE ABOUT THESE UPDATES, I GUARANTEE YOU, IF YOU WENT TO SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON THE WEST SIDE OF LONG BEACH, SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS DOWN IN DOWNTOWN, SOME OF OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN DISTRICT NINE ALL OVER THE CITY, AND WE SAID, HEY, WE'RE GONNA HAVE 40 MILLIMETER RUBBER BULLETS. THAT'S AN INCH AND A HALF. IMAGINE GETTING HIT BY THAT. I HAVE FRIENDS WHO HAVE IMAGINE THE AMOUNT OF, UH, ADDITIONAL INFRAS, UH, IN, UH, INVESTMENT IN THINGS LIKE A NEW DRONE. UH, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR THAT. I THINK IF YOU ASK PEOPLE WHAT TO DO WITH THAT MONEY, THEY WOULD NOT SAY BUY ANOTHER DRONE WHEN WE HAVE A RE-READ PLENTY. UH, AND, AND, AND SO REALLY THE, THE, THE POINT HERE IS THAT, YOU KNOW, ANY SORT OF SENSE OF KIND OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, COMMUNITY BUY AND COMMUNITY CONSENT, UH, IS REQUIRING US AS A COMMUNITY TO BE ABLE TO WEIGH IN AND TO CONSENT TO THE IDEA THAT WE SHOULD OR SHOULDN'T HAVE MILITARIZED EQUIPMENT IN LONG BEACH. HERE'S THE TRUTH. LONG BEACH HAS AN ENORMOUS INVESTMENT IN NEARLY A MILLION DOLLARS IN ARMORED BEARCAT VEHICLES. WE HAVE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN VARIOUS SNIPER RIFLES, HEAVY ASSAULT WEAPONS. WE HAVE, UH, INVESTMENT I JUST SAW IN THE, UH, POLICY FOR A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ANOTHER SNIPER TO BE JOINING IN LONG BEACH. A LOT OF THESE THINGS FOR ME DON'T SCREAM SAFETY AFTER DISASTERS. THESE DON'T SCREAM, UH, DEALING WITH FLOODING. THESE SCREAM THE INTENSE AND CONTINUED MILITARIZATION OF OUR COMMUNITY. THE REALITY IS THAT A LOT OF THE FOLKS THAT CAME HERE TODAY EARLIER ARE IN INCENT, ARE INCENSED BY THESE KINDS OF ISSUES AND WILL BE BACK ON THESE KINDS OF ISSUES. WE'VE SEEN A RISING UP OF A SENSE OF COALITION, OF SHARED STRUGGLE, [05:40:01] UH, AND WE'RE COMING FOR THESE ISSUES TOO. AND SO I URGE YOU TO, UH, ONE, SAY NO TO THE LOOSENING OF THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS THAT SHOULD NOT BE. IF ANYTHING, IT SHOULD BE MORE DIFFICULT TO GET MORE WEAPONS AND MILITARIZATION, NOT EASIER. UM, NUMBER TWO, TO LOOK INTO, UH, CREATING MORE EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, UH, PROGRAMS THAT REALLY REACH THE MOST EFFECTIVE OF US. AND FINALLY, THAT THE END GOAL OF ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY ORGANIZING IS THAT WE ARE INVESTED IN OUR COMMUNITY. WHEN NEARLY HALF OF OUR GENERAL FUND IS GOING INTO THE POLICE AND NOT TO COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, THEN THAT MEANS THAT WE NEED TO MAKE THAT A CHANGE. SO THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME. PLEASE AMEND THIS, UH, OR SAY NO TO ALL TOGETHER. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. UH, FOR YOUR PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MR. MAYOR. EXCUSE ME. I'M SORRY. YES. UH, I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT, BUT, UM, SO THERE IS, UM, OKAY. HOLD OFF ON THE VOTE. YES SIR. . SORRY I DIDN'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT ANYTHING, BUT, UM, SO THERE'S A UH, RECEIVE AND FILE OF THE ANNUAL REPORT. RIGHT. AND UH, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT REQUIRES A VOTE, BUT, UM, IN TERMS OF EXTENDING THE, UM, SPECIAL ORDER FROM LAST YEAR TO CONTINUE THE USE OF THE MILITARY EQUIPMENT IS ONE VOTE. AND THEN, UM, LONG BEACH PD IS PROPOSING CHANGES TO THE 2023 SPECIAL ORDER. AND YOU HEARD THOSE EARLIER IN THE, DURING THE PRESENTATION. AND, UM, THAT WILL REQUIRE OUR OFFICE TO, TO PREPARE THAT ORDINANCE, UM, AN UN CODIFIED ORDINANCE. AND SO THAT WOULD BE A SEPARATE VOTE. AND, UH, SINCE WE ARE NOT COMING BACK HERE FOR THIS ITEM PROBABLY UNTIL, UH, I THINK IT'S UH, JANUARY 16TH, I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT, UH, COUNSEL'S AWARE OF THAT. ALRIGHT, THANK YOU. THANK YOU. AND JUST TO BE CLEAR, GO AHEAD TOM, YOU HAD SOMETHING TO ADD? OH, WELL, JUST, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THIS IS A STATE REQUIREMENT, SO EVERY YEAR YOU HAVE TO ADOPT THIS REPORT. THIS IS NEW TRANSPARENCY LAWS. THIS DID NOT EXIST TWO YEARS AGO AND THERE WAS A HEALTHY, ROBUST CONVERSATION. SO WE'RE NOT BEING DISMISSIVE. THERE WAS A LOT OF DISCUSSION ON THIS. UH, AND SO WE ARE GLAD THAT WE ARE ONE OF THE CITIES THAT IS IN COMPLIANCE AND MEETING THOSE STANDARDS OF TRANSPARENCY AND REPORTING. AND I ALSO WANNA LET FOLKS KNOW THIS IS NOT A BUDGET ACTION. THIS IS NOT EXPANDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET. THIS IS A REPORT THAT IS REQUIRED EVERY YEAR FOR THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE A PUBLIC HEARING, WHICH IS WHAT THIS IS. SO THE PUBLIC CAN TESTIFY, WHICH DI WAS NOT REQUIRED BEFORE. SO THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL HEIGHTENED STANDARD. UH, MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MY STATION ISN'T WORKING AGAIN, SO I'M A VERBAL. YES. NOTED. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. 24, PLEASE. UM, DO WE NEED TO TAKE A SECOND VOTE ON THAT? OH, WE NEED, WE NEED TO TAKE A SECOND VOTE PLEASE. QUEUE UP A MOTION AND A VOTE. THANK YOU. OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. UH, DO WE NEED PUBLIC COMMENT ON THAT AGAIN? I DON'T THINK WE DO. OKAY. MEMBERS, PLEASE CATCH YOUR VOTE. COUNCILWOMAN RICK SOTE ARE YOU AND I THANK YOU. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALL RIGHT. 24 REPORT FROM CITY ATTORNEY. RECOMMENDATION, DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE HOUSING TRUST FUND. READ AND ADOPTED AS READ CITYWIDE. ALL. UH, WE NEED A MOTION. AND SECOND. [24. 23-51476-01 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending the Long Beach Municipal Code by amending Sections 3.92.010, 3.92.020, 3.92.030, and, 3.92.040; all relating to the Housing Trust Fund, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)       Office or Department: City Attorney         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. SEEING NO PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. 25 REPORT FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE TO REPEAL AND REPLACE THE SUBDIVISION REGULATIONS OF THE CITY OF [25. 23-51436-01 Recommendation to declare ordinance for Code Amendment (ZCA19-005) to repeal and replace the Subdivision Regulations of the City of Long Beach (Title 20 of the Long Beach Municipal Code) in its entirety, read and adopted as read. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Community Development         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] LONG BEACH IN ITS ENTIRETY, READ AND ADOPT AS READ CITYWIDE. OKAY, WE NEED A SECOND. OKAY. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT SAYING NONE? MEMBERS, PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. OR ARE WE? 26 YES. REPORT FROM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. RECOMMENDATION TO DECLARE ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTIONS 18.0 4.04 A 3 21 [26. 23-51437-01 Recommendation to declare ordinance amending Sections 18.04.040(A)(3), 21.31.340(D), 21.31.340(G), 21.31.350(B), 21.31.350(E), and 21.42.050(C)(1) of the Long Beach Municipal Code, read and adopt as read. (Citywide)       Office or Department: Community Development         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] 0.3134 D 21.313 4G 21.3135 B 21.3135 E AND 21.425 C ONE OF THE LONG BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE. RED AND ADOPTED AS RED CITYWIDE. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. SEEING NO PUBLIC COMMENT. MEMBERS PLEASE CASH OR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. THANK YOU. 27 PLEASE. COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILMAN AUSTIN. RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS IN THE GENERAL FUND GROUP IN THE CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT BY $2,000. OFFSET BY THE EIGHTH COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE-TIME DISTRICT PRIORITY FUNDS TO PROVIDE A DONATION TO NEW IMAGE [27. 23-51603 Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the City Manager Department by $2,000, offset by the Eighth Council District One-Time District Priority Funds transferred from the Citywide Activities Department to provide a donation to New Image Emergency Shelter for the Homeless, Inc. for their 29th Annual Children’s Christmas Store; and Decrease appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Citywide Activities Department by $2,000 to offset a transfer to the City Manager Department.       Office or Department: Al Austin, Councilman, Eighth District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR HOMELESS. THANK YOU. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. [05:45:01] ANY PUBLIC COMMENT? SEEING NONE MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. 29. UM, I THINK WE SKIPPED OVER 28. DID YOU WANNA I DON'T HAVE 28 IN FRONT OF ME. OKAY. THERE IS A 28. ALL RIGHT. 28 COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCILWOMAN KERR. RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS IN THE GENERAL FUND GROUP IN THE CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT BY $250. OFFSET BY THE FIFTH COUNCIL DISTRICT. ONE TIME DISTRICT PRIORITY FUNDS TO PROVIDE A CONTRIBUTION [28. 23-51604 Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the City Manager Department by $250, offset by the Fifth Council District One-Time District Priority Funds transferred from the Citywide Activities Department to provide a contribution to Long Beach Unified School District in support of Cubberly K-8 School; and Decrease appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Citywide Activities Department by $250 to offset a transfer to the City Manager Department.       Office or Department: Megan Kerr, Councilwoman, Fifth District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] TO LONG BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT. THANK YOU. IT'S MOVED AND SECONDED. UM, ANY PUBLIC COMMENT SAYING NONE MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. 29. COMMUNICATION FROM COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA. RECOMMENDATION TO INCREASE APPROPRIATIONS IN THE GENERAL FUND GROUP AND THE CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT BY 1000. OFFSET BY THE SEVENTH COUNCIL DISTRICT ONE-TIME DISTRICT PRIORITY FUNDS TO PROVIDE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE MAYOR'S FUND FOR LONG BEACH'S 2023. JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL BENEFIT CONCERT. IT'S BEEN MOVED AND SECONDED. ANY PUBLIC COMMENT MEMBERS PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE. MOTION IS CARRIED. ALRIGHT. THAT'S THE LAST ITEM I HAVE, RIGHT? [30. 23-51614 Recommendation to increase appropriations in the General Fund Group in the City Manager Department by $1,000, offset by the Seventh Council District One-Time District Priority Funds, transferred from the Citywide Activities Department, to provide a contribution to Community Partners in support of the Mayor’s Fund for Long Beach’s 2023 Jordan High School Benefit Concert; and Decrease appropriations in the General Fund Group in the Citywide Activities Department by $1,000 to offset transfers to the City Manager Department.       Office or Department: Roberto Uranga, Councilmember, Seventh District         Suggested Action: Approve recommendation. ] OKAY. 'CAUSE IT WASN'T LINING UP ON THE SCREEN FOR ME. OKAY. WELL NOW WE'LL GO TO GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT NUMBER TWO. I SEE THREE SPEAKERS SIGNED UP. DANIEL HERRERA, [ PUBLIC COMMENT: IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ADJOURNMENT Opportunity is given to those members of the public who have not addressed the City Council on non-agenda items. Each speaker is limited to three minutes unless extended by the City Council. ] JAKE SIA, AND JOAQUIN BELTRAN. IF YOU HEARD YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME FORWARD. THANK YOU. YOU'RE ACKNOWLEDGED. PERFECT. HELLO EVERYONE OF THE COUNCIL. MY NAME IS DANIEL HERRERA. THE REASON I'M HERE TONIGHT IS BECAUSE I DO HOMELESS OUTREACH HERE IN THE CITY OF LONG BEACH. I DON'T GET FUNDING FROM YOU GUYS, I DON'T ASK FOR IT. I JUST ASK FOR COLLABORATION WITH EACH DISTRICT. I'M ALSO CONSTITUENT OF DISTRICT ONE, WHICH IS MARY ZENDEJAS. I AM REACHING OUT TO ALL OF THE COUNCIL TODAY BECAUSE WE'VE REACHED OUT CONSISTENTLY TO HER OFFICE. WE'VE EMAILED, WE'VE HAD MEETINGS WITH HER IN REGARDS TO ISSUES HERE IN IN OUR DISTRICT ONE AND CITY ALTOGETHER. I'VE BEEN OUT THERE, I'VE WORKED WITH INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. I'M NOT NEW TO THIS. I'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR QUITE SOME TIME. WE'VE LED EFFORTS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT IN DIFFERENT COUNTIES WITH THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT IN OTHER COUNTIES AS WELL AS THE PROBATION DEPARTMENT. THE REASON I'M MAINLY HERE FOR IS THIS PAST WEEKEND MY WIFE WAS OUT. SHE WAS EXPLORING OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY, AN INDIVIDUAL EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, HAD SOME TYPE OF MENTAL HEALTH, UM, EPISODE. THEY ENDED UP PUSHING HER INTO TRAFFIC. MY WIFE SITTING RIGHT HERE. SHE LITERALLY A HUNDRED POUNDS. FOR HER TO GET PUSHED INTO TRAFFIC ON FOURTH STREET AFTER I'VE CONSISTENTLY FOLLOWED UP WITH MS. ZEN'S OFFICE IS AN OUTRAGE. I'M ASKING ALL OF YOU GUYS TO CHECK IN WITH YOUR FELLOW COUNCILWOMAN. SHE PROMISED THAT SHE WAS GONNA DO MORE THINGS FOR DISTRICT ONE IN TERMS OF HOMELESSNESS. THAT SEEMS TO BE A HUGE TOPIC HERE. REX RICHARDSON, I'VE BET YOU PRIOR TO, YOU'RE A MAYOR IN DISTRICT NINE, WE DID COMMUNITY CLEANUPS WITH YOU MULTIPLE TIMES. WE'VE SAT THERE AND DONE WORK IN DISTRICT FOUR. I USED TO LIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY. MY HOUSE BURNED DOWN. NOT YOUR FAULT, BUT IT'S A SIMPLE FACT THAT IT SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING ISSUE. WE CONSISTENTLY TALK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS BEING A PRIORITY OF THE CITY. WE DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY, BUT EVERYONE IS RUNNING AROUND WITH CHI LIKE THEIR HEADS WITH CHICKENS, WITH THEIR HEADS CUT OFF. IT'S TIME THAT WE MAKE AN IMPACT IN OUR CITY. IT'S NOT HARD. WE CAN LOOK AT OTHER CITIES, WHETHER IT'S IN THIS COUNTY OR MORE OF A REPUBLICAN COUNTY SUCH AS SAN BERNARDINO, TO SEE THE TYPE OF WORK THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING OUT THERE. SO I'M ASKING YOU GUYS REALLY THINK ABOUT IT THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. TAKE YOUR ENJOY YOUR CHRISTMAS. I WILL BE OUT THERE SERVING THOSE WHO ARE ON THE STREET WITH MEALS FOR CHRISTMAS DAY. WELL, MAJORITY OF YOU MAY HOPEFULLY DO SOMETHING SIMILAR, BUT I'M ASKING YOU TO REALLY THINK ABOUT 2024 AND HOW WE CAN MAKE AN IMPACT AND HOLD OUR NONPROFITS, OUR AGENCIES, FAITH-BASED EVERYONE WHO'S PROVIDING HOMELESS SERVICES ACCOUNTABLE AND ENSURING THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY DOING THEIR JOB OUT THERE. THANK YOU. JAKE OR JOAQUIN, WHOEVER. JUST COME FORWARD. IT'S ONLY TWO PEOPLE LEFT. . ALRIGHT. MY NAME IS JOAQUIN BELTRAN. I'M RUNNING FOR CONGRESS TO REPRESENT LONG BEACH. UM, I WANNA THANK YOU. I WANNA THANK THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL FOR PASSING A CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION. THIS IS THE ELEMENT THAT PROVIDES US HOPE, UH, LONG AWAITED HOPE DURING THIS TRAGIC, HORRIFIC GENOCIDE THAT IS OCCURRING. I HOPE IT INCREASES THE PUBLIC PRESSURE FOR OUR CONGRESS MEMBER ROBERT GARCIA, TO ACTUALLY SIGN ON [05:50:01] TO THE CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION THAT IS IN CONGRESS. CORY BUSHS, UH, CONGRESSWOMAN CORY BUSHES CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION BILL. AND IT IS ALWAYS THE RIGHT THING TO STAND WITH THE OPPRESSED. SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR DOING THE RIGHT THING. I WANNA READ A POEM BY A MARTYR, A POET, PALESTINIAN REFA RIO, ENTITLED, IF I MUST DIE, IF I MUST DIE, YOU MUST LIVE TO TELL MY STORY, TO SELL MY THINGS, TO BUY A PIECE OF CLOTH AND SOME STRING MAKE IT WHITE WITH A LONG TAIL SO THAT A CHILD SOMEWHERE IN GAZA WHILE LOOKING HEAVEN IN THE EYE, AWAITING HIS DAD WHO LEFT IN A BLAZE. AND B, NO ONE FAREWELL, NOT EVEN TO HIS FLESH, NOT EVEN TO HIMSELF, SEES THE KITE. MY KITE YOU MADE FLYING ABOVE. AND THANKS FOR A MOMENT. AN ANGEL IS THERE BRINGING BACK LOVE. IF I MUST DIE, LET IT BRING HOPE. LET IT BE A STORY. MY HOPE AS IS THAT THIS IS THE STORY OF THE END OF THE GENOCIDE. MY HOPE IS THAT THIS IS THE STORY OF THE END OF THE ETHNIC CLEANSING OF PALESTINIANS. MY HOPE IS THAT THIS IS THE END OF THE OCCUPATION, AN END OF APARTHEID, AND THAT THIS IS THE STORY OF A FREE PALESTINE. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. OUR FINAL SPEAKER PLEASE. HELLO, MY NAME IS JAKE KOYA. I AM NOT A LONG BEACH RESIDENT. UH, SO I WOULD LIKE TO SPECIFICALLY THANK YOU MAYOR, UH, RICHARDSON FOR WELCOMING ME EVERY MORNING IN THE PARKING LOT. I REALLY APPRECIATE IT . UM, I'M HERE TO CLOSE THE NIGHT JUST TO, UH, THANK THE CITY. UH, I'M PART OF PANIC ROOM LONG BEACH, WHICH IS THE NEWEST ESCAPE ROOM THAT OPENED UP, UH, ON PINE. AND UH, SO WE JUST WANTED TO COME OUT AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR, YOU KNOW, ALL THE HELP AND ASSISTANCE WITH THE PERMIT PROCESS. IT'S BEEN A VERY LONG ROAD, UH, AND SO WE, UH, APPRECIATE IT. UM, AND WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO BE PART OF THE DOWNTOWN FAMILY TO BRING SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING TO, UH, THIS LOCATION. UH, I'M HERE TO, UH, ANNOUNCE THAT WE ARE OPENING, UH, OUR GRAND OPENING IS SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 12TH, UH, THIS COMING JANUARY 12TH, UH, WHICH IS VERY EXCITING. AND IF THE CHAMBER HAS NOT ALREADY REACHED OUT TO THE COUNCIL MEMBERS, WE WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALL, UH, INVITED AND WELCOME TO COME DOWN AND VISIT US AND CHECK IT OUT. WE'RE VERY EXCITED TO BE PART OF THE COMMUNITY. THANK YOU. AND JAKE, WELCOME. I LOVE PANIC ROOMS AND ESCAPE ROOMS. UH, WOULD LOVE TO COME DOWN AND CHECK IT OUT. UH, AND THANKS FOR INVESTING IN LONG BEACH. THAT SATISFIES OUR, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETING. WE'LL NOW GO TO ANNOUNCEMENTS AND ADJOURNMENT. I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE FIRST COUNCIL MEMBER SUBINA. UH, THANK YOU MAYOR RICHARDSON. UM, [ANNOUNCEMENTS] I'D LIKE TO ASK THAT WE ADJOURN TONIGHT'S MEETING IN MEMORY OF GRACE EARL. UH, GRACE IS A LONGTIME RESIDENT OF THE EL DORADO PARK, UM, NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION, AND A LONG TIME A VOLUNTEER WITH THAT GROUP. UH, SHE LOVED EL DORADO PARK, UH, AND, UH, VOLUNTEERED AT, UM, ON, ON VARIOUS COMMITTEES THERE, INCLUDING THE NATURE CENTER. UM, SHE'S ALSO, UM, THIS GOES WAY BACK, THE EAST PATROL DIVISION HAD A CITIZENS ADVISORY GROUP AND SHE SERVED THERE FOR MANY, MANY YEARS. UM, GRACE IS ALSO A LONGTIME, UM, MEMBER OF, UH, OUR LADY OF RE REFUGE CATHOLIC CHURCH WHERE, UM, HER MEMORIAL SERVICE WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY, UH, JANUARY 13TH AT 10:00 AM AND ONE NOTE I'D LIKE TO SAY ABOUT, UM, GRACE IS SHE PERFORMED A, A GREAT SERVICE TO THE FOURTH COUNCIL DISTRICT. SHE MONITORED THE NEXT DOOR, UH, SITE AND GAVE ME UPDATES THERE SO I DIDN'T HAVE TO GO ON THAT SITE MYSELF. SO, UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT GRACE. UH, JUST A WONDERFUL PERSON AND SHE'LL BE, UH, GREATLY MISSED. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR. YES, THANK YOU. THIS WEEK I ENCOURAGE [05:55:01] ALL WHO ARE ABLE TO DONATE TO THE CAL HEIGHTS MUSIC TOY DRIVE TO BENEFIT MILLER CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. THEY'RE STILL ACCEPTING TOYS THROUGH DECEMBER 22ND. SO PLEASE, IF YOU CAN DROP OFF A TOY AT 1240 EAST WARDLOW ROAD. AND IF YOU NEED TO FINISH UP SOME LAST MINUTE HOLIDAY SHOPPING, I INVITE YOU TO ATTEND THIS WEEKEND'S GIVING AND GIFTING FEMALE MAKER'S MARKET AT THE HANGAR AT LBX. THE TWO DAY MARKET WILL BE OPEN FRIDAY THE 22ND FROM 11 TO THREE AND SATURDAY DECEMBER 23RD. FROM 12 TO FIVE 30, YOU CAN SHOP LOCAL AND TO GIVE LOCAL SUPPORT. THESE WOMEN OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES IN A PORTION OF YOUR PURCHASE WILL BE DONATED BACK TO THE LONG BEACH RESCUE MISSION. NEXT WEEK ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27TH, I INVITE YOU TO ATTEND THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURAL CENTER OF LONG BEACH'S KWANZA CELEBRATION. DOORS OF THE EXPO ART CENTER WILL OPEN AT 5:00 PM FOR A CELEBRATION OF CULTURE WITH MUSIC, DANCING, A CANDLE LIGHTING CEREMONY, AND A KARAMU FEST. AND MORE HOPE TO SEE YOU OUT IN THE COMMUNITY AND IN THE NEW YEAR. THANK YOU. COUNCIL MEMBER URANGA. THANK YOU. UM, I JUST WANNA WISH EVERYBODY HAPPY HOLIDAYS TODAY MEETING, LONG MEETING, BUT THEY CALL THOSE THAT PARTICIPATING TODAY. HAPPY HOLIDAYS. THANK YOU. AND I'LL CLOSE IT OUT AND JUST SAY, UH, THANK YOU TO, UM, THIS IS THE LAST MEETING OF THE YEAR, SO TO ALL OF OUR CITY TEAM THAT WORKS REALLY HARD TO MAKE THESE MEETINGS HAPPEN. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WELL, YOU GOT YOUR HAND UP. WHAT'S UP? YES. BEFORE WE ADJOURNED, CAN I REPORT OUT? NO ACTION WAS TAKEN IN CLOSED SESSION. YOU WANT TO INTERRUPT MY STATEMENT FOR THAT? OKAY. , YOU GOOD? JUST ONE LINE. ALL RIGHT. OKAY. UH, THANK YOU FOR THAT ONE LINE. I'LL, I GOT THE HINT. I'LL KEEP IT SHORT. JUST WANT TO THANK AND ACKNOWLEDGE EVERYBODY WHO'S WORKED REALLY HARD THIS YEAR. IT'S BEEN A GREAT YEAR. UM, YOU KNOW, AND I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, UH, TOMORROW IS MARKS ONE YEAR SINCE, UH, SINCE I'VE BEEN MAYOR AND SINCE, UH, WE WELCOME THREE NEW MEMBERS TO OUR CITY COUNCIL. SO CONGRATULATIONS. UM, COUNCIL MEMBER DUGGAN, COUNCIL MEMBER KERR AND COUNCIL MEMBER RICKS OTI ON ONE YEAR TOMORROW. AND, UM, I THINK WE'VE, YOU KNOW, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE END OF THE YEAR REPORT THAT TYPICALLY COMES OUT IN JANUARY. UM, TOM, UH, SO WE LOOK FORWARD TO THAT. IT'S BEEN JUST A BIG YEAR OF, UM, TAKING ON BIG CHALLENGES AND THINGS WE DIDN'T EXPECT TO COME UP ON THE BINGO CARD FROM HER QUAKES TO CYBER ATTACKS. AND WHO KNOWS? WE DIDN'T EXPECT THAT. BUT THIS COUNCIL, I THINK IS, UH, FINISHING VERY STRONG, UH, AND, AND VERY CLASSY. SO I WANNA WISH ALL OF YOU, UH, A HAPPY HOLIDAYS, A RESTFUL BREAK, UM, A HAPPY NEW YEAR, AND WE WILL SEE YOU ON JANUARY 9TH FOR THE STATE OF THE CITY. THANK YOU. THIS MEETING'S ADJOURNED. POINT OF INFORMATION. WHAT'S A [ADJOURNMENT] H QUAKE? DID YOU SAY QUAKE, HURRICANE, EARTHQUAKE? YEAH. H QUAKE. HURRICANE EARTHQUAKE. * This transcript was created by voice-to-text technology. The transcript has not been edited for errors or omissions, it is for reference only and is not the official minutes of the meeting.