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Home My WebLink About2025-07-10 Human Relations Commission Agenda Packet HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION Regular Meeting Thursday, July 10, 2025 Council Chambers & Hybrid 6:00 PM Human Relations Commission meetings will be held as “hybrid” meetings with the option to attend by teleconference/video conference or in person. To maximize public safety while still maintaining transparency and public access, members of the public can choose to participate from home or attend in person. Information on how the public may observe and participate in the meeting is located at the end of the agenda. Masks are strongly encouraged if attending in person. The meeting will be broadcast on Cable TV Channel 26, live on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/cityofpaloalto, and streamed to Midpen Media Center https://midpenmedia.org. Commissioner names, biographies, and archived agendas and reports are available at https://www.cityofpaloalto.org/City-Hall/Boards-Commissions/Human- Relations-Commission. VIRTUAL PARTICIPATION CLICK HERE TO JOIN (https://cityofpaloalto.zoom.us/j/91994548701) Meeting ID: 919 9454 8701 Phone: 1(669)900-6833 PUBLIC COMMENTS Public comments will be accepted both in person and via Zoom for up to three minutes or an amount of time determined by the Chair. All requests to speak will be taken until 5 minutes after the staff’s presentation. Written public comments can be submitted in advance to HRC@paloalto.gov and will be provided to the Council and available for inspection on the City’s website. Please clearly indicate which agenda item you are referencing in your subject line. PowerPoints, videos, or other media to be presented during public comment are accepted only by email to HRC@paloalto.gov at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Once received, the Clerk will have them shared at public comment for the specified item. To uphold strong cybersecurity management practices, USB’s or other physical electronic storage devices are not accepted. Signs and symbolic materials less than 2 feet by 3 feet are permitted provided that: (1) sticks, posts, poles or similar/other type of handle objects are strictly prohibited; (2) the items do not create a facility, fire, or safety hazard; and (3) persons with such items remain seated when displaying them and must not raise the items above shoulder level, obstruct the view or passage of other attendees, or otherwise disturb the business of the meeting. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL PUBLIC COMMENT Members of the public may speak to any item NOT on the agenda. AGENDA CHANGES, ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS The Chair or Commission majority may modify the agenda order to improve meeting management. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approval of the June 12, 2025 Human Relations Commission Draft Action Minutes. BUSINESS ITEMS 2. Review of Training Overview for the Religious Tolerance Training to be Offered to City Staff, Boards/Commissions, and the City Council. – Staff – Discussion – 120 min. CITY OFFICIAL REPORTS Members of the public may not speak to the item(s) Commissioner Reports Council Liaison Report Staff Liaison Report COMMISSIONER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS OR FUTURE MEETINGS AND AGENDAS Members of the public may not speak to the item(s) ADJOURNMENT PUBLIC DOCUMENTS Public Letters PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS Members of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email, teleconference, or by phone. Written public comments may be submitted by email to hrc@paloalto.gov. Spoken public comments using a computer will be accepted through the teleconference meeting. To address the Council, click on the link below to access a Zoom-based meeting. Please read the following instructions carefully. You may download the Zoom client or connect to the meeting in- browser. If using your browser, make sure you are using a current, up-to-date browser: Chrome 30 , Firefox 27 , Microsoft Edge 12 , Safari 7 . Certain functionality may be disabled in older browsers including Internet Explorer. You may be asked to enter an email address and name. We request that you identify yourself by name as this will be visible online and will be used to notify you that it is your turn to speak. When you wish to speak on an Agenda Item, click on “raise hand.” The Clerk will activate and unmute speakers in turn. Speakers will be notified shortly before they are called to speak. When called, please limit your remarks to the time limit allotted. A timer will be shown on the computer to help keep track of your comments. Spoken public comments using a smart phone will be accepted through the teleconference meeting. To address the Council, download the Zoom application onto your phone from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and enter the Meeting ID below. Please follow the instructions B-E above. Spoken public comments using a phone use the telephone number listed below. When you wish to speak on an agenda item hit *9 on your phone so we know that you wish to speak. You will be asked to provide your first and last name before addressing the Council. You will be advised how long you have to speak. When called please limit your remarks to the agenda item and time limit allotted. CLICK HERE TO JOIN Meeting ID: 919 9454 8701 Phone:1-669-900-6833 Americans with Disability Act (ADA) It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to offer its public programs, services and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to all. Persons with disabilities who require materials in an appropriate alternative format or who require auxiliary aids to access City meetings, programs, or services may contact the City’s ADA Coordinator at (650) 329-2550 (voice) or by emailing ada@paloalto.gov. Requests for assistance or accommodations must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, program, or service. ADA. The City of Palo Alto does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. To request accommodations, auxiliary aids or services to access City facilities, services or programs, to participate at public meetings, or to learn about the City's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, may contact 650-329-2550 (voice), or e-mail ada@cityofpaloalto.org . This agenda is posted in accordance with government code section 54954.2(a) or section 54956. Members of the public are welcome to attend this public meeting. DRAFT HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING ACTION MINUTES Thursday, June 12, 2025 6:00 PM Commissioners Present: Barr, Causey, Hsieh, Karnam, Kraus, Stimmler Commissioners Absent: Eberle Council Liaison: Council Member Stone not in attendance Staff: Minka Van Der Zwaag, Alayna Cruz I) ROLL CALL II) PUBLIC COMMENT III) AGENDA CHANGES, REQUESTS, DELETIONS IV) APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. March 13, 2025 MOTION: V i c e C h a i r K r a u s moved, seconded by Commissioner Causey, to approve the minutes of May 8, 2025. MOTION PASSED: 6-0-1 (Eberle absent) V) BUSINESS ITEMS 2. Discuss Gap Analysis Report and Provide Input Related to Housing and Services for the Unhoused as Feedback to the City Council. – Staff – Discussion NO ACTION TAKEN 3. Review and Adoption of Policy on Public Requests for Support by the HRC. – Hsieh – Action MOTION: Chair Kraus moved, seconded by Commissioner Karnam, for the HRC to approve the guidelines and application process for the Policy on Public Requests for Support. MOTION PASSED: 6-0-1 (Eberle Absent) 4. Review of the 2025 Human Relations Commission workplan and subcommittees. – Staff – Discussion NO ACTION TAKEN 1 Packet Pg. 4 ADA. The City of Palo Alto does not discriminate against individuals with disabilities. To request accommodations, auxiliary aids or services to access City facilities, services or programs, to participate at public meetings, or to learn about the City's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, may contact 650-329-2550 (voice), or e-mail ada@cityofpaloalto.org . This agenda is posted in accordance with government code section 54954.2(a) or section 54956. Members of the public are welcome to attend this public meeting. VI) REPORTS FROM OFFICIALS VII) ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. 1 Packet Pg. 5 Human Relations Commission Staff Report From: City Manager’s Office Meeting Date: July 10, 2025 Report #: 2506-4909 TITLE Review of Training Overview for the Religious Tolerance Training to be Offered to City Staff, Boards/Commissions, and the City Council RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Human Relations Commission review this report and provide feedback on the scope of an upcoming Religious Tolerance Training (for City staff, Boards/Commissions, and City Council). BACKGROUND To better understand the concerns, challenges, and lived experiences of individuals that identify with the Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities in Palo Alto, the Human Relations Commission (HRC) hosted a series of listening sessions in late 2023 and early 2024. The HRC held separate sessions for each community, fostering open environments for listening and learning, allowing participants to share their personal experiences and perspectives. At the February 8, 20241 HRC meeting, the Commission discussed how best to address the listening sessions’ themes and develop meaningful recommendations for City Council. One recommendation was for the Council to direct staff to implement training regarding religious tolerance/anti-discrimination as part of its Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) training for city employees, Boards and Commissions. At the August 19, 20242 Council meeting, the Council heard the HRC presentation and discussed and supported the HRC recommendation for staff to implement the training in context of other trainings being done through the Equity Action Plan. 1 Human Relations Commission, February 08, 2024; Agenda Item#3; https://www.paloalto.gov/files/assets/public/v/2/community-services/human-relations- commission/agendas/2024/2-8-24/2-8-24-hrc-meeting-agenda.pdf 2 City Council Meeting, August 19 , 2024; Agenda Item#3 https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=14361 2 Packet Pg. 6 ANALYSIS In alignment with the Human Relations Commission’s and City Council’s recommendation for training, staff received training recommendations from many stakeholders and researched trainer options. Working with the immediate previous and current HRC Chairs, City staff focused on possible training scopes that contained various perspectives similar to the diverse experiences in the community. Through our research, staff has reached the conclusion that no single trainer fully encompasses the diverse experiences of all groups or completely aligns with the all the interests expressed to the HRC and Council. Recognizing the importance of fostering understanding without causing harm, great care has been taken in seeking trainers who not only possess comprehensive subject matter expertise but also bring extensive lived experience and a nuanced understanding of these complex and deeply personal issues. Thus, after research, the scope provided by Project Shema and the Islamic Network Group (ING), as a partnership, seemed to be the most diverse scope as a starting place. Out of the identified potential training organizations, these groups appear to be able to have a conversation in a more balanced way through a panel presentation together. The benefit to having two different groups present is that they can bring their expertise representing different perspectives. Both of these groups have done at least one joint presentation/training with a different viewpoint organization in the past. The following is the session description as provided by ING and Project Shema with the proposed training session title of Building Inclusive Cities: Addressing Islamophobia, Antisemitism, and Overlapping Biases: This voluntary 120-minute training equips City leadership and staff with the knowledge and tools to better understand and serve Muslim, Arab, and Jewish communities. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of the identities within these communities and the distinct forms of bias they face, including Islamophobia, Antisemitism, Anti-Arab bias, Anti-Palestinian racism, and Anti-Israeli sentiment. The session will address how these forms of discrimination manifest in public discourse, policy, and community interactions — including the role of protest slogans and how they are perceived. Through real-world examples and guided discussion, city leaders will learn strategies to recognize harmful tropes, respond to community concerns, and foster inclusive civic engagement. Emphasis will be placed on practical recommendations for supporting targeted communities and building stronger, more equitable local governance. Staff is seeking feedback about the training, including the scope (if anything is missing). The scope described above is also included in Attachment A with the training outline. The target audience for this training is City staff, City Council, and City Boards and Commission members. The recommendation from the Council and the HRC did not reference that this 2 Packet Pg. 7 training should be available to the public. Staff recommend the training described here be a pilot training and, if successful, it could be offered to members of the public at a future date. Other training details: -This is a voluntary training. -The target audience is City staff, City Council, and Boards/Commission members. -The training is recommended to be 120 minutes in a panel format with interactive questions and answers at the end. It is an in-person training presented by both Project Shema and ING. -Similar to other inclusion trainings, this training would share ground rules and would not be recorded. -The intent of the training is to increase awareness for these topics within the context of City services/work. -Another organization that has done a similar two-organization panel training: San Mateo County -Links to the websites for Project Shema3 and Islamic Network Group4 are included as footnotes below. -Other providers considered (in alphabetical order): Daisy Khan Islamophobia Training for Governments and Public Institutions5, Institute for Understanding Anti Palestinian Racism6, Jewish Community Relations Council7, PARCEO8, and Sharaka9. -Two resources to be shared at the training are these national reports: o The U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism: https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/U.S.- National-Strategy-to-Counter-Antisemitism.pdf o The U.S. National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate: https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/National- Strategy-Doc.pdf FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT The training session cost would be $10,000, split between both groups (Project Shema and ING) plus additional reimbursable travel expenses (where appropriate) for trainers. Funding for the training described within this report will be taken from the non-departmental allocation set aside for race and equity work. Funding for any additional similar training would have to be assessed for possible funding sources. 3 Project Shema; https://www.projectshema.org/ 4 Islamic Network Group; https://ing.org/ 5 Daisy Khan Islamophobia Training for Governments and Public Institutions; https://daisykhan.com/ 6 Institute for Understanding Anti-Palestinian Racism; https://antipalestinianracism.org/ 7 Jewish Community Relations Council; https://jcrc.org/ 8 PARCEO; https://parceo.org/ 9 Sharaka; https://www.sharakango.com/ 2 Packet Pg. 8 ATTACHMENTS Attachment A: Training Session Description and Outline from ING and Project Shema 2 Packet Pg. 9 1 ING + Project Shema Muslim - Jewish Panel Proposal for the City of Palo Alto Panel Title: - Building Inclusive Cities: Addressing Islamophobia, Antisemitism, and Overlapping Biases Description: This voluntary 120-minute training equips city leadership and staﬀ with the knowledge and tools to better understand and serve Muslim, Arab, and Jewish communities. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of the identities within these communities and the distinct forms of bias they face, including Islamophobia, antisemitism, anti-Arab bias, anti-Palestinian racism, and anti-Israeli sentiment. The session will address how these forms of discrimination manifest in public discourse, policy, and community interactions — including the role of protest slogans and how they are perceived. Through real-world examples and guided discussion, city leaders will learn strategies to recognize harmful tropes, respond to community concerns, and foster inclusive civic engagement. Emphasis will be placed on practical recommendations for supporting targeted communities and building stronger, more equitable local governance. Training Outline (120 Minutes) I. Introduction and Goals - City Manager • Welcome and purpose of the session • Why this training matters for city leadership • Ground rules for respectful engagement II. Understanding Community Identities • Overview of Muslim and Arab communities - ING o Ethnic, religious, and linguistic diversity o Common misperceptions and civic participation patterns • Overview of Jewish communities - PS o Disrupting binary thinking o Exploring Jewish identity & diversity 2 Packet Pg. 10 2 III. Recognizing Forms of Bias • Islamophobia - ING o Deﬁnitions and common tropes o Overlap with anti-Arab bias and anti-Palestinian racism o Local impacts and examples • Antisemitism - PS o What is antisemitism and how does it operate? o Recognizing anti-Jewish motifs o Exploring anti-Jewish harm in the current climate IV. Protest Chants and Community Perceptions - ING and PS together • Common (top 3) slogans and their varied interpretations o How historical trauma and lived experience shape responses • Guidance for city leaders on navigating these issues with empathy and neutrality V. Where the Biases Intersect – ING and PS together • Shared experiences of scapegoating and stereotyping • How diﬀerent forms of bigotry can compound or be weaponized together VI. Strategies for City Leaders – ING and PS together • Best practices for responding to incidents of bias and hate • Creating inclusive communications and public responses • Supporting community-led initiatives and equitable engagement • Proactive allyship: how to show support without taking sides in international conﬂicts VII. Q&A and Case-Based Discussion • Questions from participants • Brief discussion of common scenarios or challenges faced by City staﬀ and City leadership 2 Packet Pg. 11 3 VIII. Closing and Resources • Summary of key takeaways & additional resources and follow-up learning opportunities Facilitators: • ING: Zachary Markwith, PhD – [Bio] or Maha Elgenaidi – [Bio] • Project Shema: Daniel Bral or one of their other trainers [Project Shema team] Modality & Pricing: • Online or In-Person Workshop: o $5,000 for ING o $5,000 for Project Shema (+ travel expenses, if in person) 2 Packet Pg. 12 From:Sébastien Peretti To:emmanuel.macron@elysee.fr; contact@fr.china-embassy.gov.cn; contact@gov.uk; anne.hidalgo01@front-republicain.org; lucie.castets01@front-republicain.org; membres.rn.centre@front-republicain.org;membres.rn.nordest@front-republicain.org; membres.rn.nordouest@front-republicain.org;membres.rn.sudest@front-republicain.org; membres.rn.sudouest@front-republicain.org; press.usa.cnn.1@front-republicain.org; press.usa.cnn.2@front-republicain.org; press.usa.cnn.3@front-republicain.org;press.usa.nytime.1@front-republicain.org; press.usa.nytime.2@front-republicain.org; valerie.pecresse01@front-republicain.org; abonnes.corse.matin@front-republicain.eu; abonnes.fr.info.1@front-republicain.eu;abonnes.fr.info.2@front-republicain.eu; abonnes.fr.info.3@front-republicain.eu; abonnes.lamarseillaise@front-republicain.eu; abonnes.laprovence.1@front-republicain.eu; abonnes.laprovence.2@front-republicain.eu;abonnes.liberation.3@front-republicain.eu; abonnes.mediapart@front-republicain.eu;abonnes.mediapart.1@front-republicain.eu Subject:FRONT Républicain a le plaisir de vous annoncer sa création. Date:Sunday, June 29, 2025 3:55:30 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Merci de confirmer la bonne réception. ---------- Forwarded message --------- De : FRONT Républicain <pres.prov@frontrepublicain.org> Date: dim. 29 juin 2025 à 08:02 Subject: Fwd: Le FRONT Républicain a le plaisir de vous annoncer sa création. To: contact@whitehouse.gov Amis internautes, Le FRONT Républicain, association politique, a le plaisir de vous annoncer sa création, et vous invite à consulter son site provisoire: https://20252027frontrepublicain.org/ Campagne Législative 2024 : « Il existe des liens très forts et très étroits entre un POUVOIR POLITIQUE et son CONTRE POUVOIR, qui, MALHEUREUSEMENT, échappent complètement au discernement de l’ensemble des citoyens… This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first email to your company. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 13 Je te le laisse, puis je reprends le pouvoir…etc. Tout le monde a bien compris aujourd’hui, je pense… Techniquement, c’est peu clair mais très simple à comprendre. Par exemple, le général De Gaulle “utilisait” M. George Marchais, communiste, pour diviser le camp adverse, et François Mitterrand faisait pareil avec JM Le Pen…. Et bien, Macron, Attal, et toutes le ReiNes de laREM, eux, utilisent Bardella pour tuer la droite et Mélenchon pour tuer la gauche… “En même temps”… Ils tuent complètement notre pays… Mais… pour eux… ….ce n’est qu’un détail… D’après les rumeurs, Attal serait en « trouple » avec Kholer et Macron, et ce dernier n’aurait fait qu’un mariage blanc/ électoral avec Brigite... Ils cherchent, aussi et surtout à aider leur ami Jo Biden afin qu’il finisse seulement en 2028 en EHPAD plutôt qu’en 2024…« It’s just For-BIDEN-Jo… » … C’est un peu comme dans le film “un éléphant ça TRUMP énormément”… Depuis Avril 2017 c’est comme si nous étions à « une sorte de soirée mondaine », une grande soirée tauromachique… Comme si, nous peuple de France, nous étions qu’un seul homme, oui un seul homme, un prince Andalou maître en tauromachie… Avec pour cape le drapeau bleu blanc rouge…Et avec pour taureau un taureau transgenre très dangereux, amalgame d’une vipère à corne MelenchoMACRO-nATTAL et d’un Rerquin blanc ALGERO- Sud- Africain nomé BardellARABB de JORDANie… Un taureau transgenre “pur sang” de conception GangBangienne MULTIPLE !!! …Bien évidemment toute la terre est là, présente à cette soirée qui a donc commencé en Avril 2017 et qui continue non-stop H24/7/7 depuis….Et donc, l’ensemble de l’humanité crie “olé, olé, olé”, en se régalant du spectacle… et en se demandant comment… Comment ces pauvres petits Français vont-ils faire pour se sortir de ce casse-tête…? …La fin est proche, notre taureau est épuisé, dégoulinant de sueur et de lymphe, il est là, devant nous… agar… À notre totale mercie… Toute la terre crie “Amor, Amor, Amor…” en attendant qu’on l’eunuque de notre épée flamboyante et triplement fraternelle… Mais… Au fin fond de notre petit cœur de pauvres enfants de la patrie germe un soupçon de pitié… et là, « dans cette démarche pacifique »… plutôt que de “l’euNIuQUER”… Nous le recouvrons de notre étendard tricolore… et… sous le poids…Il s’effondre à terre en poussant un grand « han» !!! En effet, nous qui sommes, à cette soirée, depuis huit ans maintenant, {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 14 un beau matador Andalou, nous qui sommes…Un « belle HIDALGO »… « Dans la joie et la PECRESSE », pour sortir de “ce CASTETS”… Nous allons lui GUILLOTINER les oreilles… et la queue… !!! …ALOUETTE…!!! ” https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577706608584&locale=fr_FR https://x.com/Sebast_Peretti/status/1938923946285416510 https://www.linkedin.com/posts/s%C3%A9bastien-peretti-de-belgamor-74559b207_le-front- republicain-a-le-plaisir-de-vous-activity-7344422482617004032-hPCV/? utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm= ACoAADSXE2UBDT_ilT5dEfHrDvrXaBKpdRejCIA Comment le RN a perdu l'assemblée - LEGISLATIVE 2024. Campagne 2024: 5 et 6 Juillet... 400 000 Destinataires... - FRONT Républicain 14 Juillet 2024 : Lettre ouverte au Lieutenant Jean-Marie LE PEN du 1er Régiment Etranger de Parachutiste. - FRONT Républicain https://www.pagesjaunes.fr/pros/64045646 Bien à vous, Capitaine (OMD) - Comte Sébastien PERETTI De Belgamor. Ancien Soldat de la LÉGION ÉTRANGÈRE - Infirmier. Président (Provisoire) du FRONT Républicain. pres.prov@frontrepublicain.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/s%C3%A9bastien-peretti-de-belgamor-74559b207/ 16 rue Cadet 75009 Paris - 00 33 1 85 09 52 82 - 00 33 6 52 71 83 38 https://20252027frontrepublicain.org/ {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 15 {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 16 From:Aram James To:Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Jeff Rosen; JayBoyarsky; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Lauing, Ed; Veenker, Vicki; Lythcott-Haims, Julie;Gennady Sheyner; Reckdahl, Keith; Gardener, Liz; Vara Ramakrishnan; Josh Becker; Dave Price;jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; EPA Today; Linda Jolley; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; SupervisorSusan Ellenberg; Bill Newell; BoardOperations; Human Relations Commission; Rodriguez, Miguel; DianaDiamond; city.council@menlopark.gov; Nash, Betsy; chuck jagoda; Gerry Gras; DuJuan Green; dennis burns;The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; Marty Wasserman; Dana St. George; Don Austin; yolanda; Yolanda Conaway;Dennis Upton; board@valleywater.org; board@pausd.org; Palo Alto Free Press; Binder, Andrew; Cait James; TimJames; Marina Lopez; Foley, Michael; Lori Meyers; Burt, Patrick; Tom DuBois; Holman, Karen (external);Raymond Goins; GRP-City Council; Sean Allen; Salem Ajluni; John Burt; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>;Zelkha, Mila; Patrice Ventresca; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Pat M; Sheree Roth; Braden Cartwright;Councilmember Chappie Jones; District2@sanjoseca.gov; District3@sanjoseca.gov; District10@sanjoseca.gov;District9@sanjoseca.gov; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Afanasiev, Alex; cromero@cityofepa.org; Lee,Craig; Cribbs, Anne; Templeton, Cari; Perron, Zachary; Steve Wagstaffe; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Drekmeier,Peter; Penni Wilson; Yolanda trevino; Mickie Winkler; Damon Silver; Donna Wallach;Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Bryan Gobin; Rose Lynn; h.etzko@gmail.com; EdLauing; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Baker, Rob; Roberta Ahlquist; Rowena Chiu Subject:Re: Watch "Why a former pro-Israel American Jew changed her mind | AJ #shorts" on YouTube Date:Saturday, June 28, 2025 9:43:07 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. “ The indoctrination is so severe its heart breaking.” On Sat, Jun 28, 2025 at 12:31 AM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:https://youtube.com/shorts/d2KIpgzZ5bI?si=fX1gUtkfHWXjKMKR {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 17 From:Liz Gardner To:Aram James Cc:Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Lauing, Ed; Veenker, Vicki; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Gennady Sheyner; Reckdahl, Keith; Vara Ramakrishnan; Josh Becker; Dave Price; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; EPA Today; Linda Jolley; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Bill Newell; BoardOperations; Human Relations Commission; Rodriguez, Miguel; Diana Diamond; city.council@menlopark.gov; Nash, Betsy; chuck jagoda; Gerry Gras; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; Marty Wasserman; Dana St. George; Don Austin; yolanda; Yolanda Conaway; Dennis Upton; board@valleywater.org; board@pausd.org; Palo Alto Free Press; Binder, Andrew; Cait James; Tim James; Marina Lopez; Foley, Michael; Lori Meyers; Burt, Patrick; Tom DuBois; Holman, Karen (external); Raymond Goins; GRP- City Council Subject:Re: Watch "Why a former pro-Israel American Jew changed her mind | AJ #shorts" on YouTube Date:Saturday, June 28, 2025 8:09:10 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i This is a really good, approachable look at how as humans we get snared into cult like worship followings. On Saturday, June 28, 2025, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:https://youtube.com/shorts/d2KIpgzZ5bI?si=fX1gUtkfHWXjKMKR -- Liz Gardner This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first mail to some recipients. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 18 From:Aram James To:Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Jeff Rosen; JayBoyarsky; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Lauing, Ed; Veenker, Vicki; Lythcott-Haims, Julie;Gennady Sheyner; Reckdahl, Keith; Gardener, Liz; Vara Ramakrishnan; Josh Becker; Dave Price;jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; EPA Today; Linda Jolley; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; SupervisorSusan Ellenberg; Bill Newell; BoardOperations; Human Relations Commission; Rodriguez, Miguel; DianaDiamond; city.council@menlopark.gov; Nash, Betsy; chuck jagoda; Gerry Gras; DuJuan Green; dennis burns;The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; Marty Wasserman; Dana St. George; Don Austin; yolanda; Yolanda Conaway;Dennis Upton; board@valleywater.org; board@pausd.org; Palo Alto Free Press; Binder, Andrew; Cait James; TimJames; Marina Lopez; Foley, Michael; Lori Meyers; Burt, Patrick; Tom DuBois; Holman, Karen (external);Raymond Goins; GRP-City Council Subject:Watch "Why a former pro-Israel American Jew changed her mind | AJ #shorts" on YouTube Date:Saturday, June 28, 2025 12:31:43 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. https://youtube.com/shorts/d2KIpgzZ5bI?si=fX1gUtkfHWXjKMKR {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 19 From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki Cc:Lotus Fong; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Council, City; h.etzko@gmail.com; Nash, Betsy; Human Relations Commission Subject:Re: Leonard Peltier’s Story Isn’t Over Yet Date:Friday, June 27, 2025 9:50:55 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. On Thu, Jun 26, 2025 at 10:30 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:Vicki, I am disappointed that you have not spoken out against the genocide in Palestine. I hope you are enjoying your vacation in some far-off place that you will proudly share with otherswhen you return to your council work, all the while 50 to 100 Palestinians are being executed daily by the Israeli Occupation Forces as they seek food at fake aid stations. Ihaven't sent you my book list yet, but it will be on its way soon. Aram Leonard Peltier’s Story Isn’t Over Yet | The New Yorker They’re doing it again. Look at what’s happening in Palestine: they are murdering women, children, and babies. I want that story told alongside my own. My goal is to share whathappened to me in the courtroom. If I had been allowed to present my defense, I would have never gone to prison. I want the world to know what they did to me and that they are stillcommitting such acts in America. https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-new-yorker-interview/leonard-peltiers-story-isnt- over-yet {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 20 From:Aram James To:Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky Cc:Reckdahl, Keith; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Lauing, Ed; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Cait James; Tim James; Nash, Betsy; dcombs@menlopark.gov; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Sean Allen; Pat M; Rose Lynn; sharon jackson; Carla Torres; Tom DuBois; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Binder, Andrew; Daniel Kottke; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Lotus Fong; Linda Jolley; Salem Ajluni; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Damon Silver; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Don Austin; Rowena Chiu; Sheree Roth; Ed Lauing; Lori Meyers; Friends of Cubberley; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Rodriguez, Miguel; Vicki Veenker; Veenker, Vicki; Patrice Ventresca; Burt, Patrick; Gennady Sheyner; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Jasso, Tamara; Reifschneider, James; jsylva@da.sccgov.org; h.etzko@gmail.com; Benita Ventresca; Raymond Goins; GRP-City Council; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Foley, Michael; Emily Mibach; Yolanda trevino; Council, City; city.council@menlopark.gov; Perron, Zachary; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Steve Wagstaffe; Human Relations Commission; Doug Minkler Subject:Ireland"s commitment to the prohibition on imports from Israeli settlements came after the International Court ofJustice delivered its Advisory Opinion on 19 J… Date:Thursday, June 26, 2025 7:10:28 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Ireland becomes first European country to introduce ban on trade, imports from Israeli settlements Ireland's commitment to the prohibition on imports from Israeli settlements came after theInternational Court of Justice delivered its Advisory Opinion on 19 J… Source: The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com https://share.google/6UADV2haNEhTkGqqX {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 21 From:Aram James To:Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader forCalifornia Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Josh Becker; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org;BoardOperations; Marty Wasserman; h.etzko@gmail.com; Council, City; Lauing, Ed; Reckdahl, Keith; JeffHayden; planning.commision@cityofpaloalto.org; ParkRec Commission; GRP-City Council; Nash, Betsy;dcombs@menlopark.gov; city.council@menlopark.gov; Friends of Cubberley; Sheree Roth; Lori Meyers; SeanAllen; Bill Newell; Pat M; Rose Lynn; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Linda Jolley; John Burt; Zelkha, Mila; MickieWinkler; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov;jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Human Relations Commission; Dave Price; Emily Chapman; Braden Cartwright;EPA Today; Diana Diamond; Doug Minkler; Emily Mibach Subject:NYTimes: Mamdani’s Success Spotlights a Deepening Rupture Among U.S. Jews Date:Wednesday, June 25, 2025 10:12:56 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s success in the city with the largest Jewish population in theworld offered the starkest evidence yet that outspoken opposition to Israel and its government — and even questioning its existence as a Jewish state — is increasingly acceptable to broaderswaths of the party, even in areas where pro-Israel Jews have long been a bedrock part of the Democratic coalition. NYTimes: Mamdani’s Success Spotlights a Deepening Rupture Among U.S. Jews https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/us/politics/zohran-mamdani-jewish-voters.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 22 From:Aram James To:Binder, Andrew; Council, City; Sean Allen; Enberg, Nicholas; Barberini, Christopher; Perron, Zachary;Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Afanasiev, Alex; h.etzko@gmail.com; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leaderfor California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Vicki Veenker; Reckdahl, Keith;Baker, Rob; roberta ahlquist; Robert. Jonsen; Gardener, Liz; Raymond Goins; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; BradenCartwright; cromero@cityofepa.org; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Human Relations Commission; Supervisor SusanEllenberg; board@pausd.org; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; Bill Newell; Steve Wagstaffe; GRP-City Council; GRP-City Clerk; Mickie Winkler; Rowena Chiu; Rodriguez, Miguel; Damon Silver; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto;Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Dana St. George; Sheree Roth; Gerry Gras; Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric; Foley,Michael; Pat M; Jeff Rosen; Rose Lynn; Friends of Cubberley; Palo Alto Free Press; Holman, Karen (external);Tom DuBois; Salem Ajluni; San José Spotlight; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Diana Diamond; EPA Today; Bains,Paul; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Nash, Betsy; dcombs@menlopark.gov;city.council@menlopark.gov; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Clerk, City; City Attorney; Nicole Chiu-Wang; JoshBecker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca Subject:Officer Sentenced To 7 Years In Prison After Setting K-9 On Cyclist, Faking College Degree Date:Wednesday, June 25, 2025 5:34:27 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Officer Sentenced To 7 Years In Prison After Setting K-9 On Cyclist, Faking College Degree Police Officer Sentenced To 7 Years In Federal Prison After Setting K-9 On Bicyclist, FakingCollege Degree | Concord, CA Patch https://patch.com/california/concord-ca/police-officer-sentenced-7-years-federal-prison-after-setting-k-9-bicyclist {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 23 From:Aram James To:Jeff Rosen Cc:Jay Boyarsky; Gennady Sheyner; Council, City; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Gardener, Liz; Noel Sanborn; Lotus Fong; Roberta Ahlquist; San José Spotlight; Salem Ajluni; Sean Allen; Pat M; board@pausd.org; BoardOperations; board@valleywater.org; Yolanda Conaway; Emily Mibach; Dana St. George; Gerry Gras; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Doug Minkler; Zelkha, Mila; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; sharon jackson; Rose Lynn; Karen Holman; Drekmeier, Peter; Veenker, Vicki; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Raymond Goins; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Dave Price; editor@paweekly.com; Lauing, Ed; Reckdahl, Keith; Perron, Zachary; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Human Relations Commission; Friends of Cubberley; Burt, Patrick; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; h.etzko@gmail.com; Sameena Usman; Robert Salonga; Raj Jayadev; chuck jagoda; Charlotte Casey; Rodriguez, Miguel; Daniel Barton; Don Austin; yolanda; Diana Diamond; Dennis Upton; Bill Newell; Tom DuBois; Hans-Peter Tiemann; Nious, Kevin (NBCUniversal); Binder, Andrew; Robert Handa; Reifschneider, James; Barberini, Christopher; city.council@menlopark.gov; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Clerk, City; Palo Alto Free Press; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Baker, Rob; Jay Boyarsky; EPA Today; cromero@cityofepa.org; Cribbs, Anne; Angel, David; Templeton, Cari; Braden Cartwright; Ed Lauing; Shikada, Ed; Stump, Molly; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Roberta Ahlquist; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Linda Jolley; Tim James; Marina Lopez; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Foley, Michael; Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric; Afanasiev, Alex; Lee, Craig; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Rowena Chiu; Patrice Ventresca; Damon Silver; Steve Wagstaffe; Anna Griffin; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; John Burt; henry etzkowitz; Gennady Sheyner; Henry Riggs; Rowena Chiu; raj@siliconvalleyde-bug.org; roberta ahlquist Subject:Re: Should DA Jeff Rosen recuse his office from the Stanford 12 Case?You be the judge? Date:Monday, June 23, 2025 10:30:00 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. June 23, 2025 Hi Jeff, I still wish to discuss the recusal issue with you when you have a free minute. You might wantto add to the mix your visit to Israel in January 2024, where you apparently spent time mixing it up with the IDF ( Israeli Military). I know you have a strong affinity for Israel and that is absolutely your right. But after reading the linked material at the bottom of this letter it becomes beyond dispute that it would be extremely problematic if your office did not seriously consider recusal in this matter. Best regards, Aram On Tue, Jun 3, 2025 at 10:09 AM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Jeff, Aram here. I hope you and your family are doing well. I will write more later. Given your long history of advocacy for the State of Israel, your Israeli citizenship, yourrecent handshake with Bibi, and your apparent antipathy towards the Palestinian people and their struggle for liberation, I believe it would be wise for you to recuse yourself and youroffice from the Stanford 12 Case. The optics of this situation are problematic for you. I agree with you that non-violent protest is protected by the First Amendment, and I also {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 24 recognize that vandalism can be a crime. However, when property damage occurs, even if itis substantial, to prevent a greater crime—such as genocide or the destruction of a culture— this vandalism may be excused. We can certainly debate this matter, but I believe you are anhonorable person, and with a bit of self-reflection, you will do the right thing. Please feel free to call me at any time to discuss this most critical matter. Best regards, Aram James P.S. Please correct me if I have any factual inaccuracies. If you are not an Israeli citizen,please inform me. Additionally, if you did not shake Bibi's hand during his recent visit to the Bay Area, kindly clarify that as well. “We felt like we couldn’t be anywhere else,” shared Hausner alumna Rachel Rosen (Classof 2013) in describing her family’s visit to Israel in January. Best regards, Aram https://share.google/9SlM3r4qyrVkmyA4W {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 25 From:Tim Sheeper To:Deborah Goldeen Cc:Jerome Barclay; Human Relations Commission Subject:Re: All gender/ family changing room Date:Monday, June 23, 2025 5:51:08 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Deb, I am circling back to you on this message. I would like to inform you on the progress of this project. We are currently in the design phase of how to fit therequirements of a high functioning, highly useful family locker room into the current infrastructure of the venerableRinconada locker room and/or lifeguard room. Please know that we all want this project and are moving towards making this a reality for the Palo Alto aquaticcommunity. Best,Tim > On Jun 16, 2025, at 7:58 PM, Deborah Goldeen <palamino@pacbell.net> wrote:>> Tim - It summer and the women’s locker room is Bedlam! You’ve got the naked toddles, the stroller obstaclecourse, the preteen camp helpers locking themselves in the stalls to get their cell phone fix, lots of male childrenalong with the female children - ten or eleven and younger because their female caretakers don’t want them to gointo the men’s locker room without an adult, and then also your trans folks. Personally, I don’t mind this. We are allpacked in like sardines. I hate it when I get spray on sun screen sprayed in my face. It takes twice as long to showerand get dressed. But it can also be hilarious, like when some random five year-old decides it’s the perfect time andplace to tell you her life story. But I expect I am the exception.>> It’s my understanding that the city has promised to build an all gender/ family changing locker room. Forwhatever good it did, I spoke to the council about this during public comments tonight. The entity that should betaking this up with the city is Friends of Rinconada Pool. I’m supposedly on their email list/ list serve, but getnothing from them.There is no way to contact the owners of the list/ organizers. As far as I can tell, they are AWOL.The summer insanity in the women’s locker room creates any number of untenable situations for your staff on adaily basis. Are you aware of that? I watch that go down and I feel for them. The situation as it is, is awful for mostpatrons, a torment to your staff and, more importantly, fails to serve the needs of the trans community. If Friends ofRinconada Pool is going to serve it’s purpose and help get the city to build the promised third locker/dressing roomwithin the next couple years, rather than fifteen or twenty years from now, you will probably need to step in and seethat they hand the reins over to someone who is willing to actively manage the organization.>> Also, I suspect it may not have occurred to you that there is a lever in place in the city that can be used to get theball rolling a lot faster than it would get going otherwise. That lever is the Human Relations Commission. It is theirjob to see to it that persons or groups get the full benefit of city resources. If you are transgender and you want touse the pool, you most certainly do not get full benefit.>> One of the members of city council is the official liaison to that committee. I mentioned this when I spoke. I don’tknow who that person is. They aren’t listed on the HRC page. Hopefully whoever the liaison is will take this up withthe committee. As for myself, anytime the city wants to put its money where its mouth is, is fine by me.>> Take care - Deb {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 26 {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 27 From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki Cc:Council, City; Human Relations Commission; Gerry Gras; h.etzko@gmail.com; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Nash, Betsy; dcombs@menlopark.gov Subject:Here are my notes from the June 17, 2025 Palo Alto City Council meeting . Date:Monday, June 23, 2025 8:16:27 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Hi Vicki, (Palo Alto Vice Mayor Vicky Veenker) Here are my notes from the June 17, 2025 Palo Alto City Council meeting . I will have the promised- Summer City Council break reading list to you soon. Regards, Aram “Ran into a buzz saw-blues” Dedicated to my brother man-the-popular shout-downartist known only as ‘’The Zionist” - who performed here live in chambers lastnight ( June 16, 2025). Seriously I’ve never seen the gentleman who yelled out during my talk before ( June 16, 2025) I had no idea what his politics were until he apparently went of script during his own oral communication (suppose to be on housing) – and plead guilty ascharged –right here in chambers- to being a war mongering (take out Iran) kindof Zionist. His behavior was right out of his synagogue training…(which is) never ever allowanyone to criticize, even in the gentlest form –in the softest fashion –the state ofIsrael. This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 28 I suspect that the White Supremacist Zionist gentleman was actually responding tothe cult like training he received since he first stepped into a Zionist synagogue as a small child. His pro-Israel training has been pounded into his brain, his psyche, like a hammer’s blow, before for he was ever given a chance to think for himself. Censorship on all things critical of Israel becomes an automatic responsewith no self-reflection allowed. Vicky, on summer break I recommend you watch, the film, the documentary, Israelism, produced by two young American Jewish Filmmakersabout what they went through in Zionist leaning k-12 schools and later incollegewhile associated with Hillel the white wing Zionist anti-Palestinian hate group-organization omnipresent on college campuses. An organization that continues the Zionist brainwashing when Israel loving Jewish students go away to college. These two American Jewish filmmakers—one who served in the IDF (Israel Military) went through a transformation of sort a deprograming and realized they had been sold a pack of lies re the true nature of the terrorist state of Israel. True to form a number of the pro-Israel crowd-lobbies attempted to remove censor the film on college campuses and other venues. Vicky, I will be giving you your summer vacation reading assignment in a follow- up email. ( Mayor Ed you might want to read some of the books as well) I’ll start with recommending you read some books by prominent Israeli scholar and historian ILan Pappe , with some brief notes on my reasoning for suggesting you read his books. I will include some other authors on the list of recommended readings as well. Avram {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 29 From:Aram James To:h.etzko@gmail.com; Marty Wasserman; Dave Price; Council, City; GRP-City Council; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto;Roberta Ahlquist; Braden Cartwright; Friends of Cubberley; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for CaliforniaDemocratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; John Burt; dcombs@menlopark.gov; Nash, Betsy;city.council@menlopark.gov; Perron, Zachary; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Holman, Karen (external);Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Linda Jolley; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Josh Becker; EPA Today;Foley, Michael; Palo Alto Free Press; Tom DuBois; GRP-City Clerk; Bill Newell; Salem Ajluni; Zelkha, Mila; HumanRelations Commission; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Patrice Ventresca; Pat M;Sean Allen; Sameena@Secure-Justice.org; Raymond Goins; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org;BoardOperations; Lotus Fong Subject:https://url.usb.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/jivLCjAw2Rcj6OBrtWfLhmVN2U?domain=fb.watch Date:Sunday, June 22, 2025 8:58:46 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. https://fb.watch/AoygPpF6a7/?mibextid=wwXIfr&fs=e {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 30 From:Eden Housing To:Human Relations Commission Subject:Eden celebrates Affordable Housing Month with successful events; announces inclusion on key industry lists and aninternational award win for Solaire Apartments Date:Friday, June 20, 2025 10:20:02 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. i View on web This message needs your attention You've never replied to this person. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 31 “It’s the moments that I get to interact with the seniors who live at Warner Creek…It’s all about (helping) these special people.” - Victoria Sandvig, recipient of the Eden Friend Award As we wrap up Affordable Housing Month, I want to thank our partners, team members and supporters for their continued dedication to creating stronger and safer communities. And our momentum didn’t stop there, as we hosted the grand opening of La Avenida apartments to celebrate NeighborWorks Week, where we joined with organizations across the country to recognize the power of community. It’s also an ideal time to thank NeighborWorks America for their recent grant to help us advance our work. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 32 In that spirit, we are now beginning efforts to raise support for a $10 billion bond measure that will be on the June 2026 ballot to provide a critical infusion to California’s affordable housing program. Eden’s roots are in ballot initiatives, when a group of community activists came together to support a statewide initiative in 1968. While that first effort failed, our group of founders persevered, and today we are a strong voice for safe and affordable housing and excited about the prospect of this initiative. In this edition, we highlight our Affordable Housing Month celebrations, including the groundbreaking of Regional Street Apartments and the grand opening of Crescent Grove. We’re deeply grateful to our invaluable partners whose support makes these high-quality communities possible. We also have more information on our inclusion on noted industry lists and are honored that Solaire Apartments recently won the Architizer A+ Award for Popular Choice in Architecture +Health, an international award acknowledging this impressive project. In addition, as part of our 2025 Volunteer Appreciation Awards, we honored the incredible individuals who help make our mission possible—including Mayor Fred Keeley, a staunch supporter of affordable housing and the recipient of our “Civic Leader” award. We are deeply grateful for Mayor Keeley’s leadership and advocacy in Santa Cruz, where Eden is actively advancing several affordable housing projects. We also extend our appreciation to all our award recipients—each of whom plays a vital role in supporting our mission. You can learn more about their contributions by visiting our Facebook page. And while we are deeply grateful to our volunteers, our staff also works tirelessly day in and day out to support our mission. I’d like to extend our appreciation to Tom White, Director of Building Performance and Sustainability, who after nearly 10 years at Eden Housing is retiring. He was awarded with the Eden Housing Lifetime Achievement award (our first ever!), for the monumental work he has done for the organization. As the leader of our sustainability program, no one has done more to contribute than Tom to these environmental efforts we are so committed to. I sincerely thank him for his years of service at Eden – he will be greatly missed! Lastly, congratulations to our board member Sheila Burks for being conferred an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Cal State East Bay for her long-time work in developing and advocating for policies and practices that address the root cause of hunger. We couldn’t think of a more well-deserved honor. As always, we appreciate your continued support and partnership and wish you a relaxing start to summer. Linda Mandolini, President & CEO of Eden Housing EDEN HOUSING UPDATES Mayor Fred Keeley Brings Consensus-Driven Leadership (and Affordable Housing) to Santa Cruz {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 33 Fred Keeley, Mayor of the City of Santa Cruz, has dedicated his life to public service, starting right out of college campaigning for a friend. His prolific career has included countless noteworthy successes, all of which he obtained by looking at issues through a community-oriented and consensus-building prism. Today,he has brought that collaborative spirit to the City of Santa Cruz, where he recently mobilized amplesupport for the Workforce Housing Affordability Act, which will raise approximately $5 million annually to increase the supply of workforce housing in Santa Cruz. Read More about Mayor Keeley Celebrating Affordable Housing Month Eden Housing had the privilege of celebrating Affordable Housing Month alongside many of its partners at the local, state and federal levels. As part of these celebrations, Eden hosted two milestone events that {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 34 reflect its ongoing commitment to providing safe and stable housing solutions across the Bay Area. In Dublin, Eden broke ground on Regional Street Apartments, a thoughtfully designed 113-unit affordablehousing community for seniors. The development will offer 55 studios, 57 one-bedroom apartments, andone manager’s unit for older adults earning between 20% and 50% of the Alameda County area median income. Notably, 34 of the homes will be reserved for formerly homeless individuals, who will also receive tailored supportive services. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 35 In Castro Valley, Eden marked the grand opening of Crescent Grove, a new 72-unit affordable housing community offering a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments for households earning between 20% and 60% of the area median income. The community addresses a wide range of housingneeds, with 18 units dedicated to individuals and families who have experienced homelessness, 15 homesreserved for veterans, and 10 units for people with disabilities supported by the Regional Center of the East Bay. Solaire Apartments Honored as Architizer A+ Award for Popular Choice in Architecture +Health We are proud to announce that Eden Housing’s Solaire Apartments, in conjunction with Architects FORA,was selected as a winner in this year’s prestigious international Architizer A+Award competition. The Architizer A+Awards is the largest awards program focused on promoting and celebrating the year’s best architecture, with a mission is to nurture the appreciation of meaningful design in the world and champion its potential for a positive impact on everyday life. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 36 The Solaire Apartments is a 130-unit affordable housing development in San Jose that features 64permanent supportive housing units for individuals and families experiencing homelessness or who are atrisk of experiencing homelessness. The transit-oriented development, located near Diridon Station, includes a number of wellness features, including a stunning outdoor space and a fitness/yoga studio. Sustainable features include all electric utility service with no gas infrastructure installed, a solar photovoltaics system and EV charging stations. “At Eden Housing, we believe that good design is paramount to enhancing our residents’ lives,” said Linda Mandolini, President and CEO of Eden Housing. “This award is a testament to our team’s dedication to excellence and validates our commitment to delivering exception design in every project as we aim to set a new standard for affordable housing.” Eden Housing Publishes Greenhouse Gas Reduction Assessments Report with Support from Enterprise Communities and HUD {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 37 Eden Housing recently completed more than 30 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) assessments of its properties. This effort was made possible through $200,000 in funding support from the Wells Fargo Foundation and a $50,000HUD Section 4 Capacity Building grant administered byEnterprise Community Partners. Lessons learned from these assessments are summarized in a new report, Moving Toward a Carbon-Free Future for Multifamily Housing, published by Eden Housing andavailable on its website. The assessed properties were identified as the highest GHG emitters in an electrification roadmap of Eden Housing’s portfolio, developed by the Association for Energy Affordability (AEA). Eden used theEPA’s ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® to track andanalyze carbon emissions from each property. By completing multiple assessments in a short period, Eden was able to identify commonalities and patterns, group property types with similar decarbonization approaches,and plan how to align retrofits and major rehabs with thelifecycle of the buildings to optimize funding and maximize benefits. Read the Report Eden Housing Receives NeighborWorks America Grant to Invest in Community Development and Affordable Housing Eden is proud to announce it has received a $57,000 grant from NeighborWorks America to support our projects in California. This investment arrives at a critical time, as communitiesacross the country face continued economic uncertainty and persistent housing shortages. The grant will allow our organization to help provide much-needed stability and opportunity for residents. Learn More about the Grant {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 38 Eden Housing Honors Contributions During Annual Volunteer Appreciation Awards Eden Housing is proud to recognize the invaluable contributions of volunteers who help bring our mission to life. Celebrated during National Volunteer Week, this moment honors the spirit of service that has been part of Eden’s story from the very beginning—founded by a small group of volunteers more than 55 yearsago. Today, our work continues to be powered by the dedication of individuals who live in our communitiesand by partners and supporters who give their time and talent to help residents thrive. To celebrate this legacy, we are thrilled to announce the recipients of this year’s Eden Housing Volunteer Appreciation Awards: Fred Keeley, Mayor of the City of Santa Cruz –Civic Leader Award Cheryl O’Connor– Foundation AwardJoyce Bello– Good Neighbor AwardDolores Campbell– Good Neighbor Award Victoria Sandvig– Eden Friend Award Hina– Economic Empowerment Award {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 39 Adobe – Strategic Partner Award We are deeply grateful to each of these individuals and organizations for their extraordinary commitment to Eden’s residents and mission. Their efforts remind us that building community is truly a collective endeavor—and one made stronger through volunteerism. Meet This Year Volunteer Appreciation Award's Recipients A Legacy of Volunteerism At Eden Housing, supporting the community is woven into everything we do. While our core mission is to provide safe and affordable housing, we understand many of our neighbors face additional challenges, such as food insecurity. That’s why we’re proud of our team members who recently went above and beyond {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 40 their daily roles to lend a hand and a heart at the Alameda County Community Food Bank and Habitat forHumanity East Bay/Silicon Valley. From sorting food to building homes, we’re taking action to address critical needs in our communities. In 2024 alone, 50 Eden staff members dedicated 239 volunteer hours to these efforts, continuing a legacy of service that began more than 55 years ago. Eden Housing Ranks as One of the Country’s Largest Affordable Housing Organizations Eden Housing was named by the National Affordable Housing Management Association (NAHMA) to the NAHMA Affordable 100, which comprises the largest affordable multifamily property management companies, ranked bythe number of subsidized units. According to theorganization, this list plays a vital role in contributing data to the ongoing national dialogue on the future of federal funding for affordable housing. The annual list enumerates affordable units containing at least one of the followingfederal subsidies: HUD Project-based Assistance (Project-based Section 8, Section 202 and Section 811), Section 42 LIHTC, HOME and CDBG funds, USDA Sections 515 and 538, or Bonds. We were proud to be included on Affordable HousingFinance’s lists of the Top 50 Affordable Housing Developers and Top 50 Owners of 2024. UPCOMING EVENTS Grand Opening: Casa Canal June 27 at 12:30 PM San Rafael, California {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 41 Grand Opening: Vista Verde July 25 at 12 PM Freedom, California Groundbreaking: Downtown Library August 20 at 12 PM Santa Cruz, California EDEN HOUSING IN THE NEWS Affordable Housing Opens At 22447 Ruby Street, Castro Valley Monterey County approves affordable housing project in Salinas NeighborWorks network organizations among Top 50 affordable housing developers Donate Today! {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 42 Eden Housing 22645 Grand StreetHayward, CA 94541 United States If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.Privacy Policy {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 43 From:Aram James To:Martin Wasserman Cc:Linda Jolley; Lotus Fong; h.etzko@gmail.com; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Doug Minkler; james pitkin; Roberta Ahlquist; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Veenker, Vicki; Veenker, Vicki; Salem Ajluni; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Council, City; GRP-City Council; Bill Newell; Dana St. George; Gerry Gras; city.council@menlopark.gov; Perron, Zachary; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Clerk, City; Bill Johnson; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Jessica Speiser; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Ruben Abrica; Sean Allen; Josh Becker; Rosen, Jeff; Jay Boyarsky; Vara Ramakrishnan; Raj Jayadev; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Human Relations Commission; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; DuJuan Green; Diana Diamond; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Rodriguez, Miguel; Foley, Michael; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; dennis burns; Tom DuBois; Holman, Karen (external); Palo Alto Free Press; Friends of Cubberley; Rose Lynn; Raymond Goins; sharon jackson; Damon Silver; Steve Wagstaffe; Figueroa, Eric; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Wagner, April; Rowena Chiu; James Quadra; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; paul@peaceandjustice.org; Ed Lauing; Vicki Veenker; Reckdahl, Keith; Lu, George; Ruth Silver Taube; Reifschneider, James Subject:Re: Israel"s lies Date:Thursday, June 19, 2025 9:25:53 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. **Date: 6/19/2025** Hi Martin, You are absolutely right. I will continue to do everything I can to advocate for the elimination of the illegitimate state of Israel and its ultimate return to the Palestinian people. Avram On Thu, Jun 19, 2025 at 9:02 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/23/arts/stephen-james-73-cold- war-peaceabd -advocate.html?unlocked_article_code=1.QU8.hvtH.ACi9- CR-pEVj&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare On Thu, Jun 19, 2025 at 8:42 PM Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:Hi Avram, Thanks for sharing your family background with me. It explains a lot. But your father'sobituary that you said was attached to the email wasn't there. Please send it because I'minterested in reading it. I would divide Jews into two main camps, what I call the Camp of Belief and the Camp ofDisbelief. A believer would say that God is real, His covenant with Israel is real, it'sapplicable to all generations of Jews, and if we fulfill the terms of the covenant we’ll beassured of great blessings, but if we rebel against it or refuse to follow it, we’ll besubjected to great calamities. A disbeliever would say that God doesn't exist, there's nocovenant, there's no need to obey any biblical laws, and everyone should do exactly asthey please. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 44 Since neither camp can prove its case empirically, belief or disbelief is largely a matter ofchoice. I've chosen the Camp of Belief, and you've obviously chosen the opposite camp.There's no reason why people in different camps can't get along. But when it's a questionof which camp will set national policy, the stakes become a lot higher. As a believer, I say that the Land of Israel is given to the Jews and to no other nation,although we have to live up to the covenant in order to keep it. But voluntarily givingaway any part of the land, or retreating from any part of it when not forced to do so, is anact of rebellion against the Almighty which will surely bring very bad results. We can seethis in Israel's disastrous evacuation of Jewish communities from Gaza in 2005 which leddirectly to the current war, which never would have happened if Israel has retained its gripon the land. I assume you'll disagree with everything I say because you disagree with my basicpremise. And that's OK. You're free to work against Israel, slander it, and try to undermineit any way you can. But I'm pretty sure all your efforts will be in vain, and Israel, with thehelp of God, will ultimately prevail over all of its adversaries and be the light unto thenations that it was created to be. Martin Wasserman On Jun 19, 2025, at 4:50 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Marty, You are correct! I’m dealing with what I can only describe as a mentaldisorder: extreme aversion to Zionism syndrome. If you're interested, you can check out the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) for a detailed explanation of the symptoms. By the way, I might have inherited this condition from my father, who was originally named Daniel Ben Ezra Fink but later changed it to Stephen DanielJames. He eventually became the founder and president of "Jews for Anti- Semitism." I've attached a copy of his obituary that was published in the NewYork Times in 1998. He was quite a contrarian Jew. He celebrated his bar mitzvah at age 13 under the condition set by my grandfather, Louis Byer Finkelstein (who was an early misguided Zionist)that if he completed the bar mitzvah obligations, he wouldn't have to enter a synagogue again. At 13, my dad was offended by my grandfather and hisfriends, who all claimed that Jews were the chosen people. In my dad's view, that belief was nonsense; he believed that either everyone or no one could beGod's chosen people. Marty, I have to say that my aversion to wacked out zionists seems to intensify, be triggered, every time you write your unaduultrated bullshit aboutthe rogue, illegitimate state of Israel. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 45 Avram “ No More Wacked Zionists” Finkelstein Avram, Every time I point out the falsity of your arguments, which is veryeasy to do, you never respond with evidence to try to prove me wrong. Instead, you just ignore it and refuse to engage. What this tells me is that you know your arguments are indefensible, and can’t stand up to honest scrutiny. You say you love Jewish people, but for the State of Israel, the largest concentration of Jews in the world, you express nothing but extreme hatred, probably related to your own self-hatred. Youadvocate that the entire Jewish population of Israel, over 7 millionpeople, be forcibly expelled from their homes, driven out of their ancestral homeland, and relocated to some far corner of the Earth, where they would still be expected to pay reparations to the Palestinians for the rest of their lives. It's hard for me to see this asanything other than an extreme form of anti-Semitism. The fact that you identify as Jewish makes it even harder to understand and seems to indicate some kind of mental disorder. Martin Wasserman On Jun 18, 2025, at 10:14 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Martin, Good try ! You are precisely the guy who refuses to speak the truth about Israel on any level. Thefalsehoods you and your ilk extreme white-wingZionist Jewish supremacists propagate are undoubtedly the reason antisemitism is in the rise worldwide. You pose an imminent danger to allJews. As I said before: you're NO friend of theJewish people. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 46 Avram “ A Self-Loving Jew to the Max” Finkelstein On Wed, Jun 18, 2025, at 9:35 PM, Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote: Avram, You seem to have two different standards for judging nations, a very harsh one for Israel and avery lenient one for all others. The fact is, almost allvery successful nations are established through bloodshed, domination, extermination, and ethnic cleansing. This is certainly true of Arab and Muslimnations, who carried out these policies against Israelright from the very beginning, although fortunately Israel was able to defend itself. Today, Hamas, which you bizarrely characterize as "freedom fighters,” continues to carry out an explicit policy ofbloodshed, domination, extermination, and ethnic cleansing of Jews, although with no more success than their predecessors. You say you despise anyone who carries out ethnic cleansing, yet that’s precisely what you advocate be done to the Jews of Israel. It seems that the traits you most despise in others are the very ones that youcarry within yourself. The phrase "self-hating" might be appropriate here. You say you love the Jewish community, but Ihaven't seen any evidence of that. You constantly spew libelous falsehoods against the world's only Jewish state, falsehoods so easily disproved that it's hard to imagine you actually believe them yourself.For example, if Israel is trying to exterminate the Palestinians, how do you explain the fact that there are so many more Palestinians living in Israel today that they were in 1948? Martin Wasserman {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 47 On Jun 18, 2025, at 7:03 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Martin, I love my Jewish community, but I also believe it’s fair to say that I despise any nation, including Israel, that was established through bloodshed, domination, extermination, and ethnic cleansing of another people. Israel fits this description to the letter. Any Jew who does not advocate for the dismantling of Israel is, in my view, contributing to anti-Semitism. Martin, I must say you are not a true friend to Jewish people. Avram “ Eliminate The State Of Israel” Finkelstein. On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 6:14 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Martin, I love my Jewish community, but I also believe it’s fair to say that I despise any nation, including Israel, that was established through bloodshed, domination, extermination, and ethnic cleansing of another people. Israel fits this description to the letter. Any Jew who does not advocate for the dismantling of Israel is, in my view, contributing to anti-Semitism. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 48 Martin, I must say you are not a true friend to Jewish people. Avram “ Eliminate The State Of Israel” Finkelstein. On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 2:51 PM MartinWasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:Avram, As someone who identifies as a Jew, theintensity of your animosity toward theJewish state strikes me as rather abnormal.I'm genuinely interested in how you gotthis way. Did you always hate Israel? Wasthere some incident in your life thattriggered the hatred? Have you everactually lived in Israel and experienced thepeople and culture firsthand? And last,here's a question that every Jew should beable to answer: do you believe in God? Martin Wasserman On Jun 17, 2025, at 9:43 PM,Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Marty, Israel is pursuing peace, myass, while simultaneouslythreatening with the barrel ofa shotgun to your head andhaving nuclear weapons onstandby. It is a militaristic andrelentlessly violent society,routinely targeting innocentwomen and children. You’reright, Marty: if I were incharge, I would relocate allIsraelis to Canada, with theland managed by IndigenousCanadians. Palestine would bereturned to the Palestinians, {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 49 and Israelis would payreparations to them to help rebuild their country for atleast the next 76 years. Avram “Israel is a dying state” Finkelstein On Tue, Jun 17, 2025, at 4:46PM, Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com>wrote: Avram, Time will tell which one ofus is telling the truth and which one is delusional. Thetruth is that Israel has always sought peace withthe Arabs, even going so far as to make major territorialconcessions in the hope of achieving it. But the Arableadership, including both Hamas and the PalestinianAuthority, have continued to oppose Israel's existenceand used every means at their disposal, both militaryand political, to try to destroy it. Also, if you think genocideis evil, why do you not condemn Hamas, whoseofficial charter explicitly calls for the death of everyJew on earth, rather than characterizing them as“freedom fighters”? I believe you've also called for the "ethnic cleansing" ofJews from Israel, saying that they should be forced toreturn to their countries of origin. But Israel IS theircountry of origin, a fact you seem unable to grasp. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 50 Martin Wasserman On Jun 17, 2025, at12:37 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Martin, It appears thatyou are trapped in a delusionaldrug-like trance,believing that Israel is notthe aggressive, war-mongering,and genocidal entity that therest of the world clearlysees and condemns. Avram “ One State Solution!”Finkelstein On Tue, Jun 17,2025, at 9:54 AM, MartinWasserman <deeperlook@aol.com>wrote: The driving force of the Israeli-Arab conflict has been therefusal of Arab leaders to accept the {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 51 restoration of the ancient Jewish nation in theland of its birth, an event explicitlyforetold by the Almighty many years ago. Whenthe Jews returned to the Holy Land, theydid not come with malice toward theArabs, but Arab leaders had plenty of malicetoward them. They waged war to preventIsrael from being established but weredefeated. Nevertheless, they never gave uptheir hope of destroying the Jewish state andcontinued to fight it in one way or another, bringing more disaster {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 52 upon their own people every step of the way. Thesuffering of the Palestinians today isentirely self- inflicted. They chose the path ofwar rather than peace and continue topay the consequences. MartinWasserman OnJun16,2025,at9:25 PM,AramJames<abjpd1@gmail.com>wrote: HiLinda, Excellentjob!Thanksforbeingatruthteller.Aram {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 53 OnMon, Jun16, 2025at 9:18 PMLinda Jolley<lindajolley9@yahoo.com> wrote: It should be enough that Amnesty International and many other sources have detailed Israel's aggressiion over many decades. But if that is not enough then I am old enough to report what I heard first- hand. I can remember continual radio reports of giant {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 54 camps of Palestinianrefugeesindesperateconditionafterbeingdrivenofftheirlands. Also,Ihadafirst-handreportfromawomanwhosaidherparentswerePalestinianswhenIsraeliscamestormingintotheirvillage: "Theyseizedourhomesandourgasstationthatsupportedourfamily,"shesaid. Mr.Wasserman,youarealiar. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 55 God will notsupportyouandyourilk. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 56 From:Aram James To:Martin Wasserman Cc:Linda Jolley; Lotus Fong; h.etzko@gmail.com; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Doug Minkler; james pitkin; Roberta Ahlquist; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Veenker, Vicki; Veenker, Vicki; Salem Ajluni; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Council, City; GRP-City Council; Bill Newell; Dana St. George; Gerry Gras; city.council@menlopark.gov; Perron, Zachary; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Clerk, City; Bill Johnson; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Jessica Speiser; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Ruben Abrica; Sean Allen; Josh Becker; Rosen, Jeff; Jay Boyarsky; Vara Ramakrishnan; Raj Jayadev; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Human Relations Commission; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; DuJuan Green; Diana Diamond; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Rodriguez, Miguel; Foley, Michael; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; dennis burns; Tom DuBois; Holman, Karen (external); Palo Alto Free Press; Friends of Cubberley; Rose Lynn; Raymond Goins; sharon jackson; Damon Silver; Steve Wagstaffe; Figueroa, Eric; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Wagner, April; Rowena Chiu; James Quadra; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; paul@peaceandjustice.org; Ed Lauing; Vicki Veenker; Reckdahl, Keith; Lu, George; Ruth Silver Taube; Reifschneider, James Subject:Re: Israel"s lies Date:Thursday, June 19, 2025 9:03:30 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. https://www.nytimes.com/1998/02/23/arts/stephen-james-73-cold-war- peace-advocate.html?unlocked_article_code=1.QU8.hvtH.ACi9-CR- pEVj&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare On Thu, Jun 19, 2025 at 8:42 PM Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:Hi Avram, Thanks for sharing your family background with me. It explains a lot. But your father'sobituary that you said was attached to the email wasn't there. Please send it because I'minterested in reading it. I would divide Jews into two main camps, what I call the Camp of Belief and the Camp ofDisbelief. A believer would say that God is real, His covenant with Israel is real, it'sapplicable to all generations of Jews, and if we fulfill the terms of the covenant we’ll beassured of great blessings, but if we rebel against it or refuse to follow it, we’ll be subjectedto great calamities. A disbeliever would say that God doesn't exist, there's no covenant,there's no need to obey any biblical laws, and everyone should do exactly as they please. Since neither camp can prove its case empirically, belief or disbelief is largely a matter ofchoice. I've chosen the Camp of Belief, and you've obviously chosen the opposite camp.There's no reason why people in different camps can't get along. But when it's a question ofwhich camp will set national policy, the stakes become a lot higher. As a believer, I say that the Land of Israel is given to the Jews and to no other nation,although we have to live up to the covenant in order to keep it. But voluntarily giving awayany part of the land, or retreating from any part of it when not forced to do so, is an act ofrebellion against the Almighty which will surely bring very bad results. We can see this inIsrael's disastrous evacuation of Jewish communities from Gaza in 2005 which led directlyto the current war, which never would have happened if Israel has retained its grip on theland. I assume you'll disagree with everything I say because you disagree with my basic premise. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 57 And that's OK. You're free to work against Israel, slander it, and try to undermine it any wayyou can. But I'm pretty sure all your efforts will be in vain, and Israel, with the help of God, will ultimately prevail over all of its adversaries and be the light unto the nations that it wascreated to be. Martin Wasserman On Jun 19, 2025, at 4:50 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Marty, You are correct! I’m dealing with what I can only describe as a mental disorder: extreme aversion to Zionism syndrome. If you're interested, you can check out the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) for a detailed explanation of the symptoms. By the way, I might have inherited this condition from my father, who wasoriginally named Daniel Ben Ezra Fink but later changed it to Stephen DanielJames. He eventually became the founder and president of "Jews for Anti-Semitism." I've attached a copy of his obituary that was published in the NewYork Times in 1998. He was quite a contrarian Jew. He celebrated his bar mitzvah at age 13 under the condition set by mygrandfather, Louis Byer Finkelstein (who was an early misguided Zionist) thatif he completed the bar mitzvah obligations, he wouldn't have to enter asynagogue again. At 13, my dad was offended by my grandfather and hisfriends, who all claimed that Jews were the chosen people. In my dad's view,that belief was nonsense; he believed that either everyone or no one could beGod's chosen people. Marty, I have to say that my aversion to wacked out zionists seems to intensify,be triggered, every time you write your unaduultrated bullshit about the rogue,illegitimate state of Israel. Avram “ No More Wacked Zionists” Finkelstein Avram, Every time I point out the falsity of your arguments, which is very easy to do, you never respond with evidence to try to prove mewrong. Instead, you just ignore it and refuse to engage. What thistells me is that you know your arguments are indefensible, and can’t stand up to honest scrutiny. You say you love Jewish people, but for the State of Israel, the {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 58 largest concentration of Jews in the world, you express nothing butextreme hatred, probably related to your own self-hatred. You advocate that the entire Jewish population of Israel, over 7 million people, be forcibly expelled from their homes, driven out of their ancestral homeland, and relocated to some far corner of the Earth,where they would still be expected to pay reparations to thePalestinians for the rest of their lives. It's hard for me to see this as anything other than an extreme form of anti-Semitism. The fact that you identify as Jewish makes it even harder to understand and seemsto indicate some kind of mental disorder. Martin Wasserman On Jun 18, 2025, at 10:14 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Martin, Good try ! You are precisely the guy who refuses tospeak the truth about Israel on any level. The falsehoods you and your ilk extreme white-wing Zionist Jewish supremacists propagate are undoubtedly the reason antisemitism is in the riseworldwide. You pose an imminent danger to all Jews.As I said before: you're NO friend of the Jewish people. Avram “ A Self-Loving Jew to the Max” Finkelstein On Wed, Jun 18, 2025, at 9:35 PM, Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote: Avram, You seem to have two different standards for judging nations, a very harsh one for Israel and a very lenient {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 59 one for all others. The fact is, almost all verysuccessful nations are established through bloodshed, domination, extermination, and ethnic cleansing. This is certainly true of Arab and Muslim nations, who carried out these policies against Israel right from thevery beginning, although fortunately Israel was able todefend itself. Today, Hamas, which you bizarrely characterize as "freedom fighters,” continues to carry out an explicit policy of bloodshed, domination,extermination, and ethnic cleansing of Jews, althoughwith no more success than their predecessors. You say you despise anyone who carries out ethnic cleansing, yet that’s precisely what you advocate bedone to the Jews of Israel. It seems that the traits you most despise in others are the very ones that you carry within yourself. The phrase "self-hating" might be appropriate here. You say you love the Jewish community, but I haven't seen any evidence of that. You constantly spew libelous falsehoods against the world's only Jewishstate, falsehoods so easily disproved that it's hard to imagine you actually believe them yourself. For example, if Israel is trying to exterminate the Palestinians, how do you explain the fact that there areso many more Palestinians living in Israel today that they were in 1948? Martin Wasserman On Jun 18, 2025, at 7:03 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Martin, I love my Jewish community, but I also believe it’s fair to say that I despise any nation, including Israel, that was established through bloodshed, domination, extermination, and ethnic {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 60 cleansing of another people. Israel fits this description to the letter. Any Jew who does not advocate for the dismantling of Israel is, in my view, contributing to anti-Semitism. Martin, I must say you are not a true friend to Jewish people. Avram “ Eliminate The State Of Israel” Finkelstein. On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 6:14 PM Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Martin, I love my Jewish community, but I also believe it’s fair to say that I despise any nation, including Israel, that was established through bloodshed, domination, extermination, and ethnic cleansing of another people. Israel fits this description to the letter. Any Jew who does not advocate for the dismantling of Israel is, in my view, contributing to anti-Semitism. Martin, I must say you are not a true friend to Jewish people. Avram “ Eliminate The State Of Israel” Finkelstein. On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 2:51 PM MartinWasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:Avram, As someone who identifies as a Jew, theintensity of your animosity toward theJewish state strikes me as rather abnormal. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 61 I'm genuinely interested in how you got thisway. Did you always hate Israel? Was there some incident in your life that triggered thehatred? Have you ever actually lived in Israel and experienced the people and culturefirsthand? And last, here's a question that every Jew should be able to answer: do youbelieve in God? Martin Wasserman On Jun 17, 2025, at 9:43 PM,Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Marty, Israel is pursuing peace, my ass, while simultaneouslythreatening with the barrel of a shotgun to your head and havingnuclear weapons on standby. It is a militaristic and relentlesslyviolent society, routinely targeting innocent women andchildren. You’re right, Marty: if I were in charge, I wouldrelocate all Israelis to Canada, with the land managed byIndigenous Canadians. Palestine would be returned to thePalestinians, and Israelis would pay reparations to them to helprebuild their country for at least the next 76 years. Avram “Israel is a dying state”Finkelstein On Tue, Jun 17, 2025, at 4:46 PM, Martin Wasserman<deeperlook@aol.com> wrote: Avram, Time will tell which one of usis telling the truth and which one is delusional. The truth is {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 62 that Israel has always soughtpeace with the Arabs, even going so far as to make majorterritorial concessions in the hope of achieving it. But theArab leadership, including both Hamas and thePalestinian Authority, have continued to oppose Israel'sexistence and used every means at their disposal, bothmilitary and political, to try to destroy it. Also, if you think genocide isevil, why do you not condemn Hamas, whose official charterexplicitly calls for the death of every Jew on earth, ratherthan characterizing them as “freedom fighters”? I believe you've also called forthe "ethnic cleansing" of Jews from Israel, saying that theyshould be forced to return to their countries of origin. ButIsrael IS their country of origin, a fact you seem unableto grasp. Martin Wasserman On Jun 17, 2025,at 12:37 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Martin, It appears thatyou are trapped in a delusional drug-like trance, believing thatIsrael is not the aggressive, {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 63 war-mongering,and genocidal entity that the restof the world clearly sees andcondemns. Avram “ OneState Solution!” Finkelstein On Tue, Jun 17, 2025, at 9:54AM, Martin Wasserman<deeperlook@aol.com> wrote: The driving force of the Israeli-Arabconflict has been the refusal of Arab leadersto accept the restoration of the ancient Jewish nationin the land of its birth, an event explicitlyforetold by the Almighty many years ago. Whenthe Jews returned to the Holy Land, they did notcome with malice toward the Arabs, but Arab leadershad plenty of malice toward them. They {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 64 waged war to prevent Israel from being established but weredefeated. Nevertheless, they never gave up theirhope of destroying the Jewish state and continuedto fight it in one way or another, bringing moredisaster upon their own people every step of theway. The suffering of the Palestinianstoday is entirely self- inflicted. They chose thepath of war rather than peace and continue topay the consequences. MartinWasserman OnJun16,2025,at9:25 PM,Aram {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 65 James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: HiLinda, Excellent job!Thanks forbeing atruth teller.Aram On Mon,Jun 16,2025 at9:18 PM LindaJolley <lindajolley9@yahoo.com>wrote: It shouldbeenoughthatAmnestyInternationalandmanyothersourceshavedetailedIsrael'saggressiionovermanydecades. Butifthatisnotenoughthen {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 66 I am oldenoughtoreportwhatIheardfirst-hand. IcanremembercontinualradioreportsofgiantcampsofPalestinianrefugeesindesperateconditionafterbeingdrivenofftheirlands. Also,Ihadafirst-handreportfromawomanwhosaidherparentswerePalestinianswhenIsraeliscamestormingintotheirvillage: "Theyseized {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 67 our homes andourgasstationthatsupportedourfamily,"shesaid. Mr.Wasserman,youarealiar. Godwillnotsupportyouandyourilk. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 68 From:Martin Wasserman To:Aram James Cc:Linda Jolley; Lotus Fong; h.etzko@gmail.com; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Doug Minkler; james pitkin; Roberta Ahlquist; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Veenker, Vicki; Veenker, Vicki; Salem Ajluni; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Council, City; GRP-City Council; Bill Newell; Dana St. George; Gerry Gras; city.council@menlopark.gov; Perron, Zachary; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Clerk, City; Bill Johnson; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Jessica Speiser; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Ruben Abrica; Sean Allen; Josh Becker; Rosen, Jeff; Jay Boyarsky; Vara Ramakrishnan; Raj Jayadev; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Human Relations Commission; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; DuJuan Green; Diana Diamond; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Rodriguez, Miguel; Foley, Michael; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; dennis burns; Tom DuBois; Holman, Karen (external); Palo Alto Free Press; Friends of Cubberley; Rose Lynn; Raymond Goins; sharon jackson; Damon Silver; Steve Wagstaffe; Figueroa, Eric; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Wagner, April; Rowena Chiu; James Quadra; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; paul@peaceandjustice.org; Ed Lauing; Vicki Veenker; Reckdahl, Keith; Lu, George; Ruth Silver Taube; Reifschneider, James Subject:Re: Israel"s lies Date:Thursday, June 19, 2025 8:42:49 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Hi Avram, Thanks for sharing your family background with me. It explains a lot. But your father's obituary that you said was attached to the email wasn't there. Please send it because I'minterested in reading it. I would divide Jews into two main camps, what I call the Camp of Belief and the Camp of Disbelief. A believer would say that God is real, His covenant with Israel is real, it's applicableto all generations of Jews, and if we fulfill the terms of the covenant we’ll be assured of great blessings, but if we rebel against it or refuse to follow it, we’ll be subjected to great calamities.A disbeliever would say that God doesn't exist, there's no covenant, there's no need to obey any biblical laws, and everyone should do exactly as they please. Since neither camp can prove its case empirically, belief or disbelief is largely a matter ofchoice. I've chosen the Camp of Belief, and you've obviously chosen the opposite camp. There's no reason why people in different camps can't get along. But when it's a question ofwhich camp will set national policy, the stakes become a lot higher. As a believer, I say that the Land of Israel is given to the Jews and to no other nation, although we have to live up to the covenant in order to keep it. But voluntarily giving away any part ofthe land, or retreating from any part of it when not forced to do so, is an act of rebellion against the Almighty which will surely bring very bad results. We can see this in Israel'sdisastrous evacuation of Jewish communities from Gaza in 2005 which led directly to the current war, which never would have happened if Israel has retained its grip on the land. This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first mail to some recipients. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 69 I assume you'll disagree with everything I say because you disagree with my basic premise.And that's OK. You're free to work against Israel, slander it, and try to undermine it any way you can. But I'm pretty sure all your efforts will be in vain, and Israel, with the help of God,will ultimately prevail over all of its adversaries and be the light unto the nations that it was created to be. Martin Wasserman On Jun 19, 2025, at 4:50 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Marty, You are correct! I’m dealing with what I can only describe as a mental disorder: extreme aversion to Zionism syndrome. If you're interested, you can check out the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) for a detailed explanation of the symptoms. By the way, I might have inherited this condition from my father, who wasoriginally named Daniel Ben Ezra Fink but later changed it to Stephen Daniel James. He eventually became the founder and president of "Jews for Anti-Semitism." I've attached a copy of his obituary that was published in the New York Times in 1998. He was quite a contrarian Jew. He celebrated his bar mitzvah at age 13 under the condition set by mygrandfather, Louis Byer Finkelstein (who was an early misguided Zionist) that if he completed the bar mitzvah obligations, he wouldn't have to enter a synagogueagain. At 13, my dad was offended by my grandfather and his friends, who all claimed that Jews were the chosen people. In my dad's view, that belief wasnonsense; he believed that either everyone or no one could be God's chosen people. Marty, I have to say that my aversion to wacked out zionists seems to intensify,be triggered, every time you write your unaduultrated bullshit about the rogue, illegitimate state of Israel. Avram “ No More Wacked Zionists” Finkelstein Avram, Every time I point out the falsity of your arguments, which is very easy to do, you never respond with evidence to try to prove me wrong. Instead, you just ignore it and refuse to engage. What this tells me isthat you know your arguments are indefensible, and can’t stand up tohonest scrutiny. You say you love Jewish people, but for the State of Israel, the largestconcentration of Jews in the world, you express nothing but extreme {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 70 hatred, probably related to your own self-hatred. You advocate that the entire Jewish population of Israel, over 7 million people, be forcibly expelled from their homes, driven out of their ancestral homeland, andrelocated to some far corner of the Earth, where they would still beexpected to pay reparations to the Palestinians for the rest of their lives. It's hard for me to see this as anything other than an extreme form of anti-Semitism. The fact that you identify as Jewish makes iteven harder to understand and seems to indicate some kind of mentaldisorder. Martin Wasserman On Jun 18, 2025, at 10:14 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com>wrote: On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Martin, Good try ! You are precisely the guy who refuses to speak the truth about Israel on any level. The falsehoods you and your ilk extreme white-wing Zionist Jewish supremacists propagate are undoubtedly the reasonantisemitism is in the rise worldwide. You pose animminent danger to all Jews. As I said before: you're NO friend of the Jewish people. Avram “ A Self-Loving Jew to the Max” Finkelstein On Wed, Jun 18, 2025, at 9:35 PM, Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote: Avram, You seem to have two different standards for judging nations, a very harsh one for Israel and a very lenient one for all others. The fact is, almost all very successful nations are established through bloodshed, domination, {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 71 extermination, and ethnic cleansing. This is certainlytrue of Arab and Muslim nations, who carried out these policies against Israel right from the very beginning, although fortunately Israel was able to defend itself. Today, Hamas, which you bizarrely characterize as"freedom fighters,” continues to carry out an explicitpolicy of bloodshed, domination, extermination, and ethnic cleansing of Jews, although with no more success than their predecessors. You say you despise anyone who carries out ethnic cleansing, yet that’s precisely what you advocate be done to the Jews of Israel. It seems that the traits you most despise in others are the very ones that you carrywithin yourself. The phrase "self-hating" might be appropriate here. You say you love the Jewish community, but I haven'tseen any evidence of that. You constantly spew libelous falsehoods against the world's only Jewish state, falsehoods so easily disproved that it's hard to imagine you actually believe them yourself. For example, ifIsrael is trying to exterminate the Palestinians, how do you explain the fact that there are so many more Palestinians living in Israel today that they were in 1948? Martin Wasserman On Jun 18, 2025, at 7:03 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Martin, I love my Jewish community, but I also believe it’s fair to say that I despise any nation, including Israel, that was established through bloodshed, domination, extermination, and ethnic cleansing of another people. Israel fits this description to the letter. Any Jew {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 72 who does not advocate for the dismantling of Israel is, in my view, contributing to anti-Semitism. Martin, I must say you are not a true friend to Jewish people. Avram “ Eliminate The State Of Israel” Finkelstein. On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 6:14 PM Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:Martin, I love my Jewish community, but I also believe it’s fair to say that I despise any nation, including Israel, that was established through bloodshed, domination, extermination, and ethnic cleansing of another people. Israel fits this description to the letter. Any Jew who does not advocate for the dismantling of Israel is, in my view, contributing to anti-Semitism. Martin, I must say you are not a true friend to Jewish people. Avram “ Eliminate The State Of Israel” Finkelstein. On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 2:51 PM Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:Avram, As someone who identifies as a Jew, the intensity of your animosity toward the Jewishstate strikes me as rather abnormal. I'm genuinely interested in how you got this way.Did you always hate Israel? Was there some incident in your life that triggered the hatred?Have you ever actually lived in Israel and {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 73 experienced the people and culture firsthand?And last, here's a question that every Jew should be able to answer: do you believe inGod? Martin Wasserman On Jun 17, 2025, at 9:43 PM,Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Marty, Israel is pursuing peace, my ass, while simultaneously threateningwith the barrel of a shotgun to your head and having nuclearweapons on standby. It is a militaristic and relentlessly violentsociety, routinely targeting innocent women and children.You’re right, Marty: if I were in charge, I would relocate allIsraelis to Canada, with the land managed by IndigenousCanadians. Palestine would be returned to the Palestinians, andIsraelis would pay reparations to them to help rebuild their countryfor at least the next 76 years. Avram “Israel is a dying state” Finkelstein On Tue, Jun 17, 2025, at 4:46 PM,Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:Avram, Time will tell which one of us is telling the truth and which oneis delusional. The truth is that Israel has always sought peacewith the Arabs, even going so far as to make major territorialconcessions in the hope of achieving it. But the Arab {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 74 leadership, including bothHamas and the Palestinian Authority, have continued tooppose Israel's existence and used every means at theirdisposal, both military and political, to try to destroy it. Also, if you think genocide isevil, why do you not condemn Hamas, whose official charterexplicitly calls for the death of every Jew on earth, rather thancharacterizing them as “freedom fighters”? I believe you've also called forthe "ethnic cleansing" of Jews from Israel, saying that theyshould be forced to return to their countries of origin. ButIsrael IS their country of origin, a fact you seem unable to grasp. Martin Wasserman On Jun 17, 2025, at 12:37 PM, AramJames <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Martin, It appears that you are trapped in adelusional drug-like trance, believingthat Israel is not the aggressive,war-mongering, and genocidal entitythat the rest of the world clearly seesand condemns. Avram “ One State {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 75 Solution!”Finkelstein On Tue, Jun 17,2025, at 9:54 AM, Martin Wasserman<deeperlook@aol.c om> wrote: The driving force of the Israeli-Arabconflict has been the refusal of Arab leaders to accept therestoration of the ancient Jewish nation in the land of itsbirth, an event explicitly foretold by the Almighty manyyears ago. When the Jews returned to the Holy Land, theydid not come with malice toward the Arabs, but Arableaders had plenty of malice toward them. They wagedwar to prevent Israel from being established butwere defeated. Nevertheless, they never gave up their hope ofdestroying the Jewish state and continued to fight it in one {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 76 way or another, bringing more disaster upon their own people everystep of the way. The suffering of the Palestinians today is entirelyself-inflicted. They chose the path of war rather thanpeace and continue to pay the consequences. Martin Wasserman OnJun16,2025,at9:25 PM,AramJames<abjpd1@gmail.com>wrote: HiLinda, Excellentjob!Than {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 77 ks forbeing atruth teller.Aram On Mon,Jun 16,2025 at9:18  PMLind aJolle y<lind ajolley9@ yahoo.co m>wrote : It sho uld be eno ugh that Am nes ty Inte rnat ion al and ma ny oth er sou rce s hav e det aile {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 78 d Isra el'saggressiionovermanydecades. Butifthatisnotenoughthen Iamoldenoughtoreportwhat Iheardfirst-hand. Icanremembercontinualradioreportsofgiantcamps ofPal {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 79 esti nia nrefugees indesperateconditionafterbeingdrivenofftheirlands. Also, Ihadafirst-handreportfrom awomanwhosaidherparentswerePalestinianswhenIsraeliscamestor {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 80 min g intotheirvillage: "Theyseizedourhomesandourgasstationthatsupportedourfamily,"shesaid. Mr.Wasserman,youarealiar.Godwillnotsupportyouandyour ilk. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 81 {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 82 From:Aram James To:Martin Wasserman Cc:Linda Jolley; Lotus Fong; h.etzko@gmail.com; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Doug Minkler; james pitkin; Roberta Ahlquist; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Veenker, Vicki; Veenker, Vicki; Salem Ajluni; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Council, City; GRP-City Council; Bill Newell; Dana St. George; Gerry Gras; city.council@menlopark.gov; Perron, Zachary; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Clerk, City; Bill Johnson; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Jessica Speiser; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Ruben Abrica; Sean Allen; Josh Becker; Rosen, Jeff; Jay Boyarsky; Vara Ramakrishnan; Raj Jayadev; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Human Relations Commission; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; DuJuan Green; Diana Diamond; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Rodriguez, Miguel; Foley, Michael; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; dennis burns; Tom DuBois; Holman, Karen (external); Palo Alto Free Press; Friends of Cubberley; Rose Lynn; Raymond Goins; sharon jackson; Damon Silver; Steve Wagstaffe; Figueroa, Eric; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Wagner, April; Rowena Chiu; James Quadra; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Patrice Ventresca; Paul George @ PPJC; Ed Lauing; Vicki Veenker; Reckdahl, Keith; Lu, George; Ruth Silver Taube; Reifschneider, James Subject:Re: Israel"s lies Date:Thursday, June 19, 2025 4:50:30 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hi Marty, You are correct! I’m dealing with what I can only describe as a mental disorder: extreme aversion to Zionism syndrome. If you're interested, you can check out the DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition) for a detailed explanation of the symptoms. By the way, I might have inherited this condition from my father, who was originally named Daniel Ben Ezra Fink but later changed it to Stephen Daniel James. He eventually became thefounder and president of "Jews for Anti-Semitism." I've attached a copy of his obituary that was published in the New York Times in 1998. He was quite a contrarian Jew. He celebrated his bar mitzvah at age 13 under the condition set by my grandfather, Louis ByerFinkelstein (who was an early misguided Zionist) that if he completed the bar mitzvah obligations, he wouldn't have to enter a synagogue again. At 13, my dad was offended by mygrandfather and his friends, who all claimed that Jews were the chosen people. In my dad's view, that belief was nonsense; he believed that either everyone or no one could be God'schosen people. Marty, I have to say that my aversion to wacked out zionists seems to intensify, be triggered, every time you write your unaduultrated bullshit about the rogue, illegitimate state of Israel. Avram “ No More Wacked Zionists” Finkelstein Avram, Every time I point out the falsity of your arguments, which is very easy to do, you never respond with evidence to try to prove me wrong. Instead, you just ignore it and refuse to engage. What this tells me is that you know your arguments areindefensible, and can’t stand up to honest scrutiny. You say you love Jewish people, but for the State of Israel, the largest {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 83 concentration of Jews in the world, you express nothing but extreme hatred,probably related to your own self-hatred. You advocate that the entire Jewish population of Israel, over 7 million people, be forcibly expelled from their homes, driven out of their ancestral homeland, and relocated to some far corner of the Earth, where they would still be expected to pay reparations to the Palestinians forthe rest of their lives. It's hard for me to see this as anything other than an extremeform of anti-Semitism. The fact that you identify as Jewish makes it even harder to understand and seems to indicate some kind of mental disorder. Martin Wasserman On Jun 18, 2025, at 10:14 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 10:00 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Martin, Good try ! You are precisely the guy who refuses to speak the truth about Israel on any level. The falsehoods you and your ilk extreme white-wing Zionist Jewish supremacists propagate are undoubtedlythe reason antisemitism is in the rise worldwide. You pose animminent danger to all Jews. As I said before: you're NO friend of the Jewish people. Avram “ A Self-Loving Jew to the Max” Finkelstein On Wed, Jun 18, 2025, at 9:35 PM, Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote: Avram, You seem to have two different standards for judging nations, a very harsh one for Israel and a very lenient one for all others. The fact is, almost all very successful nations are established through bloodshed, domination, extermination, and ethnic cleansing. This iscertainly true of Arab and Muslim nations, who carried out thesepolicies against Israel right from the very beginning, although fortunately Israel was able to defend itself. Today, Hamas, which you bizarrely characterize as "freedom fighters,” continues to carry {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 84 out an explicit policy of bloodshed, domination, extermination, andethnic cleansing of Jews, although with no more success than their predecessors. You say you despise anyone who carries out ethnic cleansing, yetthat’s precisely what you advocate be done to the Jews of Israel. Itseems that the traits you most despise in others are the very ones that you carry within yourself. The phrase "self-hating" might be appropriate here. You say you love the Jewish community, but I haven't seen any evidence of that. You constantly spew libelous falsehoods against the world's only Jewish state, falsehoods so easily disproved thatit's hard to imagine you actually believe them yourself. Forexample, if Israel is trying to exterminate the Palestinians, how do you explain the fact that there are so many more Palestinians living in Israel today that they were in 1948? Martin Wasserman On Jun 18, 2025, at 7:03 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Martin, I love my Jewish community, but I also believe it’s fair to say that I despise any nation, including Israel, that was established through bloodshed, domination, extermination, and ethnic cleansing of another people. Israel fits this description to the letter. Any Jew who does not advocate for the dismantling of Israel is, in my view, contributing to anti-Semitism. Martin, I must say you are not a true friend to Jewish people. Avram “ Eliminate The State Of Israel” Finkelstein. On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 6:14 PM Aram James {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 85 <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Martin, I love my Jewish community, but I also believe it’s fair to say that I despise any nation, including Israel, that was established through bloodshed, domination, extermination, and ethnic cleansing of another people. Israel fits this description to the letter. Any Jew who does not advocate for the dismantling of Israel is, in my view, contributing to anti-Semitism. Martin, I must say you are not a true friend to Jewish people. Avram “ Eliminate The State Of Israel” Finkelstein. On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 2:51 PM Martin Wasserman<deeperlook@aol.com> wrote:Avram, As someone who identifies as a Jew, the intensity of youranimosity toward the Jewish state strikes me as ratherabnormal. I'm genuinely interested in how you got thisway. Did you always hate Israel? Was there some incidentin your life that triggered the hatred? Have you everactually lived in Israel and experienced the people andculture firsthand? And last, here's a question that every Jewshould be able to answer: do you believe in God? Martin Wasserman On Jun 17, 2025, at 9:43 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Marty, Israel is pursuing peace, my ass, whilesimultaneously threatening with the barrel of ashotgun to your head and having nuclearweapons on standby. It is a militaristic andrelentlessly violent society, routinely targeting {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 86 innocent women and children. You’re right,Marty: if I were in charge, I would relocate all Israelis to Canada, with the land managed byIndigenous Canadians. Palestine would be returned to the Palestinians, and Israelis wouldpay reparations to them to help rebuild their country for at least the next 76 years. Avram “Israel is a dying state” Finkelstein On Tue, Jun 17, 2025, at 4:46 PM, MartinWasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote: Avram, Time will tell which one of us is telling thetruth and which one is delusional. The truth is that Israel has always sought peace withthe Arabs, even going so far as to make major territorial concessions in the hope ofachieving it. But the Arab leadership, including both Hamas and the PalestinianAuthority, have continued to oppose Israel's existence and used every means at theirdisposal, both military and political, to try to destroy it. Also, if you think genocide is evil, why doyou not condemn Hamas, whose official charter explicitly calls for the death of everyJew on earth, rather than characterizing them as “freedom fighters”? I believe you've also called for the "ethniccleansing" of Jews from Israel, saying that they should be forced to return to theircountries of origin. But Israel IS their country of origin, a fact you seem unable tograsp. Martin Wasserman On Jun 17, 2025, at 12:37 PM,Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Martin, It appears that you are trapped {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 87 in a delusional drug-like trance,believing that Israel is not the aggressive, war-mongering,and genocidal entity that the rest of the world clearly sees andcondemns. Avram “ One State Solution!”Finkelstein On Tue, Jun 17, 2025, at 9:54AM, Martin Wasserman <deeperlook@aol.com> wrote: The driving force of the Israeli-Arab conflict has been the refusal of Arableaders to accept the restoration of the ancient Jewish nation in the land of its birth, an event explicitlyforetold by the Almighty many years ago. When the Jews returned to the Holy Land, they did not comewith malice toward the Arabs, but Arab leaders had plenty of malice toward them. They waged war toprevent Israel from being established but were defeated. Nevertheless, they never gave up theirhope of destroying the Jewish state and continued to fight it in one way or another, bringing moredisaster upon their own people every step of the way. The suffering of the Palestinians today isentirely self-inflicted. They chose the path of war rather than peace and continue to pay theconsequences. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 88 Martin Wasserman On Jun 16, 2025,at 9:25 PM, Aram James<abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Hi Linda, Excellent job!Thanks for being a truth teller.Aram On Mon, Jun 16, 2025 at 9:18 PMLinda Jolley <lindajolley9@yahoo.com>wrote: It should be enough thatAmnestyInternational andmany othersources havedetailed Israel'saggressiion overmany decades. But if that is notenough then I amold enough toreport what Iheard first-hand. I can remembercontinual radioreports of giantcamps ofPalestinianrefugees indesperatecondition afterbeing driven offtheir lands. Also,I had a first-handreport from awoman who saidher parents werePalestinianswhen Israeliscame storminginto their village: {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 89 "They seized our homes and our gas station thatsupported ourfamily," shesaid. Mr. Wasserman,you are a liar. God will notsupport you andyour ilk. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 90 From:Aram James To:james pitkin; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Doug Minkler; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Veenker, Vicki; Vicki Veenker; MartyWasserman; Lotus Fong; Salem Ajluni; roberta ahlquist; JIM MINKLER1; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Reckdahl,Keith; Linda Jolley; h.etzko@gmail.com Subject:Hundreds of Thousands Form "Red Line" Around The Hague Date:Wednesday, June 18, 2025 10:45:07 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Hundreds of Thousands Form 'Red Line' Around The Hague | Common Dreams https://www.commondreams.org/news/hundreds-of-thousands-form-red-line-around-the-hague {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 91 From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Vicki Veenker; h.etzko@gmail.com Subject:AIPAC Demands Democrats “Stand With Israel” on Iran Date:Wednesday, June 18, 2025 10:33:11 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. 6/18/2025 Hi Vicki, Check out the conduct of despicable AIPAC. I hope you will always exercise your independent judgment when faced with pressure fromAIPAC and the other powerful and equally despicable pro-Israel lobbies. I am still angry that our city council refused to allow a robust debate on a ceasefire resolution. Our council had no problem eviscerating the community’s First Amendment rights on theceasefire issue. I firmly believe the council's decision to cut off debate was heavily influenced by the pro-Israel lobbies. Fortunately, manycourageous cities across this country did vote for resolutions in support of a ceasefire. I will be sending out my suggested reading list in the next few days. Aram “ Just Say No To The Genocide” James Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Become a paid subscriber to gain access to our private Discord server, subscriber- only AMAs, chats, and invites to events. AIPAC Demands Democrats “StandWith Israel” on Iran The pro-Israel lobbying group has sent a flurry of communications tomembers of Congress, citing specific language for them to parrot insupport of Israel’s strikes on Iran. DAVID DAYEN AND RYAN GRIM JUN 18 READ IN APP {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 92 We have a commitment to ensuring that our journalism is not locked behind a paywall. But the only way we can sustain this is through the voluntary support of our community of readers. If you are a free subscriber and you support our work, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription or gifting one to a friend or family member. You can also make a 501(c)(3) tax-deductible donation to support our work. If you do not have the means to support our work financially, you can do your part by sharing our work on social media and by forwarding this email to your network of contacts. Upgrade to paid Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arrives in the Capitol on February 6, 2025. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Story by David Dayen, Ryan Grim, Nicolae Butler, and Pablo Manríquez. This is a collaboration with The American Prospect. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) has been furiously urging House Democrats to release messages of steadfast support for Israel in its war with Iran, the Prospect and Drop Site News have learned, even as bipartisan lawmakers come together on a War Powers Act resolution to prevent U.S. troops or funds being used in yet another Middle East conflagration. One member relayed that a colleague had received literally 100 phone calls from members of AIPAC and its allied pressure groups. AIPAC wants House Democratic members to state explicitly that they “stand with Israel” in its actions against Iran aimed at destroying the Islamic Republic’s nuclear capability, and add that Iran “must never have a nuclear weapon.” In addition, AIPAC has taken particular pains to denigrate the moderate pro-Israel group J Street, both in private conversations with members of Congress and in public, picking a fight aimed at blocking any Democrats from using J Street as {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 93 cover to deviate from AIPAC’s maximalist position. “They’re worried their members in Congress may start to shift toward J Street and they’re trying to head that off,” said an aide to one Democrat. “I did see that AIPAC took issue with my statement,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington state. “They were taking on J Street for endorsing me, which was ridiculous.” To get a sense of how extreme AIPAC’s demands are, note that J Street’s own statement merely calls for diplomacy while still supporting Israel. “We urge the Trump Administration to meaningfully pursue a diplomatic resolution to this conflict as quickly as possible while making clear the US will do what is necessary to defend Israel and US troops from retaliation,” the statement read. AIPAC issued the same tweet in response to any statement that fell short of its expectations, such as one by Rep. Greg Casar of Texas, which called for a diplomatic resolution: “Consistent pattern: J Street endorsees issue anti-Israel statements. @jstreetdotorg is many things, but it’s not pro-Israel.” The messages reflect one way special interests shape policies in Washington, where a conforming statement is a metric lobbyists can cite to show their dominance. While not everyone received this bombardment of communications from AIPAC officials—particularly progressives who have made their views known about Israel’s actions—judging by a substantial portion of House Democrats, the effort appears to be having an effect. According to a review of member statements at their congressional websites and on social media, 28 House Democrats have issued messages saying explicitly that they “stand with Israel,” or some close variation thereof. Another 35 express unequivocal support for Israel without using the magic words “stand with Israel” precisely, but they leave no doubt as to the member’s support. And 16 others express “soft” support for Israel, without quite the same inflammatory language. Three statements have been held up by AIPAC in particular, according to sources familiar with the situation, as models for others to follow. Those are from Reps. Greg Landsman (D-OH), Mike Levin (D-CA), and George Whitesides (D-CA). All are “frontline” members who had relatively close elections in 2024. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 94 “Israel is justifiably defending itself and its people,” Landsman said in his statement. “Iran’s nuclear program isn’t just an existential threat to Israel and the Middle East, it’s a threat to the world … I stand with Israel and the rest of the West as we confront this threat together.” Levin similarly states that “the Iranian regime … must never obtain a nuclear weapon … No nation can be expected to stand by while another openly threatens its existence.” Whitesides, a freshman from northern Los Angeles County, followed suit: “The government of Iran, which has sown death and destruction across the Middle East for decades, cannot be allowed to develop an operational nuclear weapon, and we must stand with our ally Israel.” The “stand with Israel” caucus includes some usual suspects who have long backed up Israel’s actions, from Reps. Ted Lieu and Brad Sherman in California, to Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Lois Frankel in Florida, to Problem Solvers and New Democrats like Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Brad Schneider (D-IL). But freshman and swing-state members are also well represented—precisely the type of members who survive on large campaign donations from the likes of AIPAC. First-term representatives Johnny Olszewski (D-MD), April McClain Delaney (D- MD), Herbert Conaway (D-NJ), John Mannion (D-NY), and Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA) were all in the explicit “stand with Israel” caucus, while freshman members Luz Rivas (D-CA), Sarah Elfreth (D-MD), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), Laura Gillen (D-NY), and George Latimer (D-NY) agreed with the sentiment but without the explicit “stand with Israel” wording. Other members in perennially difficult electoral battles, like Reps. Jared Golden (D-ME) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), stood with Israel as well, along with numerous members of the Congressional Black Caucus. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ), who recently won the nomination for governor of New Jersey, also released a statement that reflected hard support for Israel. Her race in the general election against Republican Jack Ciattarelli will be prohibitively expensive. AIPAC’s urgency may be due to a somewhat surprising amount of dissent among {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 95 some congressional Democrats against Israel’s coordinated attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities, military sites, and residential compounds, killing senior Iranian commanders and six nuclear scientists along with hundreds of civilians. For example, Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Israel’s “alarming decision to launch airstrikes on Iran” was “a reckless escalation that risks igniting regional violence.” Other military veterans like Reed, such as Reps. Seth Moulton (D-MA) and Jason Crow (D-CO), were similarly skeptical. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) echoed the AIPAC-provided language, saying, “There’s no one here that disagrees that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon.” Yet he expressed concerns about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s posture, calling for “secure briefings” that he says have not yet occurred. Luján also pointed to surprising Republican voices, like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who have advocated for noninvolvement, signaling a potential shift in GOP sentiment. These modest splits from the party line have opened new and critical questions about presidential war powers, where several members of the House and Senate are poised to challenge executive authority as the president considers airstrikes against Iran. “The Constitution is very clear that no president can bomb another country or begin a war with the country without the permission of Congress,” Sen. Rand Paul (D-KY) insisted. My hope is that there won’t be any U.S. involvement.” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) echoed this, arguing, “The president can’t undertake military action without a vote of Congress. Right now, I don’t see any circumstance in which direct U.S. military involvement would make us safer.” Two pieces of legislation aim to quash U.S. involvement. One, introduced by independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, is titled the No War With Iran Act and has seven Democratic co-sponsors. Sen. Tim Kaine’s War Powers Resolution seeks to reassert congressional authority over military engagements. In the House, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) announced on Monday that he would issue a War Powers Resolution, which quickly got support from 15 Democratic members. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 96 But several other U.S. senators seemed to abandon the constitutional role they have in authorizing military action, stating their general opposition to entering the Middle East but—in the words of Indiana Republican Sen. Jim Banks—their absolute “trust” in Trump. “I trust President Trump. He’s the commander in chief. He’ll decide what role we play,” Banks declared. He framed Trump as a singular force for peace, asserting, “President Trump is the greatest peacemaker in my lifetime. If there’s anybody that can avoid war in the Middle East and bring peace, it’s him. He’s done it before.” Banks, a veteran of Afghanistan, tied his stance to a broader rejection of “prolonged ‘forever wars,’” vowing to dedicate his time in Congress to preventing another Afghanistan-like quagmire. “That was a mistake, a prolonged forever war. We should never do that again. But President Trump’s not going to allow that to happen.” Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), a co-sponsor of the No War With Iran Act, lambasted Senate Republicans for their apparent inability to challenge Trump, quipping, “They’ve all had their spines removed. None of them seem capable of standing up to Donald Trump, which means they cannot fulfill their oaths to the Constitution.” When asked about pressure from constituents, senators reported varying levels of engagement. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), who expressed support for action against Iran, said he’s faced little pushback, stating, “I believe we need to move on Iran.” Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) dismissed constituent concerns, noting, “Everybody’s living their own life over here. That’s a long ways away.” He deferred to Trump’s judgment, adding, “Whatever President Trump decides to do, I’m all for helping them out.” Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) aligned his constituents’ views with Trump’s desire to end the “carnage,” saying, “The pressure that I feel is the same that President Trump has articulated. He wants this to come to an end.” Sen. John Boozman (R-AR) acknowledged widespread concern, stating, “The {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 97 whole country is very concerned about what’s going on over there,” but avoided committing to a specific stance. Conversely, Sen. Murphy noted a lack of appetite for war among his constituents, saying, “There’s not an appetite in this country for another war in the Middle East.” Luján highlighted the need for more transparency, suggesting that public and congressional unease stems from a lack of information. That was also the assessment of Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), an early co-sponsor of the War Powers Resolution in the House, who cast the debate in political terms. “Donald Trump took the anti-war lane from us in 2016 and 2024. We have a chance to take it back by clearly opposing Netanyahu’s strikes and being a bold voice for diplomacy,” Khanna said. “Democrats underestimate how much ordinary Americans are tired of war.” Leave a comment Share A guest post by David Dayen executive editor, The American Prospect Subscribe to David Become a Drop Site News Paid Subscriber Drop Site News is reader-supported. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber today. Upgrade to paid {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 98 A paid subscription gets you: 15% off Drop Site store Access to our Discord, subscriber-only AMAs, chats, and invites to events, both virtual and IRL Post comments and join the community The knowledge you are supporting independent media making the lives of the powerful miserable You can also now find us on podcast platforms and on Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, Telegram, and YouTube. LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Drop Site News, Inc.Drop Site News Inc., 4315 50th St. NWSte 100 Unit #2560, Washington, DC 20016 Unsubscribe {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 99 From:Human Relations Commission To:Deborah Goldeen Cc:Human Relations Commission Subject:RE: All gender/ family changing room Date:Tuesday, June 17, 2025 9:14:04 AM Correction, the next HRC meeting is on Thursday, July 10. Alayna Cruz Management Assistant, Human Services (650) 463-4906 | alayna.cruz@paloalto.gov | www.paloalto.gov -----Original Message-----From: Human Relations Commission <hrc@PaloAlto.gov>Sent: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 9:07 AMTo: Deborah Goldeen <palamino@pacbell.net>Cc: Human Relations Commission <hrc@PaloAlto.gov>Subject: RE: All gender/ family changing room Hello Deborah, The City Council liaison to the Human Relations Commission is Council Member Stone. It is listed on the HRCwebpage but can be hard to see since it is in the "Profile" section of the page. Your message will be included in thepacket of public letters that the HRC members receive before each meeting. If you would also like to speak to thecommission during public comment, the next regularly scheduled HRC meeting is Thursday, July 12, 6 pm inCouncil Chambers and online. Best regards,Alayna Cruz Management Assistant, Human Services (650) 463-4906 | alayna.cruz@paloalto.gov | www.paloalto.gov -----Original Message-----From: Deborah Goldeen <palamino@pacbell.net>Sent: Monday, June 16, 2025 7:58 PMTo: Tim Sheeper <tim@teamsheeper.com>Cc: jbarclay@menloswim.com; Human Relations Commission <hrc@PaloAlto.gov>Subject: All gender/ family changing room CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clickingon links. Tim - It summer and the women’s locker room is Bedlam! You’ve got the naked toddles, the stroller obstaclecourse, the preteen camp helpers locking themselves in the stalls to get their cell phone fix, lots of male childrenalong with the female children - ten or eleven and younger because their female caretakers don’t want them to gointo the men’s locker room without an adult, and then also your trans folks. Personally, I don’t mind this. We are allpacked in like sardines. I hate it when I get spray on sun screen sprayed in my face. It takes twice as long to showerand get dressed. But it can also be hilarious, like when some random five year-old decides it’s the perfect time andplace to tell you her life story. But I expect I am the exception. It’s my understanding that the city has promised to build an all gender/ family changing locker room. For whatevergood it did, I spoke to the council about this during public comments tonight. The entity that should be taking thisup with the city is Friends of Rinconada Pool. I’m supposedly on their email list/ list serve, but get nothing from {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 100 them.There is no way to contact the owners of the list/ organizers. As far as I can tell, they are AWOL. The summer insanity in the women’s locker room creates any number of untenable situations for your staff on a daily basis. Are you aware of that? I watch that go down and I feel for them. The situation as it is, is awful for most patrons, atorment to your staff and, more importantly, fails to serve the needs of the trans community. If Friends of RinconadaPool is going to serve it’s purpose and help get the city to build the promised third locker/dressing room within thenext couple years, rather than fifteen or twenty years from now, you will probably need to step in and see that theyhand the reins over to someone who is willing to actively manage the organization. Also, I suspect it may not have occurred to you that there is a lever in place in the city that can be used to get the ballrolling a lot faster than it would get going otherwise. That lever is the Human Relations Commission. It is their jobto see to it that persons or groups get the full benefit of city resources. If you are transgender and you want to use thepool, you most certainly do not get full benefit. One of the members of city council is the official liaison to that committee. I mentioned this when I spoke. I don’tknow who that person is. They aren’t listed on the HRC page. Hopefully whoever the liaison is will take this up withthe committee. As for myself, anytime the city wants to put its money where its mouth is, is fine by me. Take care - Deb {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 101 From:Human Relations Commission To:Deborah Goldeen Cc:Human Relations Commission Subject:RE: All gender/ family changing room Date:Tuesday, June 17, 2025 9:07:19 AM Hello Deborah, The City Council liaison to the Human Relations Commission is Council Member Stone. It is listed on the HRCwebpage but can be hard to see since it is in the "Profile" section of the page. Your message will be included in thepacket of public letters that the HRC members receive before each meeting. If you would also like to speak to thecommission during public comment, the next regularly scheduled HRC meeting is Thursday, July 12, 6 pm inCouncil Chambers and online. Best regards,Alayna Cruz Management Assistant, Human Services (650) 463-4906 | alayna.cruz@paloalto.gov | www.paloalto.gov -----Original Message-----From: Deborah Goldeen <palamino@pacbell.net>Sent: Monday, June 16, 2025 7:58 PMTo: Tim Sheeper <tim@teamsheeper.com>Cc: jbarclay@menloswim.com; Human Relations Commission <hrc@PaloAlto.gov>Subject: All gender/ family changing room CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clickingon links. Tim - It summer and the women’s locker room is Bedlam! You’ve got the naked toddles, the stroller obstaclecourse, the preteen camp helpers locking themselves in the stalls to get their cell phone fix, lots of male childrenalong with the female children - ten or eleven and younger because their female caretakers don’t want them to gointo the men’s locker room without an adult, and then also your trans folks. Personally, I don’t mind this. We are allpacked in like sardines. I hate it when I get spray on sun screen sprayed in my face. It takes twice as long to showerand get dressed. But it can also be hilarious, like when some random five year-old decides it’s the perfect time andplace to tell you her life story. But I expect I am the exception. It’s my understanding that the city has promised to build an all gender/ family changing locker room. For whatevergood it did, I spoke to the council about this during public comments tonight. The entity that should be taking thisup with the city is Friends of Rinconada Pool. I’m supposedly on their email list/ list serve, but get nothing fromthem.There is no way to contact the owners of the list/ organizers. As far as I can tell, they are AWOL. The summerinsanity in the women’s locker room creates any number of untenable situations for your staff on a daily basis. Areyou aware of that? I watch that go down and I feel for them. The situation as it is, is awful for most patrons, atorment to your staff and, more importantly, fails to serve the needs of the trans community. If Friends of RinconadaPool is going to serve it’s purpose and help get the city to build the promised third locker/dressing room within thenext couple years, rather than fifteen or twenty years from now, you will probably need to step in and see that theyhand the reins over to someone who is willing to actively manage the organization. Also, I suspect it may not have occurred to you that there is a lever in place in the city that can be used to get the ballrolling a lot faster than it would get going otherwise. That lever is the Human Relations Commission. It is their jobto see to it that persons or groups get the full benefit of city resources. If you are transgender and you want to use thepool, you most certainly do not get full benefit. One of the members of city council is the official liaison to that committee. I mentioned this when I spoke. I don’t {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 102 know who that person is. They aren’t listed on the HRC page. Hopefully whoever the liaison is will take this up with the committee. As for myself, anytime the city wants to put its money where its mouth is, is fine by me. Take care - Deb {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 103 From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki; Bains, Paul; Patrice Ventresca; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Sheree Roth; Lori Meyers; sharonjackson; GRP-City Council; Bill Newell; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; RobertaAhlquist; Baker, Rob; Rowena Chiu; Robert Salonga Cc:Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Emily Mibach; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Reifschneider, James; Council, City; Nash, Betsy; dcombs@menlopark.gov; Salem Ajluni; Sean Allen; Doug Minkler; Stump, Molly; Rodriguez, Miguel; Dave Price; EPA Today; Gennady Sheyner; Braden Cartwright; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; District9@sanjoseca.gov; Diana Diamond; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Raymond Goins; Rose Lynn; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Karen Holman; Ruth Silver Taube; Vara Ramakrishnan; Marina Lopez; Lotus Fong; Friends of Cubberley; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Palo Alto Free Press; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; city.council@menlopark.gov; Binder, Andrew; Perron, Zachary; Foley, Michael; Zelkha, Mila; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Palo Alto Weekly; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; District10@sanjoseca.gov; District2@sanjoseca.gov; District3@sanjoseca.gov; MGR-Melissa Stevenson Diaz; Gardener, Liz; Liz Kniss; Tom DuBois; Shikada, Ed; h.etzko@gmail.com; Human Relations Commission; Khalia Parish ( Homeless Advocate); Congressman Ro Khanna; Templeton, Cari; Cribbs, Anne; Anna Griffin; Yolanda Conaway; yolanda; Don Austin; Bryan Gobin; Dana St. George; Gerry Gras; Paul George @ PPJC; Jeff Hayden Subject:PEP- By Aram James Date:Monday, June 16, 2025 9:11:43 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. 6/16/2025 Hi Vicki ( Palo Alto Vice Mayor Vicki Veenker) Here is my rough draft (notes) of my talk tonight during oral communication. As you know, aheckler in the audience interpreted my talk. I responded to the heckler and it got a wee bit heated. I hope to attend tomorrow night's meeting with a few book suggestions you might want to readduring the city council summer break. Best regards, Avram Finkelstein aka Aram James Progressive Except for Palestine (PEP) It doesn’t work that way; you’re either for justice or not. Please take a look at our current mayor, who claims to be an advocate for justice for people experiencing homelessness, or he might claim to be an advocate for black people, or gay people, or other marginalized groups. What is politically convenient for him at the time. -The mayor’s claim of being a man of justice ring hollow: He’s a straight-up hater of Palestinians. A genocide supporter. A supporter of the Genocidal IOF (Israel Occupying Forces). He’s been trained in his synagogue to be clever and stealthy. He has never revealed that his true motivation for pursuing public office may be to serve the interests of his first love, the state of Israel. He is not alone in this discreet approach to prioritizing the interests of Israel. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 104 Vicky, if you're truly for justice and seeking justice, you can’t pursue it only when it’s easy and convenient. I know you’ve struggled with doing the right thing on this most divisive issue, but that’s not enough. You’re a lawyer; you can read the facts, the numerous books on the subject, for yourself, stripaway the Zionist propaganda, and argue the case as if you were appointed by the court torepresent the Palestinians’ cause. Be a zealous advocate for the victims, the Palestinian people. You can do it! Vicky: It is irrefutable that Israel, from the day it was founded in 1948 until June of 2025 ( today), has operated as a terrorist state. Can I get you to say: “Stop the genocide.” I understand that there will be a price to pay—a significant cost—if you choose to speak the truth—the truth about a genocide that continues to unfold before our eyes daily. A genocide focused almost exclusively on innocent women and children. Now it’s Palestinians dying by purposeful starvation --- bloodthirsty Israeli troops gunning down desperate starving people seeking food from aid stations. Cold-blooded executioners. War criminals of the first order. Vicky, we both know the risks involved; we can’t be naive. Your chance to be our next mayor is palpable. I know you can feel it, you can touch it, and you can envision all that comes with it. It would be an honor for sure! Vicky, you know that even if you’ve checked all the boxes, even if you deserve to be our next mayor, if you dare to say “end the genocide,” whether in your role as a council member or as a private citizen, you won’t be our next mayor. The Zionists will attack you; suddenly, you’ll be labeled an anti-Semite, a Jew hater, and a Holocaust denier. The powerful pro-Israeli lobby in Palo Alto will find a way to keep you from being our next mayor. I can promise you that. I know my people. Yes, telling the truth carries risks! But you can’t have it both ways. Vicky: If you refuse to confront the genocide, you can never claim to be a champion of justice. You must choose one path or the other. A truth teller or someone looking to serve their political interests without a moral compass. What will it be? Tell us, Vicky! Avram {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 105 From:Deborah Goldeen To:Tim Sheeper Cc:jbarclay@menloswim.com; Human Relations Commission Subject:All gender/ family changing room Date:Monday, June 16, 2025 7:58:41 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links. Tim - It summer and the women’s locker room is Bedlam! You’ve got the naked toddles, the stroller obstaclecourse, the preteen camp helpers locking themselves in the stalls to get their cell phone fix, lots of male childrenalong with the female children - ten or eleven and younger because their female caretakers don’t want them to gointo the men’s locker room without an adult, and then also your trans folks. Personally, I don’t mind this. We are allpacked in like sardines. I hate it when I get spray on sun screen sprayed in my face. It takes twice as long to showerand get dressed. But it can also be hilarious, like when some random five year-old decides it’s the perfect time andplace to tell you her life story. But I expect I am the exception. It’s my understanding that the city has promised to build an all gender/ family changing locker room. For whatevergood it did, I spoke to the council about this during public comments tonight. The entity that should be taking thisup with the city is Friends of Rinconada Pool. I’m supposedly on their email list/ list serve, but get nothing fromthem.There is no way to contact the owners of the list/ organizers. As far as I can tell, they are AWOL. The summerinsanity in the women’s locker room creates any number of untenable situations for your staff on a daily basis. Areyou aware of that? I watch that go down and I feel for them. The situation as it is, is awful for most patrons, atorment to your staff and, more importantly, fails to serve the needs of the trans community. If Friends of RinconadaPool is going to serve it’s purpose and help get the city to build the promised third locker/dressing room within thenext couple years, rather than fifteen or twenty years from now, you will probably need to step in and see that theyhand the reins over to someone who is willing to actively manage the organization. Also, I suspect it may not have occurred to you that there is a lever in place in the city that can be used to get the ballrolling a lot faster than it would get going otherwise. That lever is the Human Relations Commission. It is their jobto see to it that persons or groups get the full benefit of city resources. If you are transgender and you want to use thepool, you most certainly do not get full benefit. One of the members of city council is the official liaison to that committee. I mentioned this when I spoke. I don’tknow who that person is. They aren’t listed on the HRC page. Hopefully whoever the liaison is will take this up withthe committee. As for myself, anytime the city wants to put its money where its mouth is, is fine by me. Take care - Deb {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 106 From:D Martell To:Blanch, Sandra Cc:adriana@eberlaw.com; michellekraus@yahoo.com; Shikada, Ed; Ed Lauing; Hoyt, George; Council, City; Van Der Zwaag, Minka; O"Kane, Kristen; Human Relations Commission Subject:PLEASE RESPOND - for Sandra Blanch ... Who is YOUR Supervisor? Date:Monday, June 16, 2025 8:41:23 AM Attachments:image003.pngimage001.png CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Ms. Sandra Blanch, Director | Human Resources City of Palo Alto Ms. Blanch, It has been nearly two weeks since I emailed you. (See appended email)I deserve a reply. Please do your job as I need you to do it. At the very least, give me your supervisor's name and contact information.You do not work for a hidden organization. You are a public servant.You are paid by the good citizens of Palo Alto, and work for us. I await your response. Thank you. Cordially, Danielle MartelldmPaloAlto@gmail.com Residentialist – Palo Alto City Council Candidate 2016 & 2005 ---------- Forwarded message ---------From: D Martell <dmpaloalto@gmail.com>Date: Sat, May 31, 2025 at 12:30 AMSubject: for Sandra Blanch ... Are you Minka Van Der Zwaag's Supervisor? This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. This is their first mail to some recipients. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 107 To: <Sandra.Blanch@paloalto.gov>Cc: <adriana@eberlaw.com>, michellekraus@yahoo.com <michellekraus@yahoo.com>, Ed <Ed.Shikada@paloalto.gov>, Ed Lauing<elauing@equitysearchpartners.com>, George <George.Hoyt@paloalto.gov>, City <city.council@paloalto.gov>, Van Der Zwaag, Minka<Minka.VanDerZwaag@paloalto.gov>, <Kristen.O'Kane@paloalto.gov> Ms. Sandra Blanch ⁠– Please FORWARD THIS EMAIL TO HRC COMMISSIONERS & confirm when you have done so: Mary Kate Stimmler, Chair Sridhar Karnam Katie Causey Don Barr Ms. Sandra Blanch, Director | Human ResourcesCity of Palo Alto Dear Ms. Blanch: Thank you for your acknowledgement of this very important issue of city trust andconfidentiality, especially because it involves the Human Relations Commission (HRC). I see you cc'd Kristen O'Kane. What is your interest, and what is Kristen O'Kane's interest inthis issue? Are either of you one of Ms. Van Der Zwaag's supervisors?(I do not believe in hidden players and insist on knowing the names of those whohave been brought into my personal, private business.) If so, Then, I request a meeting with you, and extend an invitation to include Ms. Van DerZwaag, HRC Commissioners Michelle Kraus and Adriana Eberle, Esq, and all other HRCcommissioners.Else, forward Ms. Van Der Zwaag's supervisor's name and contact information as soonas you can manage, please. I have no interest in receiving Ms. Van Der Zwaag's email. Ms. Van Der Zwaag's emails are blocked, sending them to spam without being seen.Ms. Van Der Zwaag and I spoke at length about her betrayal and there is nothing else tobe said between the two of us. At that time, she made no apologies or excuses for her unethical behavior.Her sole defense was that she did not "feel comfortable" revealing with whom shespoke, in the department that I specifically asked her to not approach. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 108 She refused to identify others with whom she shared my private business,although she commented there were others in a voicemail, which I saved. I am not just upset and disappointed, I am disgusted. Cordially,Danielle MartelldmPaloAlto@gmail.comResidentialist – Palo Alto City Council Candidate 2016 & 2005 ---------- Forwarded message ---------From: Blanch, Sandra <Sandra.Blanch@paloalto.gov>Date: Fri, May 30, 2025 at 4:33 PMSubject: RE: for Minka Van Der Zwaag... Your Violation of Promised Confidentiality as the City Liaison to Human Relations Commission (HRC)To: dmpaloalto@gmail.com <dmpaloalto@gmail.com>Cc: adriana@eberlaw.com <adriana@eberlaw.com>, michellekraus@yahoo.com <michellekraus@yahoo.com>, Lauing, Ed<Ed.Lauing@paloalto.gov>, City Mgr <CityMgr@paloalto.gov>, Van Der Zwaag, Minka <Minka.VanDerZwaag@paloalto.gov>, O'Kane, Kristen<Kristen.O'Kane@paloalto.gov>, Hoyt, George <George.Hoyt@paloalto.gov> Dear Ms. Martell, Thank you for sending the email below to us; we understand your frustration in this sensitive matter. This is to acknowledge your statement regarding your meeting with the Community Services Manager you identified below. We have been in dialogue with Ms. Van Der Zwaag regarding this situation and you should expect to receive a response from her as well within the next 7 – 10 business days. To your question about notes, there are no responsive records to your request. Sincerely, Sandra Sandra Blanch Director, HR Human Resources (650) 329-2294 |sandra.blanch@paloalto.gov From: D Martell <dmpaloalto@gmail.com> {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 109 Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2025 4:54 PM To: Van Der Zwaag, Minka <Minka.VanDerZwaag@PaloAlto.gov> Cc: adriana@eberlaw.com; michellekraus@yahoo.com; Shikada, Ed <Ed.Shikada@paloalto.gov>; Ed Lauing <elauing@equitysearchpartners.com>; Hoyt, George <George.Hoyt@paloalto.gov>; Council, City <city.council@PaloAlto.gov> Subject: for Minka Van Der Zwaag... Your Violation of Promised Confidentiality as the City Liaison to Human Relations Commission (HRC) CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. MINKA ⁠– FORWARD TO HRC COMMISSIONERS: Mary Kate Stimmler, Chair Sridhar Karnam Katie Causey Don Barr Minka Van Der Zwaag City Liaison to Human Relations Commission (HRC) City of Palo Alto Dear Minka, I have been exposed to some extremely tragic experiences and was referred to andapproached HRC for discrete help and direction. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 110 On May 12, Monday, you, HRC Commissioner Michelle Kraus, and I met at a downtown coffee shop to discuss a private issue, which involves the city. At that time, you assured me that we were having a confidential meeting and you would not violate my privacy; you said to trust you. You asked for, and I gave permission to speak with ONLY City of Palo Alto BuildingCode Official George Hoyt re my personal business. Immediately after our meeting, I met with Mr. Hoyt and summarized this meeting. I told him to expect your call. I stressed to you to NOT talk with anyone else at City Hall, and was assured you would not, without going through me first. Yet, on May 27, during our follow-up phone conversation yesterday, you confessed youapproached and shared what was said at our meeting with another department at City Hall. You refused to tell me with whom you spoke, stating it was "a colleague", as though that madeit okay .. of course it does NOT, and of course all city employees are your colleagues! In fact, you spoke to a department that I specifically singled out and emphasized to NOT speak to, and further detailed why, at length. I am shocked and mortified that you lied and betrayed my trust. I demand you tell me with whom you spoke and what transpired. The good citizens of Palo Alto's tax dollars pay your salary, plus outstanding benefits. You forget that you are a servant of the hard-working citizens of Palo Alto. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 111 Again, I need a recap of all your conversations with all at City Hall, with whom you spoke, and a copy of all correspondences and notes taken. I consider you unethical, unprincipled, dishonest, and not worthy of working for my great city. Please forward this email to ALL the HRC Commissioners so they have a clear understanding of how unprincipled you operate. I demand you immediately identify the supervisor who evaluates your work performance, and send me that employee's contact information. Danelle Martell dmPaloAlto@gmail.com Residentialist ⁠– Palo Alto City Council Candidate 2016 & 2005 {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 112 From:Aram James To:Emily Mibach; Dave Price; Braden Cartwright; Gennady Sheyner; Diana Diamond; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com;EPA Today; San José Spotlight; yolanda; Daniel Kottke; Dennis Upton; Human Relations Commission; dennisburns Subject:No Kings Day photo Date:Sunday, June 15, 2025 1:48:21 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 113 From:Aram James To:Council, City; Ed Lauing; h.etzko@gmail.com; Rosen, Jeff; Lewis James; Raj Jayadev; dcombs@menlopark.gov;Dana St. George; Gerry Gras; board@valleywater.org; board@pausd.org; Jessica Speiser; Sean Allen; sharonjackson; Baker, Rob; MGR-Melissa Stevenson Diaz; GRP-City Council; Friends of Cubberley;city.council@menlopark.gov; Jeff Conrad; Lee, Craig; cromero@cityofepa.org; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider,James; Lotus Fong; sean james; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; james pitkin; Holman, Karen (external); DennisUpton; Doug Minkler; Daniel Kottke; Rodriguez, Miguel; Dave Price; Damon Silver; Supervisor Otto Lee;Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Councilmember Chappie Jones; District10@sanjoseca.gov; District2@sanjoseca.gov;District3@sanjoseca.gov; District4@sanjoseca.gov; District5@sanjoseca.gov; DuJuan Green; Dennis Upton;Human Relations Commission; San José Spotlight; Gennady Sheyner; Enberg, Nicholas Cc:Foley, Michael Subject:“ No Kings” March & Rally -In Mountain View- 6-14-25 Date:Saturday, June 14, 2025 7:22:34 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 114 From:Aram James To:Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky Cc:Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Sheree Roth; Lori Meyers; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Ed Lauing; Zelkha, Mila; BoardOperations; board@pausd.org; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; h.etzko@gmail.com; DuJuan Green; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Vara Ramakrishnan; Palo Alto Free Press; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto Subject:Turkish foreign ministry says Israeli raid on the Gaza-bound ship is a clear violation of international law Date:Tuesday, June 10, 2025 9:29:28 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Turkey calls Israel 'terrorist state'over seizure of Gaza aid shipMadleen Turkish foreign ministry says Israeli raid on the Gaza-bound ship is a clear violation of international law Turkish foreign ministry says Israeli raid on the Gaza-bound ship is a clear violation ofinternational law Source: Middle East Eye https://share.google/dG3qn4aQjXgzZGI7Q This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 115 From:Dr. Nas MohamedTo:Human Relations CommissionSubject:SF Pride"s VP Challenges Swedish Diplomatic Complicity in Trump"s LGBTQ+ ErasureDate:Tuesday, June 10, 2025 11:13:27 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. i logo “My Country Betrayed Me” Maceo Persson, Vice President of San Francisco Pride, responds to the pride event hosted by the Swedish Embassy during world pride celebrations in Washington DC.—————————————————- This message needs your attentionNo employee in your company has ever replied to this person. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast Reshared from San Francisco Pride “Today, I learned that the Swedish Embassy hosted the Log Cabin Republicans—a group that has actively worked to dismantle the rights and protections of LGBTQ+ people like me. And I can’t stay silent. I’m the Vice President of SF Pride. I’ve dedicated over two decades of my life to the fight for democracy, equity, and human rights. I’ve stood on the front lines advocating for LGBTQ+ communities, for racial justice, for our freedom to live authentically and safely. But today, my heart is heavy. Because it was my own country—Sweden—that caused this pain. People often ask me, “Why don’t you just move back to Sweden?” They assume it’s a liberal haven. What they don’t see is the deeply ingrained conservatism, the racism that tells people of color we don’t belong, and the transphobia woven into law and practice. It was unlawful in Sweden to change the gender of your name. Trans people—like me —were required to undergo forced sterilization in order to access legal gender {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 116 About San Francisco Pride Media Contact View email in browser Osra Medical · 2215 Post St Ste 2 · San Francisco, CA 94115-3427 · USA update your preferences or unsubscribe recognition. That law was only repealed recently, and even now, the path to medically necessary care remains long, difficult, and full of gatekeeping. I love Sweden. I grew up there. It shaped me. It is, and always will be, a part of me. That’s why this betrayal cuts so deep. I haven’t moved back because I want to live where I can access the healthcare I need. Because I want to be surrounded by community—people who understand me, see me, and stand with me. I want to be somewhere I don’t have to fight every day just to be treated as human. After years of organizing, advocating, and showing up for others, I’m exhausted. And watching Sweden—the place I still call home—welcome those who work against us has left me heartbroken. This is not just about politics. It’s about humanity. It’s about being told, yet again, that our lives and our dignity are negotiable. Today, I speak not just for myself, but for all of us who are watching the places we love choose complicity over courage. Maceo Persson (he/him) Vice President, SF Pride” The San Francisco Pride Celebration Committee is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded to produce the SF Pride Celebration and Parade. The mission of the organization is to educate the world on LGBTQ+ issues, as well as commemorate the heritage, celebrate the culture and liberate the people of all LGBTQ+ communities. A world leader in the Pride movement, SF Pride is also a grant-giving organization through its Community Partners Program. Since 1997, SF Pride has granted over $3 million dollars in proceeds to local non-profit LGBTQ+ organizations and organizations working on issues related to HIV/AIDS, cancer, homelessness, housing rights and animal welfare. media@sfpride.org {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 117 From:Dr, Nas MohamedTo:Human Relations CommissionSubject:Sweden Sells out during World PrideDate:Tuesday, June 10, 2025 11:07:09 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious ofopening attachments and clicking on links. i View this email in your browser Logo Sweden Sells out to Trump during World Pride Urban Ahlin Hosts “Gays for Trump” reception at Sweden Embassy for World Pride Press Release I am currently in Washington DC as a delegate for World Pride. I was initially excited to meet the Swedish Embassy and hear how they are standing for us a time when we are under tremendous pressure by the current administration. To my shock, the embassy decided to host “Gays for Trump” mixer at their rooftop that was clearly white, cis, conservative and not inclusive. This message needs your attentionNo employee in your company has ever replied to this person. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 118 This has given me the clear message that we are not welcome. We are for sale based on whoever is in office. I condemn this and San Francisco Pride, where I serve as a board member, also condemns this gesture and we call on all of our leaders globally this pride month to do better. Dr. Nas Mohamed San Francisco Pride Alwan Foundaiton Logo Copyright (C) 2025 Osra Medical. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have expressed interest in LGBT activism done by Dr. Nas Mohamed Our mailing address is: Osra Medical 2215 Post St Ste 2 San Francisco, CA 94115-3427 USA Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 119 From:Aram James To:Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Josh Becker; Lori Meyers; JessicaSpeiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Sheree Roth;board@pausd.org; Bill Newell; Raymond Goins; Doug Minkler; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James Subject:Re: ICE, LAPD, LASD, Zionist Wack Jobs, etc., Date:Monday, June 9, 2025 7:33:09 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. On Mon, Jun 9, 2025 at 6:06 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: Aram’s notes for oral communication for city council June 9, 2025 Dare say tipping point in this country—fascism and racism—state-sponsored violence have already arrived for many. First, they came for the communists, and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out, I was NOT a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out, because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the ( Palestinians ), and I did not speak out because I was not a Palestinian. And then they came for me AND THERE was NO one left to speak out for me. By Pastor Niemoller ( with slight alterations by me) 6/9/25 Political Leaders, Leaders of the immigration rights movement in Los Angeles–seetoday’s broadcast of Democracy Now-Amy Goodman—interviewed-Ron Gochez-Commmunity organizer with Union del Barrio- who helped organize some of the anti-ice demonstrations in LA this weekend. ICE, LAPD, and LASD all came for brownskinned immigrants—indigenous people of the community –those who have been onthe land for centuries. Organizer Gochez –connected the dots between the oppressorsof the brown skinned people being terrorized in LA—and the brown skinned Palestinians being exterminated in Gaza in Palestine –by Zionists the likes of Josh Becker, Mark Berman, and our own Ed Lauing. Sickened me to hear Becker’s words, read Berman’s words in print, speaking out for the brown skin immigrants in our state and against the use of military and police force against these same immigrants —-while cheering on the IOF (Israel Occupying Forces) while the Zionists continue their Genocide in Palestine. I charge Becker, Berman, Lauing, and Reckdahl with complicity in Genocide. None of them should be allowed to hold public office, and each of them should be charged with war crimes. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 120 PAPD all white command staff—our chief lives in MH known as a bastion of white supremacy—law enforcement a majority Trump supporters—naïve they will be here for us when the national guard sent in, the US Marines sent in. PAPD all white command staff—with an alleged race-baiter in the command staff. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 121 From:Aram James To:Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate,Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth Cc:board@pausd.org; BoardOperations; h.etzko@gmail.com; Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Council, City; Clerk, City; Gerry Gras; GRP-City Council; board@valleywater.org; Damon Silver; Dave Price; Rodriguez, Miguel; Human Relations Commission; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Salem Ajluni; Dennis Upton; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Binder, Andrew Subject:Lindsey Graham"s Disgusting Tweet About Greta Thunberg Is "Brain Rot" in Its Truest, Most Vulgar Sense Date:Sunday, June 8, 2025 9:53:08 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. That psyche comes from somewhere. That poisonous bubble Graham is in isn’talgorithmic, like a bubble you or I could fall into – it’s constructed over years of beinglobbied, wined, dined, brought in line, and hammered to know who is human andwho is not. It’s a “moral” framework so bereft of any actual engagement with moralitythat it’s straight-up alien to you or me. Regardless of your stance on Israel orPalestine, Graham’s giddiness at the idea of a “helper” suffering is just reptilian. It’s a“brain rot” in its truest, most vulgar sense. Lindsey Graham's Disgusting Tweet About Greta Thunberg Is 'Brain Rot' in Its Truest, Most Vulgar Sense https://zeteo.com/p/lindsey-grahams-disgusting-tweet?utm_medium=email {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 122 From:Aram James To:Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky Cc:Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Josh Becker; Sheree Roth; Lori Meyers; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Reckdahl, Keith; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lauing, Ed; Ed Lauing; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; Council, City; GRP-City Council; city.council@menlopark.gov; Nash, Betsy; dcombs@menlopark.gov; Mickie Winkler; Friends of Cubberley; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Zelkha, Mila; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Human Relations Commission; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Zahra Billoo; Perron, Zachary; Sean Allen; Burt, Patrick; Rose Lynn; sharon jackson; Cait James; Josie James-Le; Tim James; Marina Lopez; Lewis james Subject:Up to 300,000 people, according to the organisers, took part in the demonstration led by opposition parties inRome to demand an end to the war in Gaza. Many cr… Date:Saturday, June 7, 2025 8:22:19 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i Up to 300,000 people, according to the organisers, took part in the demonstration led by opposition parties in Rome to demand an end to the war in Gaza. Many cr… Source: euronewshttps://share.google/hVevuD6i61LPP3dhb This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 123 From:Aram James To:Jeff Rosen; Diana Diamond; Dave Price; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Braden Cartwright; Lee, Craig;cromero@cityofepa.org; Jeff Hayden; Doug Minkler; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Friends of Cubberley; Palo AltoFree Press; Reifschneider, James; Enberg, Nicholas; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California DemocraticDelegate, Assembly District 23; dennis burns; Dennis Upton; Bill Newell; Human Relations Commission; VaraRamakrishnan; Pat M; Perron, Zachary; Zelkha, Mila; Zahra Billoo; Wagner, April; Don Austin; Donna Wallach;GRP-City Council; Liz Kniss; Gardener, Liz; Roberta Ahlquist; EPA Today; Mickie Winkler;Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; frances.Rothschild@jud.ca.gov; Dana St. George; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Rose Lynn;Rodriguez, Miguel; Daniel Kottke; Angel, David; Raymond Goins; Tom DuBois;assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Josh Becker; Salem Ajluni; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan;District10@sanjoseca.gov; District2@sanjoseca.gov; District3@sanjoseca.gov; District4@sanjoseca.gov;Councilmember Chappie Jones; District5@sanjoseca.gov; District9@sanjoseca.gov; ladoris cordell; Lait,Jonathan; Steve Wagstaffe; Council, City; Gerry Gras; Emily Mibach; Foley, Michael;<michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Greg Tanaka; Templeton, Cari; Yolanda Conaway; Burt, Patrick; Holman,Karen (external); Jessica Speiser; Reckdahl, Keith; Sam Ho; Robert Salonga; Rowena Chiu; Gennady Sheyner;Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Robert Handa Cc:Jay Boyarsky; Baker, Rob; Sean Allen; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Damon Silver; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; DuJuan Green; Noel Sanborn; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Binder, Andrew; Sheree Roth; Marina Lopez; Lori Meyers; Cribbs, Anne; San José Spotlight; Drekmeier, Peter; Lotus Fong Subject:A 63-Year-Old Medical Worker Spent Three Months as a Human Shield for Israeli Brigades in Gaza Date:Thursday, June 5, 2025 11:24:26 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. June 5, 2025 Hi Jeff, ( Santa Clara County District Attorney, Jeff Rosen) This is what your IDF heroes are up toto (see article below). I think your clear allegiance to, in my view, these thugs' serial murders,baby killers, and war criminals is the nail in the coffin, the tipping point, re your obligation todeclare a conflict, recuse both yourself and your office from the Stanford 12 case. I know you may disagree with my assessment but I implore you to consider my perspective.Please consult with experts on ethics, the California statebar, etc., on this critical recusal issue.And despite our very different views, I continue to extend an invitation for you to call me.Alternatively, since you live in Los Altos and I live in Palo Alto we could meet at a localcoffee shop and have a principled conversation on the recusal issue and related matters. Best regards. Aram James ( See IDF DISCUSSION AT LINK BELOW) We felt like we couldn’t be anywhere else,” shared Hausner alumna Rachel Rosen (Class of2013) in describing her family’s visit to Israel in January. https://share.google/9SlM3r4qyrVkmyA4W {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 124 A 63-Year-Old Medical Worker SpentThree Months as a Human Shield for anIsraeli Brigade in Gaza “They dressed me in military uniform, and asked me to search in homes forexplosives.” DROP SITE NEWS JUN 5 Israel’s rampant use of Palestinian civilians as human shields in Gaza and the West Bank is well documented. Reportedly known as the “mosquito protocol,” Israeli soldiers force Palestinians to inspect buildings, tunnels, and other sites. Israel has denied this practice, despite a growing body of evidence—including quotes from Israeli soldiers themselves, who say the practice is used, in part, to spare combat dogs from injury and death. In Gaza, Israel’s use of human shields has become ubiquitous. Yahya Al-Qassas risked his life to write the story you are about to read, entering a displacement zone in Khan Younis to interview Jameel al-Masri, a 63-year-old Palestinian man who was forced to be a human shield for three months. The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. Drop Site is reader supported. Support us by subscribing: Upgrade to paid Jameel Al-Masri held captive as a human shield for an Israeli brigade. Photo obtained by Younis Tirawi. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 125 Story by Yahya Al-Qassas KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA—In October of 2024, 63-year-old Jameel Al-Masri, a Palestinian man from Beit Hanoun, was working on the staff of Indonesian Hospital while the Israeli military was carrying out what was known as “the Generals’ Plan,” an effort to depopulate major swaths of Gaza. His job was to help move patients and families through the hospital as safely as possible, a task that went from difficult to impossible as Israel began attacking the area around the hospital in mid-October. Jameel fled with his family to El- Fawka school, seeking refuge. But it didn’t matter. Israeli troops came days later, besieged the school, and ordered everyone south. Jameel al-Masri following his release. Provided by the al- Masri family. “I am a hospital employee that gets his salary from the Palestinian Authority and don’t even work for the government in Gaza. Previously I worked for decades in Israel and spoke Hebrew. I have nothing to do with politics.” Near the UN supply center, Israeli soldiers set up a checkpoint and began rounding up all the men in fives. Jameel was among them. While waiting near a detention center, a soldier shouted: “Who knows Hebrew?” Jameel noticed two women had also been abducted and assumed they needed a translator. He stepped forward. “I do.” {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 126 That moment changed everything. Soldiers with Israel’s Givati Brigade pulled him aside and interrogated him about his Hebrew. He told them he’d worked in Israel for over 30 years. They blindfolded him and threw him into an armored personnel carrier, an APC. No charges. No explanation. When the blindfold came off, he got his first glimpse of a man he had been lying on top of, held like cargo on the floor. They stayed like that for a full day. Jameel still remembers his name: Wael AbdelLatif Abo Amsha. The next day, soldiers told them: “You’re going to help us get people out of the schools. It’s a two-day job, then you’ll go home. You don’t have anything on you in our system.” They dressed him in a vest. He complied, as he did not have any other choice. The soldiers had lied to him: months of torment were ahead. A week passed. No release. Only beatings, shouting, humiliation, and filth thrown at them. “We need to empty all the schools,” they said. “You will stay here and then go home.” The first school Jameel was forced to clear out was in Beit Hanoun. He was ordered to head to the school, put the displaced civilians in lines and move them out. Then came something else. Soldiers would force him to enter destroyed and burned-out homes – alone. The APC door would open and he would be told to get out—dressed in an IDF uniform—and search inside. A drone hovered over him, emitting a voice that directed him where to go. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 127 Once he cleared the home, the drone filmed everything. Then soldiers stormed in, planted explosives on the support pillars, and later blew up the house. That was the cycle. Again and again. House after house. The military unit changed every month, but Jameel stayed. Three different units. He was their tool. Every week or two, he was dragged back into the field. Jameel Al-Masri (third from right) inside an armored personnel with Israeli soldiers as he is held held captive as a human shield. Photo obtained by Younis Tirawi. Jameel was sick. He had heart problems, had undergone stent placement, and was often short of breath. Eventually, they realized he couldn’t keep up, and used him less and less over the three months of his abduction. One night, when a unit was preparing to leave, they shouted at him as he lay on the stairs, weapons drawn. They ordered him to clean their kitchen. He thought he was finally going home. Instead, they sat him down and resumed their game, asking about his Hebrew. One of them loaded his weapon behind him, pointing it at his head, playing around, laughing. “I didn’t care. I don’t know what’s on their mind. I was waiting every day for the ceasefire to go home.” Every few days they repeated the same promise: “Don’t worry. One week or ten days and you’ll go home.” {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 128 Meanwhile, he was fed one piece of bread and a single can of tuna per day. During the first week, they gave him nothing. I asked Jameel about his conditions. He didn’t hesitate: “Sleep was very, very hard. You sleep on the stairs and floor.” Weapons pointed at his face, constantly. Orders barked. Sent into dangerous ruins, alone, following a drone. No protection. No dignity. No choice. Did the army give him anything for protection? “They would dress me in a vest and give me a military uniform.” He asked them why. “Because we don’t want the drone above you to shoot you.” The soldiers were young. Barely in their twenties. They spoke broken Arabic. Names he remembers: Sion, Dany, Ido, Benjamin. Jameel recounts another night: he was lying down when a soldier jumped on him, weapon aimed. “You have 2 minutes to get ready.” Jameel was sent to scan homes in Jabaliya. If he took too long, hesitated, or moved too slowly from sheer exhaustion, the soldiers cursed him, kicked him, and beat him without warning. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 129 “Son of a bitch.” “What a dog.” He saw corpses on the streets. Another time, soldiers ordered him to clean the kitchen. One pointed a machine gun at him while the other filmed. They threatened him, saying: “Now it’s your time.” Then they laughed and said it was a joke. It wasn’t the first time. Another unit had done the same thing. “But at least I thought they won’t kill me inside the room. Maybe outside. They don’t want blood where they sleep. They’re afraid of blood and bodies.” Jameel had to ask for permission to use the bathroom. The humiliation was constant. And the accusations too. “You did October 7, you handed out candies.” Jameel answered: “What do I have to do with that? Nothing. I go every day to work and back.” But the soldier replied: “No! It’s all of you. You were all silent. They told me. They didn’t care. They weren’t asking. They were provoking.” Even among themselves, they were violent. Jameel heard them shouting, mocking, bragging. Talking casually about killing. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 130 “I sniped this guy.” “I shot like that.” He heard soldiers talk about their post-service trips to Thailand, to the UK, about Trump, about a ceasefire so they could go home. He remembers soldiers speaking about an incident in which one of their colleagues died after playing with a grenade in Jabaliya. “I am very psychologically impacted.” His family lived in agony. “They thought I was killed. They didn’t inform them of where I was. If it wasn’t for a guy I evacuated from a school during my mission to tell my family I was okay, they would have thought I was dead.” Jameel Al-Masri was released on January 20, 2025, the first day of the ceasefire after being abducted on October 18, 2024 from Jabaliya Refugee Camp. Even when he returned to his family, he couldn’t believe it. “It took me an entire month to forget what I just went through. I would wake up and still think I was abducted.” He suffers from a prolapsed disc due to the beatings by soldiers. He was deprived of his medication for high blood pressure. After release, doctors found narrowed arteries. He’s on meds now, and physically better. But his mind is still in captivity. Following his release, Al-Masri remained in Khan Younis despite orders to leave. His family did not find another {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 131 place to stay and cannot afford a tent. There are now sheltering in a school. Younis Tirawi and Maira Pinheiro contributed reporting. Share Upgrade to paid Become a Drop Site News PaidSubscriber Drop Site News is reader-supported. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber today. Upgrade to paid A paid subscription gets you: 15% off Drop Site store Access to our Discord, subscriber-only AMAs, chats, and invites to events, both virtual and IRL Post comments and join the community The knowledge you are supporting independent media making the lives of the powerful miserable You can also now find us on podcast platforms and on Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, Telegram, and YouTube. LIKE COMMENT RESTACK {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 132 © 2025 Drop Site News, Inc.Drop Site News Inc., 4315 50th St. NWSte 100 Unit #2560, Washington, DC 20016 Unsubscribe See IDF Discussion “We felt like we couldn’t be anywhere else,” shared Hausner alumna Rachel Rosen(Class of 2013) in describing her family’s visit to Israel in January. Best regards, Aram See below my earlier letter to Jeff Hi Jeff, Aram here. I hope you and your family are doing well. I will write more later. Given your long history of advocacy for the State of Israel, your Israeli citizenship, your recent handshake with Bibi, and your apparent antipathy towards thePalestinian people and their struggle for liberation, I believe it would be wise for you to recuse yourself and your office from the Stanford 12 Case. The optics ofthis situation are problematic for you. I agree with you that non-violent protest is protected by the First Amendment, and I also recognize that vandalism can be a crime. However, when property damageoccurs, even if it is substantial, to prevent a greater crime—such as genocide or the destruction of a culture—this vandalism may be excused. We can certainly debatethis matter, but I believe you are an honorable person, and with a bit of self- reflection, you will do the right thing.Please feel free to call me at any time to discuss this most critical matter. Best regards, Aram James P.S. Please correct me if I have any factual inaccuracies. If you are not an Israeli citizen, please inform me. Additionally, if you did not shake Bibi's hand during hisrecent visit to the Bay Area, kindly clarify that as well. “We felt like we couldn’t be anywhere else,” shared Hausner alumna Rachel Rosen (Class of 2013) in describing her family’s visit to Israel in January. Best regards, {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 133 Aram https://share.google/9SlM3r4qyrVkmyA4W https://share.google/9SlM3r4qyrVkmyA4W Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Become a paid subscriber to gain access to our private Discord server, subscriber- only AMAs, chats, and invites to events. A 63-Year-Old Medical Worker SpentThree Months as a Human Shield foran Israeli Brigade in Gaza “They dressed me in military uniform, and asked me to search in homesfor explosives.” DROP SITE NEWS JUN 5 READ IN APP Israel’s rampant use of Palestinian civilians as human shields in Gaza and the West Bank is well documented. Reportedly known as the “mosquito protocol,” Israeli soldiers force Palestinians to inspect buildings, tunnels, and other sites. Israel has denied this practice, despite a growing body of evidence—including quotes from Israeli soldiers themselves, who say the practice is used, in part, to spare combat {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 134 dogs from injury and death. In Gaza, Israel’s use of human shields has become ubiquitous. Yahya Al-Qassas risked his life to write the story you are about to read, entering a displacement zone in Khan Younis to interview Jameel al-Masri, a 63-year-old Palestinian man who was forced to be a human shield for three months. The Israeli military did not respond to a request for comment. Drop Site is reader supported. Support us by subscribing: Upgrade to paid Jameel Al-Masri held captive as a human shield for an Israeli brigade. Photo obtained by Younis Tirawi. Story by Yahya Al-Qassas KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA—In October of 2024, 63-year-old Jameel Al-Masri, a Palestinian man from Beit Hanoun, was working on the staff of Indonesian Hospital while the Israeli military was carrying out what was known as “the Generals’ Plan,” an effort to depopulate major swaths of Gaza. His job was to help move patients and families through the hospital as safely as possible, a task that went from difficult to impossible as Israel began attacking the area around the hospital in mid-October. Jameel fled with his family to El-Fawka school, seeking refuge. But it didn’t matter. Israeli troops came days later, besieged the school, and ordered everyone south. Jameel al-Masri following his release. Provided by the al-Masri family. “I am a hospital employee that gets his salary from the Palestinian Authority and don’t even work for the government in Gaza. Previously I worked for {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 135 decades in Israel and spoke Hebrew. I have nothing to do with politics.” Near the UN supply center, Israeli soldiers set up a checkpoint and began rounding up all the men in fives. Jameel was among them. While waiting near a detention center, a soldier shouted: “Who knows Hebrew?” Jameel noticed two women had also been abducted and assumed they needed a translator. He stepped forward. “I do.” That moment changed everything. Soldiers with Israel’s Givati Brigade pulled him aside and interrogated him about his Hebrew. He told them he’d worked in Israel for over 30 years. They blindfolded him and threw him into an armored personnel carrier, an APC. No charges. No explanation. When the blindfold came off, he got his first glimpse of a man he had been lying on top of, held like cargo on the floor. They stayed like that for a full day. Jameel still remembers his name: Wael AbdelLatif Abo Amsha. The next day, soldiers told them: “You’re going to help us get people out of the schools. It’s a two-day job, then you’ll go home. You don’t have anything on you in our system.” They dressed him in a vest. He complied, as he did not have any other choice. The soldiers had lied to him: months of torment were ahead. A week passed. No release. Only beatings, shouting, humiliation, and filth thrown at them. “We need to empty all the schools,” they said. “You will stay here and then go home.” The first school Jameel was forced to clear out was in Beit Hanoun. He was ordered to head to the school, put the displaced civilians in lines and move them out. Then came something else. Soldiers would force him to enter destroyed and burned-out homes – alone. The APC door would open and he would be told to {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 136 get out—dressed in an IDF uniform—and search inside. A drone hovered over him, emitting a voice that directed him where to go. Once he cleared the home, the drone filmed everything. Then soldiers stormed in, planted explosives on the support pillars, and later blew up the house. That was the cycle. Again and again. House after house. The military unit changed every month, but Jameel stayed. Three different units. He was their tool. Every week or two, he was dragged back into the field. Jameel Al-Masri (third from right) inside an armored personnel with Israeli soldiers as he is held held captive as a human shield. Photo obtained by Younis Tirawi. Jameel was sick. He had heart problems, had undergone stent placement, and was often short of breath. Eventually, they realized he couldn’t keep up, and used him less and less over the three months of his abduction. One night, when a unit was preparing to leave, they shouted at him as he lay on the stairs, weapons drawn. They ordered him to clean their kitchen. He thought he was finally going home. Instead, they sat him down and resumed their game, asking about his Hebrew. One of them loaded his weapon behind him, pointing it at his head, playing around, laughing. “I didn’t care. I don’t know what’s on their mind. I was waiting every day for the ceasefire to go home.” Every few days they repeated the same promise: “Don’t worry. One week or ten days and you’ll go home.” Meanwhile, he was fed one piece of bread and a single can of tuna per day. During the first week, they gave him nothing. I asked Jameel about his conditions. He didn’t hesitate: {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 137 “Sleep was very, very hard. You sleep on the stairs and floor.” Weapons pointed at his face, constantly. Orders barked. Sent into dangerous ruins, alone, following a drone. No protection. No dignity. No choice. Did the army give him anything for protection? “They would dress me in a vest and give me a military uniform.” He asked them why. “Because we don’t want the drone above you to shoot you.” The soldiers were young. Barely in their twenties. They spoke broken Arabic. Names he remembers: Sion, Dany, Ido, Benjamin. Jameel recounts another night: he was lying down when a soldier jumped on him, weapon aimed. “You have 2 minutes to get ready.” Jameel was sent to scan homes in Jabaliya. If he took too long, hesitated, or moved too slowly from sheer exhaustion, the soldiers cursed him, kicked him, and beat him without warning. “Son of a bitch.” “What a dog.” He saw corpses on the streets. Another time, soldiers ordered him to clean the kitchen. One pointed a machine gun at him while the other filmed. They threatened him, saying: “Now it’s your time.” Then they laughed and said it was a joke. It wasn’t the first time. Another unit had done the same thing. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 138 “But at least I thought they won’t kill me inside the room. Maybe outside. They don’t want blood where they sleep. They’re afraid of blood and bodies.” Jameel had to ask for permission to use the bathroom. The humiliation was constant. And the accusations too. “You did October 7, you handed out candies.” Jameel answered: “What do I have to do with that? Nothing. I go every day to work and back.” But the soldier replied: “No! It’s all of you. You were all silent. They told me. They didn’t care. They weren’t asking. They were provoking.” Even among themselves, they were violent. Jameel heard them shouting, mocking, bragging. Talking casually about killing. “I sniped this guy.” “I shot like that.” He heard soldiers talk about their post-service trips to Thailand, to the UK, about Trump, about a ceasefire so they could go home. He remembers soldiers speaking about an incident in which one of their colleagues died after playing with a grenade in Jabaliya. “I am very psychologically impacted.” His family lived in agony. “They thought I was killed. They didn’t inform them of where I was. If it wasn’t for a guy I evacuated from a school during my mission to tell my family I was okay, they would have thought I was dead.” {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 139 Jameel Al-Masri was released on January 20, 2025, the first day of the ceasefire after being abducted on October 18, 2024 from Jabaliya Refugee Camp. Even when he returned to his family, he couldn’t believe it. “It took me an entire month to forget what I just went through. I would wake up and still think I was abducted.” He suffers from a prolapsed disc due to the beatings by soldiers. He was deprived of his medication for high blood pressure. After release, doctors found narrowed arteries. He’s on meds now, and physically better. But his mind is still in captivity. Following his release, Al-Masri remained in Khan Younis despite orders to leave. His family did not find another place to stay and cannot afford a tent. There are now sheltering in a school. Younis Tirawi and Maira Pinheiro contributed reporting. Share Upgrade to paid Become a Drop Site News Paid Subscriber Drop Site News is reader-supported. Please consider becoming a paid subscriber today. Upgrade to paid A paid subscription gets you: 15% off Drop Site store Access to our Discord, subscriber-only AMAs, chats, and invites to events, both virtual and IRL {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 140 Post comments and join the community The knowledge you are supporting independent media making the lives of the powerful miserable You can also now find us on podcast platforms and on Facebook, Twitter, Bluesky, Telegram, and YouTube. LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Drop Site News, Inc.Drop Site News Inc., 4315 50th St. NWSte 100 Unit #2560, Washington, DC 20016 Unsubscribe {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 141 From:Aram James To:Lythcott-Haims, Julie Cc:Veenker, Vicki; Lu, George; Reckdahl, Keith; h.etzko@gmail.com; Lait, Jonathan; Shikada, Ed; Stump, Molly; Council, City; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Human Relations Commission; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Nash, Betsy; dcombs@menlopark.gov; city.council@menlopark.gov; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; GRP-City Council; Gerry Gras; Dave Price; Dana St. George; Diana Diamond; Gennady Sheyner; EPA Today Subject:Builder’s remedy project near Los Gatos High approved despite safety concerns Date:Thursday, June 5, 2025 10:13:33 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Builder’s remedy project near Los Gatos High approved despite safety concerns Builder’s remedy project near Los Gatos High approved despite safety concerns – TheMercury News https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/06/04/builders-remedy-project-near-los-gatos-high-approved-despite-safety-concerns/ {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 142 From:Aram James To:assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov Cc:Josh Becker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Veenker, Vicki; Diana Diamond; Dave Price; Bains, Paul; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Sean Allen; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; District2@sanjoseca.gov; District10@sanjoseca.gov; District3@sanjoseca.gov; board@pausd.org; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; dennis burns; District4@sanjoseca.gov; District5@sanjoseca.gov; District9@sanjoseca.gov; boardfeedback@smcgov.org; Human Relations Commission; Reifschneider, James; Binder, Andrew; Lauing, Ed; editor@paweekly.com; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Don Austin; Council, City; city.council@menlopark.gov; GRP-City Council; EPA Today; cromero@cityofepa.org; Raymond Goins; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Burt, Patrick; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George Subject:Unknownci to her at the time, Minasian’s doctor was a participant in the previous diversion program. Years later,after “multiple acts of dishonesty,” according to the medical board, and two convictions of driving under theinfluence of alcohol, his li... Date:Thursday, June 5, 2025 7:15:07 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Unknown to her at the time, Minasian’s doctor was a participant in the previous diversionprogram. Years later, after “multiple acts of dishonesty,” according is to the medical board,and two convictions of driving under the influence of alcohol, his license was suspended andultimately revoked. Complications from the surgery led her on a decades-long road of organizing and advocacy. In May she was back at the board’s meeting, nearly 20 years later, once again testifying about the ways in which she and others were harmed. Bill calls for doctor treatment programhttps://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=148d6845-5e1f-456d-b673-57f35eb5d1d4&appcode=SAN252&eguid=ffd8dfbe-fd92-4082-bcb0-6fbe30c368e6&pnum=4# For more great content like this subscribe to the The Mercury News e-edition app here: {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 143 From:Aram James To:Vicki Veenker; Veenker, Vicki; Councilmember Chappie Jones Cc:Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; BoardOperations; Palo Alto School Board Member Jennifer DiBrienza; Human Relations Commission; Raymond Goins; Sean Allen; Pat M; GRP-City Council; Gardener, Liz; Rose Lynn; Binder, Andrew; Burt, Patrick; Reckdahl, Keith; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Donna Wallach; Council, City; city.council@menlopark.gov; Perron, Zachary; Shikada, Ed; Ed Lauing; editor@paweekly.com; Dave Price; Gennady Sheyner; Daniel Kottke; Drekmeier, Peter; Sandy Perry-HCA; h.etzko@gmail.com; Jose Valle; Raj Jayadev; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Diana Diamond; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Wagner, April; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Bryan Gobin; Lythcott- Haims, Julie; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Jasso, Tamara; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; EPA Today; editor@almanacnews.com; Lauing, Ed; eddie.aubrey@sanjoseca.gov; Palo Alto Free Press; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; Doug Minkler; Foley, Michael Subject:Mahan’s policy proposal has been met with backlash from Santa Clara County leaders, who said it would result in“unnecessary and ineffective bookings” and divert already stretched public safety resources. Date:Thursday, June 5, 2025 6:57:25 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. Mahan should experience life on the streets, time in jail, and navigate our overburdened courtsystem before forcing his impractical proposal on the people of San Jose and the people of Santa Clara County. Mahan’s policy proposal has been met with backlash from Santa Clara County leaders, who said it would result in “unnecessary and ineffective bookings” and divert already stretched public safety resources. Idea for arrests picks up support https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=4a19fa6c-8d91-46e4-8346-03c3a760e348&appcode=SAN252&eguid=ffd8dfbe-fd92-4082-bcb0- 6fbe30c368e6&pnum=2# For more great content like this subscribe to the The Mercury News e-edition app here: {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 144 From:Aram James To:Veenker, Vicki; Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Vicki Veenker; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for CaliforniaDemocratic Delegate, Assembly District 23 Cc:assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Zelkha, Mila; Emily Mibach; Josh Becker; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Human Relations Commission; h.etzko@gmail.com; Council, City; GRP-City Council; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Tim James; Marina Lopez; Barberini, Christopher; chuck jagoda; Nash, Betsy; dcombs@menlopark.gov; Jeff Conrad; city.council@menlopark.gov; Perron, Zachary; Pat M; Sean Allen; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Roberta Ahlquist; Rose Lynn; Vara Ramakrishnan; Burt, Patrick; Palo Alto Free Press; Patrice Ventresca; Friends of Cubberley; editor@paweekly.com; Ed Lauing; Reckdahl, Keith; Yolanda Conaway; Don Austin; EPA Today; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Foley, Michael; Lotus Fong; Bill Newell; board@pausd.org; board@valleywater.org; BoardOperations; Donna Wallach; Doug Minkler; Enberg, Nicholas; dennis burns; Dennis Upton; DuJuan Green; Mickie Winkler; Tom DuBois; Holman, Karen (external); Wagner, April; Afanasiev, Alex; Rodriguez, Miguel; Gennady Sheyner; Sheree Roth; Lori Meyers; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov Subject:How the FBI Sought a Warrant to Search Instagram of Columbia Student Protesters Date:Thursday, June 5, 2025 6:16:44 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. How FBI Sought Warrant for Columbia Student Protester Instagram The people will not stand for Columbia University’s shameless complicity ingenocide!” https://theintercept.com/2025/06/04/fbi-columbia-gaza-warrant-instagram/ {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 145 From:Aram James To:Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Zelkha, Mila;assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Josh Becker; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; josh@joshsalcman.com;Perron, Zachary; Binder, Andrew; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; board@pausd.org; Nash, Betsy;dcombs@menlopark.gov; Human Relations Commission; Council, City; GRP-City Council;planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; BoardOperations Subject:Re: Stop U.S. aid to Israel ( 1988) by Poster maker Doug Minkler Date:Thursday, June 5, 2025 12:11:20 AM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. i On Wed, Jun 4, 2025 at 11:33 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote: This message needs your attention This is a personal email address. Mark Safe Report Powered by Mimecast {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 146 From:Aram James To:Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Zelkha, Mila;assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Josh Becker; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; josh@joshsalcman.com;Perron, Zachary; Binder, Andrew; DuJuan Green; dennis burns; board@pausd.org; Nash, Betsy;dcombs@menlopark.gov; Human Relations Commission; Council, City; GRP-City Council;planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; BoardOperations Subject:Stop U.S. aid to Israel ( 1988) by Poster maker Doug Minkler Date:Wednesday, June 4, 2025 11:34:11 PM CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links. {{item.number}} Packet Pg. 147