HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-11-13 Human Relations Commission Agenda PacketHUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
Thursday, November 13, 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@cityofpaloalto.org 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@cityofpaloalto.org 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 October 16, 2025, Human Relations Commision Draft Action Minutes.
BUSINESS ITEMS
2.Presentation on the Federal and California Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and how it
may provide cash support to qualifying unhoused, low-income, or seniors with Amy
Everitt, President of the Golden State Opportunity and Sally Lieber, Vice Chair of the
California State Board of Equalization. – Vice Chair Kraus – Discussion – 45 minutes
3.Update from the Palo Alto Mediation Program on their programs and services. – Staff –
Discussion – 45 minutes
4.Consideration of HRC Support of Mitchell Park Library “Know Your Rights: Information for
the Immigrant Community” program. – Chair Stimmler – Action – 15 minutes
5.Review procedure for HRC Support Application for internal City events. – Chair Stimmler
– Action – 15 minutes
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
INFORMATIONAL REPORT
PUBLIC DOCUMENTS
Public Letters
PUBLIC COMMENT INSTRUCTIONS
Members of the Public may provide public comments to teleconference meetings via email,
teleconference, or by phone.
1.Written public comments may be submitted by email to hrc@cityofpaloalto.org.
2.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.
3.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.
4.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@cityofpaloalto.org. 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
DRAFT
HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING ACTION MINUTES
Thursday, October 16, 2025
6:00 PM
Commissioners Present: Barr, Eberle, Hsieh, Karnam, Kraus, Stimmler
Commissioners Absent: Causey
Council Liaison: Council Member Stone
Staff: Minka van der Zwaag, Alayna Cruz
I) ROLL CALL
II) PUBLIC COMMENT
III) AGENDA CHANGES, REQUESTS, DELETIONS
IV) APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Approval of the September 11, 2025, Human Relations Commission Draft Action Minutes.
MOTION: Vice Chair Kraus moved, seconded by Commissioner Karnam, to approve
the minutes of September 11, 2025.
MOTION PASSED: 5-0-2 (Causey and Hsieh absent – Hsieh arrived at 6:20 pm)
V) BUSINESS ITEMS
2. Discussion of Partnering Norms for Commissions/Staff Effectiveness. - City Manager -
Discussion
NO ACTION TAKEN
3. Presentation on City of Palo Alto Utilities (CPAU) Residential Programs and Service
Offerings. - Staff – Discussion
NO ACTION TAKEN
4. Discussion of the Proposed 2026 City Council Meeting Schedule and Review of Citywide
Dates of Significance List. - Staff – Discussion
NO ACTION TAKEN
5. Recognition of Service for Commissioner Eberle. - Stimmler - Discussion
NO ACTION TAKEN
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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
VI) REPORTS FROM OFFICIALS
VII) ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.
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HRC Application to Request Support
Submitted on 11 October 2025, 5:36pm
Receipt number 1
Related form version 10
Name of Applicant (First and Last):Priya Murthy
Organization (if applicable):Palo Alto City Library
Phone Number:___________
Email:__________________
Type of Request:Support of program/event fully implemented by requesting organization
Description of the Program or Event:This program is titled “Know Your Rights: Information for the Immigrant
Community” taking place on November 24, 2025 at 6:30 pm at the
Mitchell Park Library. This free program will be led by the Day Worker
Center of Mountain View (DWCMV) with support from the Santa Clara
County Office of Immigrant Affairs and is hosted by the Palo Alto City
Library. It is an information session where community members will learn
about their constitutional rights during interactions with immigration
officers and their civil and labor rights. An attorney partnering with
DWCMV will provide the presentation in English. Live Spanish
interpretation, childcare, and food will be provided.
Organizational Background:The Palo Alto City Library provides free educational workshops to the
public on a variety of issues. We have hosted KYR information sessions
in the past and partnered with the HRC for a similar program in February
2025. The DWCMV is a non-profit organization that connects with
employers in a safe and reliable environment and offers programs for
workers and community members. The Santa Clara County Office of
Immigrant Relations is a County program that promotes immigrant
integration and belonging by addressing issues, needs, and uplifting
immigrant contributions.
Alignment with HRC Goals:By providing information on civil rights, constitutional rights, and workers’
rights, this session will help ensure that immigrants and other individuals
are informed about legal rights that they are allowed to exercise. It also
helps convey the message that the City is inclusive and welcome to
individuals, regardless of country of origin or immigration status.
Support Requested:Use of HRC Name as an event supporter
Community Impact:Community members will be informed about their constitutional, civil, and
employment-related rights.
Other Sponsors or Partners:Day Workers Center of Mountain View; Santa Clara County Office of
Immigrant Relations
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I certify that the information contained in the foregoing
application is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and
belief.
Link to signature
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July 2025
Guidelines and Application for
Requesting Support from the
Human Relations Commission (HRC)
The Palo Alto Human Relations Commission (HRC) welcomes engagement from community
members and local organizations whose initiatives align with the Commission’s mission “to
promote the just and fair treatment of all people in Palo Alto, particularly our mos t vulnerable
populations. By promoting awareness of issues and enabling conversations that enhance
inclusion, the HRC strives to create a community where civility, respect and responsible actions
are the norm.”
These guidelines outline the types of events or programs the HRC will consider supporting and
the forms of support that may be offered. To maintain consistency and clarity in responding to
support requests, the following guidelines apply:
1. Eligibility for Support
The HRC will consider supporting programs, events, or initiatives that:
● Promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice.
● Support or empower vulnerable or historically marginalized populations.
● Encourage civil discourse and community dialogue.
● Align with the City of Palo Alto’s values and the HRC’s mission.
● Are non-commercial and non-partisan in nature.
● All events must be open to the public and provide services on a non-discriminatory basis.
2. Submission Requirements - Requests shall be submitted at least six weeks prior to the
proposed event or initiative to allow sufficient time for review.
Requests for support must be submitted by completing the application and should include:
● Description of the Program or Event: Include objectives, target audience, location, and
schedule.
● Organizational Background: A brief overview of the requesting group or individual.
● Alignment with HRC Goals: Explain how the initiative supports the HRC’s mission and
values.
● Endorsement Requested: Specify the form of endorsement requested.
o Use of HRC Name as an event supporter
o Request that a Commissioner attend the event or program
o Request that a Commissioner speak at the event or program
o Other
● Community Impact: Describe the expected benefit to the Palo Alto community.
● Other Sponsors or Partners: List any other organizations supporting the event.
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July 2025
3. Review Process
● All requests will be placed on the agenda of a regularly scheduled HRC meeting for
public discussion and deliberation.
● The HRC may request additional information or clarification before making a decision.
● The Commission’s decisions are advisory and do not imply official City of Palo Alto
support unless separately approved by the City Council.
4. Limitations
● The HRC reserves the right to decline any request for any reason.
● Support does not include funding, staffing, or logistical support unless otherwise
approved.
● Use of the HRC or City of Palo Alto name or logo requires prior written authorization.
5. Expectations
● Acknowledgment of HRC support in promotional materials.
● Opportunity for HRC members or representatives to attend or observe the event.
● A brief follow-up report or feedback within 30 days after the event, highlighting
outcomes and impact.
Application to Request Support from the HRC
All applications shall be submitted at least six weeks prior to the event date
Today’s Date: _______
Name: _______________________________________________________________________
Organization(if applicable) _______________________________________________________
Phone Number:__________________________________
Email: _________________________
Type of Request:
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July 2025
____ Support of program/event fully implemented by requesting organization
____ Other
Written description of program/event/other (no more than 2 pages) – Please include the following
information:
● Description of the Program or Event: Include objectives, target audience, location, and
schedule.
● Organizational Background: A brief overview of the requesting group or individual.
● Alignment with HRC Goals: Explain how the initiative supports the HRC’s mission and
values.
● Support Requested: Specify the form of support requested (e.g., name/logo use, etc.).
● Community Impact: Describe the expected benefit to the Palo Alto community.
● Other Sponsors or Partners: List any other organizations supporting the event.
Submission options:
Online Form: https://us.openforms.com/Form/bce007a5-320d-4ce4-9f08-8150bb1a9980
Email: Minka van der Zwaag at minka.vanderzwaag@paloalto.gov
Mail: Cubberley Community Center
4000 Middlefield Rd. #T2
Palo Alto, CA 94303
Additional Information:
If you have any questions about the application or the application process, please contact Minka
van der Zwaag, Human Services Manager at 650-463-4953 or minka.vanderzwaag@paloalto.gov
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From:Aram James
To:Raymond Goins; Human Relations Commission; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission;
EPA Today; policechief@menlopark.gov; PD Kristina Bell; Sean Allen; Foley, Michael; Nash, Betsy;
dcombs@menlopark.gov; Cecilia Taylor; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; DuJuan Green;
dennis burns
Cc:Shikada, Ed; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Vicki Veenker; Burt, Patrick; Dana St. George; Emily Mibach; Dave Price;
Braden Cartwright; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric; Bill Newell;
vramirez@redwoodcity.org; Stump, Molly; Lee, Craig; james pitkin; George for Palo Alto; Veenker, Vicki;
Reckdahl, Keith; Barberini, Christopher
Subject:Re: I saw this The Mercury News e-edition article on the The Mercury News e-edition app and thought you’d be
interested.
Date:Tuesday, October 28, 2025 8:07:55 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Andrew Binder’s other Brother
Deputy’s sleeping quarters in Millbrae a surprise, officials say
https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?guid=85235976-
2804-4da0-b721-731234ee1421&appcode=SAN252&eguid=9d161c58-ab7e-4eb3-a243-
d8695bdc72b1&pnum=2# For more
{{item.number}}
Packet Pg. 12
From:Aram James
To:Sean Allen; CityCouncil; Jay Boyarsky; james pitkin; Reifschneider, James; city.council@gilroy.org; Jeff Rosen;
mike braxton; David Piper; Carla Torres; Gennady Sheyner; Dave Price; Braden Cartwright; Brandon Pho;
Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Adam.Oberdorfer@shf.sccgov.org; Adam Dawes; vramirez@redwoodcity.org;
San José Spotlight; Shikada, Ed; MGR-Melissa Stevenson Diaz; Raymond Goins; Gerry Gras; Council, City; Jeff
Conrad; Jeff Hayden; Human Relations Commission; Bill Newell; PD Kristina Bell; policechief@menlopark.gov;
Chief.sjpd; EPA Today; Tony Alexander; Rick Callender; Dana St. George; Stump, Molly; Roberta Ahlquist; Salem
Ajluni; Nash, Betsy; Cecilia Taylor; dcombs@menlopark.gov; Pat M; Emily Mibach; Binder, Andrew; Barberini,
Christopher; Jensen, Eric; Figueroa, Eric; Lee, Craig; Afanasiev, Alex; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg;
ladoris cordell; Kaloma Smith; Bains, Paul; dennis burns; Wagner, April; Steve Wagstaffe; Lotus Fong; Sheree
Roth; Shounak Dharap; Hans-Peter Tiemann; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Enberg, Nicholas;
cromero@cityofepa.org; rabrica@cityofepa.org; KEVIN JENSEN; Diana Diamond; Josh Becker;
assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Dennis Upton; Keith Reckdahl; Dan Okonkwo; Daniel Kottke; Dave
Price; Office of the Provost; Burt, Patrick; Patrice Ventresca; Yolanda Conaway
Subject:Re: EXCLUSIVE: Millbrae police chief facing questions for allegedly commuting to work from Idaho
Date:Sunday, October 26, 2025 7:59:02 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Andrew Binder’s Other Brother !!!!!
EXCLUSIVE: Millbrae police chief facing
questions for allegedly commuting to work
from Idaho
By Dan Noyes, 12 hrs ago
EXCLUSIVE: Millbrae police chief facing questions for allegedly commuting to work from
Idaho Source: ABC7 News Bay Area https://share.newsbreak.com/fm6bxqc2?s=i0
{{item.number}}
Packet Pg. 13
From:Aram James
To:Reckdahl, Keith; Stone, Greer; Burt, Patrick; Ed Lauing
Cc:Binder, Andrew; Wagner, April; Human Relations Commission; Nash, Betsy; Vicki Veenker;
planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Gennady Sheyner; Riley Cooke; EPA
Today; Shikada, Ed; ladoris cordell; Raymond Goins; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Gerry Gras; Brian Good; Stump,
Molly; Lait, Jonathan; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Foley, Michael; Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric; Perron, Zachary
Subject:Re: Will the white male citizen council jam Keith Reckdahl down our throats
Date:Sunday, October 26, 2025 7:58:35 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Will the white male citizen council jam Keith Reckdahl down our throats in
2026?
Support Julie Lythcott-Haims for vice-mayor in 2026.
{{item.number}}
Packet Pg. 14
From:Aram James
To:Sean Allen; CityCouncil; Jay Boyarsky; james pitkin; Reifschneider, James; city.council@gilroy.org; Jeff Rosen;
mike braxton; David Piper; Carla Torres; Gennady Sheyner; Dave Price; Braden Cartwright; Brandon Pho;
Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Adam.Oberdorfer@shf.sccgov.org; Adam Dawes; vramirez@redwoodcity.org;
San José Spotlight; Shikada, Ed; MGR-Melissa Stevenson Diaz; Raymond Goins; Gerry Gras; Council, City; Jeff
Conrad; Jeff Hayden; Human Relations Commission; Bill Newell; PD Kristina Bell; policechief@menlopark.gov;
Chief.sjpd; EPA Today; Tony Alexander; Rick Callender; Dana St. George; Stump, Molly; Roberta Ahlquist; Salem
Ajluni; Nash, Betsy; Cecilia Taylor; dcombs@menlopark.gov; Pat M; Emily Mibach; Binder, Andrew; Barberini,
Christopher; Jensen, Eric; Figueroa, Eric; Lee, Craig; Afanasiev, Alex; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg;
ladoris cordell; Kaloma Smith; Bains, Paul; dennis burns; Wagner, April; Steve Wagstaffe; Lotus Fong; Sheree
Roth; Shounak Dharap; Hans-Peter Tiemann; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Enberg, Nicholas;
cromero@cityofepa.org; rabrica@cityofepa.org; KEVIN JENSEN; Diana Diamond; Josh Becker;
assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Dennis Upton; Keith Reckdahl; Dan Okonkwo; Daniel Kottke; Dave
Price; Office of the Provost; Burt, Patrick; Patrice Ventresca; Yolanda Conaway
Subject:EXCLUSIVE: Millbrae police chief facing questions for allegedly commuting to work from Idaho
Date:Saturday, October 25, 2025 8:29:09 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Andrew Binder’s Other Brother !!!!!
EXCLUSIVE: Millbrae police chief facing
questions for allegedly commuting to work
from Idaho
By Dan Noyes, 12 hrs ago
EXCLUSIVE: Millbrae police chief facing questions for allegedly commuting to work from
Idaho Source: ABC7 News Bay Area https://share.newsbreak.com/fm6bxqc2?s=i0
{{item.number}}
Packet Pg. 15
From:Aram James
To:Reckdahl, Keith; Stone, Greer; Burt, Patrick; Ed Lauing
Cc:Vicki Veenker; George for Palo Alto; Julie Lythcott-Haims; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Brian Good; Braden
Cartwright; Gerry Gras; Human Relations Commission; Bains, Paul; Kaloma Smith; Sean Allen; Gennady Sheyner;
Dave Price; Emily Chapman; Josh Becker; Wagner, April; Binder, Andrew; Diana Diamond; EPA Today; Gennady
Sheyner; josh@joshsalcman.com; board@pausd.org; CityCouncil; city.council@gilroy.org;
policechief@menlopark.gov; dcombs@menlopark.org; PD Kristina Bell; Anna Griffin; Anne Cribbs; ladoris cordell;
Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Conrad
Subject:Will the white male citizen council Jam Keith Reckdahl down our throats
Date:Friday, October 24, 2025 11:23:36 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Will the white male citizen council jam Keith Reckdahl down our throats in
2026?
{{item.number}}
Packet Pg. 16
From:Aram James
To:Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Reckdahl, Keith; Jeff Rosen; Josh Becker; Nash, Betsy; Zelkha, Mila; james pitkin; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Hayden; Rosen, Jeff;
jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Diana Diamond; Dana St. George; Daniel Kottke; DuJuan Green; Dennis Upton; Vicki Veenker; Gennady Sheyner; WILPF Peninsula
Palo Alto; CityCouncil; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Stump, Molly; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Riley Cooke; Bill Johnson; Burt,
Patrick; gstone22@gmail.com; Reckdahl, Keith; Ed Lauing
Cc:Shikada, Ed; EPA Today; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; cromero@cityofepa.org; Raymond Goins; rabrica@cityofepa.org;
Human Relations Commission; Kaloma Smith
Subject:U.N. Urges Israel to Open Rafah Border Crossing to Allow Aid into Gaza | Democracy Now!
Date:Friday, October 24, 2025 10:27:54 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments andclicking on links.
Julie Lythcott-Haims for Vice Mayor of Palo Alto in 2026
Just Say No To Keith Reckdahl for Palo Alto Vice Mayor in 2026
The United Nations is urging Israel to open the Rafah border crossing to allow urgently needed aid into the
Gaza Strip. This comes as 41 aid organizations, including Oxfam and the Norwegian Refugee Council, have
published an open letter accusing Israel of “arbitrarily” rejecting aid deliveries into Gaza. The letter says, “Aid
denied by Israeli authorities includes tents and tarpaulins, blankets, mattresses, food and nutrition supplies,
hygiene kits, sanitation materials, assistive devices, and children’s clothing, all of which should be
unrestricted during the ceasefire.”
https://www.democracynow.org/2025/10/24/headlines/un_urges_israel_to_open_rafah_border_crossing_to_allow_aid_into_gaza
{{item.number}}
Packet Pg. 17
From:Aram James
To:Julie Lythcott-Haims; Reckdahl, Keith; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Josh Becker; Jay Boyarsky;
BoardOperations; board@pausd.org; Diana Diamond
Cc:Dave Price; Vicki Veenker; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Gennady Sheyner; Gardener, Liz; Roberta Ahlquist;
WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Human Relations Commission; Jeff Conrad; Nash, Betsy; Cecilia Taylor;
dcombs@menlopark.gov; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission;
cromero@cityofepa.org; Raymond Goins; rabrica@cityofepa.org; Zahra Billoo; Sean Allen; Pat M; Lotus Fong;
Nicole Chiu-Wang; Yolanda Conaway; Yusra Hussain; editor@almanacnews.com; Shikada, Ed; Jessica Speiser,
Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Office of the Provost; EPA Today;
Brian Good; Binder, Andrew; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; Salem Ajluni; Kaloma Smith;
editor@paweekly.com; Riley Cooke
Subject:Zohran Mamdani"s views on Israel challenge New York"s political norms | AP News
Date:Friday, October 24, 2025 1:19:55 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Julie Lythcott Haims for Palo Alto Vice
Mayor in 2026.
Just say no to Keith Rechdahl for Vice
Mayor!
Backing Israel was considered
mandatory for New York politicians.
Then came Zohran Mamdani
https://apnews.com/article/zohran-mamdani-andrew-cuomo-israel-
11e3f9c7b9ad37dfd356a0177f3a080a
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Packet Pg. 18
From:Aram James
To:Lythcott-Haims, Julie
Cc:Shikada, Ed; Council, City; Lu, George; Reckdahl, Keith; Vicki Veenker; citycouncil@menlopark.org;
policechief@menlopark.gov; Chief.sjpd; Binder, Andrew; PD Kristina Bell; GRP-City Council;
city.council@gilroy.org; CityCouncil; Rebecca Kieler; Vara Ramakrishnan; Human Relations Commission;
planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; james pitkin; Reifschneider, James; Afanasiev,
Alex; Barberini, Christopher; Enberg, Nicholas; Lee, Craig; Foley, Michael; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>;
julie.ruhlin@oirgroup.con; Gennady Sheyner; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; Tom DuBois; DuJuan Green; Hans-
Peter Tiemann; Peter Drekmeier; Bains, Paul; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Roberta Ahlquist; Lotus Fong; Jay
Boyarsky; Jeff Hayden; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Conrad; Office of the Provost; Ah Yun, Mahealani; Seher Awan; David
Piper; mike braxton
Subject:[Shared Post] Advocates challenge Taser use in San Mateo County, Redwood City
Date:Thursday, October 23, 2025 2:43:00 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
https://www.almanacnews.com/public-safety/2025/10/16/advocates-challenge-taser-use-in-
san-mateo-county-redwood-city/
{{item.number}}
Packet Pg. 19
From:Aram James
To:Binder, Andrew; CityCouncil; Reifschneider, James; city.council@gilroy.org; Human Relations Commission;
planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Reckdahl, Keith; GRP-City Council; Braden
Cartwright; EPA Today; Wagner, April; Council, City; Doug Minkler; Shankar Ramamoorthy; DuJuan Green;
dennis burns; Jay Boyarsky; Josh Becker; PD Kristina Bell; policechief@menlopark.gov; Chief.sjpd; ladoris cordell;
Dana St. George; Gerry Gras; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Nicole Chiu-Wang; board@pausd.org;
BoardOperations; Afanasiev, Alex; Rose Lynn; Lotus Fong; Palo Alto Free Press; Dave Price; Brandon Pho; Emily
Mibach; Gennady Sheyner; Bains, Paul
Subject:Source: The Almanac
Date:Wednesday, October 22, 2025 11:19:59 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Source: The Almanac Advocates challenge Taser use in San Mateo County, Redwood City
https://share.google/01M21c1ni1QGmXx9b
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From:Aram James
To:Steve Wagstaffe; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Conrad; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Sean Allen; Pat M; Lythcott-
Haims, Julie; Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Wagner, April; Gennady Sheyner; Jay Boyarsky; Jay
Boyarsky; Reckdahl, Keith; Human Relations Commission; Council, City; policechief@menlopark.gov; Shounak
Dharap; Chief.sjpd; yolanda; David Piper; Damon Silver; Rodriguez, Miguel; Zelkha, Mila; Valeros, Gilda B; Musa
Tariq; Bill Newell; Nancy Goodban
Subject:Source: The Almanac
Date:Tuesday, October 21, 2025 7:07:55 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Until you get a different kind of prosecutor, it doesn’t matter what you do, the cops are not
going to feel any threat about using Tasers because they know they’re not going to be
prosecuted,” said Aram James, a Coalition for Justice and Accountability member and retired
Santa Clara County deputy public defender. “We’ve got to get prosecutors to exercise their
prosecutorial discretion in a different way.”
Source: The Almanac Advocates challenge Taser use in San Mateo County, Redwood City
https://share.google/fLyx4drWKP5Rbun3v
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From:Aram James
To:Roberta Ahlquist
Cc:Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Gennady Sheyner; Riley Cooke; Renters" Association Palo Alto;
assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Josh Becker; Jay Boyarsky; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Reckdahl, Keith;
Vicki Veenker; CityCouncil; Human Relations Commission; editor@paweekly.com; Shikada, Ed; Lait, Jonathan;
planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Gerry Gras; George for Palo Alto; ladoris cordell;
dennis burns; Dennis Upton; Stump, Molly; Dana St. George; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Zelkha, Mila
Subject:Re: homelessness_letter_8-2-13
Date:Monday, October 20, 2025 8:06:46 PM
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I hope so too.
On Mon, Oct 20, 2025 at 8:01 PM Roberta Ahlquist <finnroberta@gmail.com> wrote:
SRAM,
Thank you for your thoughtful letter. I was volunteering at the United Nations Assn Film
Festival tonight. I hope that the Council did the socially just action.
Roberta
Sent from my iPhone
> On Oct 20, 2025, at 6:06 PM, Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
> <homelessness_letter_8-2-13.pdf>
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From:Aram James
To:Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Gennady Sheyner; Riley Cooke; Palo Alto Renters" Association;
assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Josh Becker; Jay Boyarsky
Cc:Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Reckdahl, Keith; Vicki Veenker; CityCouncil; Human Relations Commission;
editor@paweekly.com; Shikada, Ed; Lait, Jonathan; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec
Commission; Gerry Gras; George for Palo Alto; ladoris cordell; dennis burns; Dennis Upton; Stump, Molly; Dana
St. George; Roberta Ahlquist; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Zelkha, Mila
Subject:homelessness_letter_8-2-13
Date:Monday, October 20, 2025 6:07:17 PM
Attachments:homelessness_letter_8-2-13.pdf
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From:Aram James
To:Lythcott-Haims, Julie
Cc:Council, City; eddie.aubrey@sanjoseca.gov; Chief.sjpd; Austin Jenkins; city.council@gilroy.org; CityCouncil;
policechief@menlopark.gov; Nash, Betsy; cromero@cityofepa.org; Lee, Craig;
planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Bains, Paul; dennis burns; DuJuan Green;
Afanasiev, Alex; Zahra Billoo
Subject:Re: Tuesday March Rally against Tasers and Board of Sup. meeting
Date:Monday, October 20, 2025 2:02:15 PM
Attachments:Outlook-eqxoeize.png
Outlook-z0lwcem5.png
Outlook-ynmnczez.png
Outlook-jac33zfc.png
Outlook-ckn2t2bf.png
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
On Mon, Oct 20, 2025 at 1:41 PM Richard Konda <rkonda@asianlawalliance.org> wrote:
Community Speak Out and Rally in Front of Main Jail to Tell Board of
Supervisors to Reject Sheriff’s Plan to Arm All Deputies with Tasers
(Immediately Before Board of Supervisor Vote on the Issue)
WHEN: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21 starting at 9am
WHERE: STARTING AT SANTA CLARA COUNTY MAIN JAIL (150 W. Hedding
Street)
WHAT: The Coalition for Justice and Accountability (CJA) -- a diverse coalition of
civil rights organizations, advocates for communities of color in Santa Clara County,
and support groups for the incarcerated -- will hold a speak out and rally to call out
the dangerous proposal of the Sheriff to arm all deputies with Tasers. Rally
attendees will then walk into the County Board of Supervisors meeting to share their
opposition to the Board of Supervisors. The Sheriff’s Taser proposal is item #9 on
the meeting agenda.
BACKGROUND: After six months into a pilot program that armed some deputies in
the jail with Tasers, the Sheriff is now proposing to the Board of Supervisors buy
and arm every deputy with the lethal weapon. The proposal would mean an
increase of 75 purchased weapons to 1,400 for the bureau’s deputies and
correctional officers. Cost projections for the procurement alone (excluding
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expected lawsuits based on Taser usage) is estimated at 5 million dollars. Richard
Konda, chairperson for CJA and the Executive Director of the Asian Law Alliance
says, “Tasers are unsafe to use on unarmed individuals whose physical and
psychological vulnerabilities are unknown to law enforcement. Tasers are
used mostly on unarmed poor, black, brown, indigenous, and mentally ill
individuals. 32% of those killed by a Taser are African Americans.” Former
public defender and co-chair of CJA, Aram James, has studied Taser use across
multiple jurisdictions and testified in various city and county policy meetings
regarding the dangers of the weapon. James says the failed promise of the Sheriff
to share any video of Taser usage is problematic. He says, “The community is
demanding the video footage of the tasering of 9 inmates, their medical
records and the corresponding use of force reports. Without access to these
records the public is shut out of the critical oversight process. The
community demands transparency.”
In a letter sent directly the Board of Supervisors in advance of the Tuesday vote,
Sean Allen, President of the Silicon Valley NAACP, wrote, “We must demand that
county leadership prioritize true accountability, constitutional compliance,
and the dignity of all residents before expanding the weapons of incarceration
or seeking further tax burdens to sustain a failed system.” Similarly, Raymond
Goins, an organizer with SV De-Bug, Afro Uprise and the NAACP, also shared
outrage of the Taser proposal. “I have been housed in Main Jail and Elmwood,
and can say undoubtedly there is no safe place for Tasers,” says Goins. And
Cynthia Dalcourt, a mother of a son who feared for his life in the jail due to
correctional officers threats, says, “Incarceration is traumatic enough, during his
stay in jail, my son didn’t know if he would survive. The chances of someone
like him being killed is only greater with the introduction of Tasers."
----
Richard Konda (he/him/his)
Executive Director
Phone: (408) 287-9710
Email: rkonda@asianlawalliance.org
991 W. Hedding Street, Ste. 202
San Jose, CA 95126
STATEMENT OF CONFIDENTIALITY: This message is being sent by a legal organization. The contents of this email message and any
attachments are confidential and are intended solely for the addressee. The information may also be legally privileged. This transmission is sent intrust, for the sole purpose of delivery to the intended recipient. If you have received this transmission in error, any use, reproduction or
dissemination of this transmission is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender immediately by reply email
and delete this message and its attachments, if any. Email is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 USC 2510-2521 and is
legally privileged.
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From:Aram James
To:Binder, Andrew; Reifschneider, James; Human Relations Commission; james pitkin; Yolanda Conaway; Bains,
Paul; Paul George @ PPJC; Holman, Karen (external); Tony Alexander; Tom DuBois; tom.cline@cityofgilroy.org;
Adam Dawes; Adam.Oberdorfer@shf.sccgov.org; Baker, Rob
Cc:Vicki Veenker; Jasso, Tamara; Blackshire, Geoffrey; editor@almanacnews.com; Lauing, Ed; gstone22@gmail.com
Subject:Watch "Sean Allen Analysis on Santa Clara County Taser Usage" on YouTube
Date:Monday, October 20, 2025 10:28:03 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
https://youtu.be/SEnlP3WoM2w?si=TIRie0FDhbUv2pEy
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From:Aram James
To:Supervisor Susan Ellenberg; Supervisor Otto Lee; Supervisor Betty Duong; District5@bos.sccgov.org;
district1@bos.sccgov.org; Adam.Oberdorfer@shf.sccgov.org; Robert.Jonson@shf.sccgov.org; Brandon Pho;
Robert Salonga; Chief.sjpd; eddie.aubrey@sanjoseca.gov; Binder, Andrew; james pitkin; Reifschneider, James;
ladoris cordell; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; city.council@gilroy.org; CityCouncil; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; EPA
Today; Raymond Goins; Gennady Sheyner; Raj Jayadev; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan; Councilmember
Chappie Jones; District3@sanjoseca.gov; District9@sanjoseca.gov; District5@sanjoseca.gov; Human Relations
Commission; steven mcgill; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; Carla Torres; David Piper; mike braxton;
Yusra Hussain; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Shankar Ramamoorthy; Doug Minkler; Wagner, April; Enberg,
Nicholas; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Barberini, Christopher; <michael.gennaco@oirgroup.com>; Lotus Fong; Linda
Jolley; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Ruth Silver Taube (rsilvertaube@scu.edu); Shikada, Ed; Bill Newell; Rebecca Kieler;
PD Kristina Bell; GRP-City Council; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Vicki Veenker; vramirez@redwoodcity.org;
Stump, Molly; cromero@cityofepa.org; Lee, Craig; dcombs@menlopark.gov; Perron, Zachary; Council, City;
Seher Awan; Steve Wagstaffe; Jeff Rosen; Jeff Conrad; Jay Boyarsky
Subject:Watch "Sean Allen Analysis on Santa Clara County Taser Usage" on YouTube
Date:Sunday, October 19, 2025 10:56:45 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
https://youtu.be/SEnlP3WoM2w?si=1EJxFoZtIEBdGud0
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From:Aram James
To:Stump, Molly; vramirez@redwoodcity.org; GRP-City Council; Nash, Betsy; City of Menlo Park; Chief.sjpd; Council,
City; gstone22@gmail.com; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; james pitkin; Shikada, Ed; ladoris cordell; Paul George @
PPJC; Kaloma Smith; Human Relations Commission; Dave Price; Gennady Sheyner; EPA Today; Diana Diamond;
Brian Good; Brandon Pho; Braden Cartwright; Emily Mibach; PD Kristina Bell; Palo Alto Free Press; Doug Minkler;
Shankar Ramamoorthy; Sarah E. Sandoval; Sean Allen; Pat M; Patrice Ventresca; Raymond Goins; Rose Lynn;
Julie Lythcott-Haims; CityCouncil; city.council@gilroy.org; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Perron, Zachary;
Binder, Andrew; Enberg, Nicholas; Alex Kobayashi; Afanasiev, Alex; dennis burns; DuJuan Green; Tom DuBois;
Seher Awan; Gerry Gras; Gardener, Liz; Lotus Fong; Robert Salonga; Roberta Ahlquist
Subject:L.A. council rebukes city attorney over ban on LAPD using crowd control weapons on journalists
Date:Saturday, October 18, 2025 12:46:10 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
L.A. council rebukes city attorney over ban on LAPD using crowd control weapons on
journalists https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-10-17/l-a-officials-clash-over-
judges-ban-on-lapd-shooting-crowd-control-weapons-at-journalists
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From:Aram James
To:Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Reckdahl, Keith; Jeff Rosen; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic
Delegate, Assembly District 23; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Josh Becker;
planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Human Relations Commission;
city.council@gilroy.org; Jay Boyarsky; josh@joshsalcman.com; Ed Lauing; Nash, Betsy; CityCouncil;
citycouncil@mountainview.gov; citycouncil@nenlopark.org; Zelkha, Mila; Dave Price; Gennady Sheyner; EPA
Today; Doug Minkler; Shankar Ramamoorthy; Ruth Silver Taube; Raymond Goins; Raymond Goins; Vara
Ramakrishnan; james pitkin; PD Kristina Bell; Binder, Andrew; Chief.sjpd; Lori Meyers; Sheree Roth; Pat M; Yusra
Hussain; Seher Awan; Sean Allen; Bains, Paul; Patrice Ventresca; Patricia.Guerrero@jud.ca.gov; Bill Newell;
Perron, Zachary; Stump, Molly; vramirez@redwoodcity.org; Reifschneider, James
Subject:Congressman Announces He’s ‘Returning AIPAC Donations’ and ‘Refusing to Accept’ Any More Support
Date:Friday, October 17, 2025 12:23:33 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Congressman Announces He’s ‘Returning AIPAC Donations’ and ‘Refusing to Accept’ Any
More Support
https://www.newsbreak.com/massachusetts-state/4296494262649-congressman-announces-
hes-returning-aipac-donations-and-refusing-to-accept-any-more-support?
s=ws_em&emailId=AW8Qvlz&uid=74647647
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From:CaraSilver@proton.me
To:Human Relations Commission
Cc:LF_Act4Democracy; David Waksberg; Mike Slind
Subject:No Kings Day Event in Palo Alto this Saturday
Date:Thursday, October 16, 2025 6:04:40 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
i
Dear HRC Members:
You are warmly invited to join Indivisible Palo Alto Plus and several other local Indivisible chapters
for a Democracy Parade, Fair and Democracy Academy this Saturday, October 18, beginning at
10:00 AM.
Here is a link to the Democracy Parade and Fair:
https://www.indivisiblepeninsulabayarea.org/nokings/. Rep. Liccardo and Former Council
Member Cordell will be speaking at the Closing Ceremony.
This time around we will also be hosting special Democracy Academy workshops, which will
take place alongside the parade and fair. Here is a link to these workshops:
https://www.indivisiblepeninsulabayarea.org/nokings/democracy_academy.html
You can review the topics and times for all workshops, and pre-register for workshops that
appeal to you. Council Member Lythcott-Haims will be moderating a workshop called
"Amplify Your Voice: A Workshop for New Activists."
Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Cara Silver and Linda Frommer
Co-Chairs, Democracy Academy
Indivisible Palo Alto Plus
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From:Eden Housing
To:Human Relations Commission
Subject:Exciting Funding News; Strong Affirmation from the S&P; A Look Back at Summer Celebrations and more
Date:Thursday, October 16, 2025 10:25:45 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautious of opening attachments and clicking on links.
View on web
Fall is always an energizing time of renewal, and we at Eden have been
busy planning new beginnings for future residents, with a full slate of
grand openings and groundbreakings, including properties at La
Avenida Apartments in Mountain View; Casa Canal in San Rafael; Vista
Verde in Freedom; and Downtown Library in Santa Cruz.
As Fred Keeley, Mayor of Santa Cruz, said at the Downtown Library event, “What we're doing
here in Santa Cruz is finding the best ways to get more housing, and especially affordable
housing. We cannot grow our way out of unaffordability. We need to invest in affordable
housing.”
We couldn’t have said it better ourselves and are always so grateful to our elected officials who
understand this need. On that note, we’d like to send sincere thanks to Senator John Laird and
Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, who secured $4.5 million in state funding to directly support
Phase II of the Downtown Library construction. And, we invite you to read about Measure C, the
Workforce Housing Affordability Act of 2025, to see how you can make your voice heard and
make a difference in future housing availability. Measures like this have a proven track record—
local initiatives such as Measure A in Santa Clara County and Measure A1 in Alameda County are
slated to create more than 11,000 affordable homes across the region, demonstrating the real
impact that voter-supported funding can have on our communities.
In other funding news, Eden Housing was granted $78 million in new funding to support five
affordable housing projects, part of an overall $414 million award from the California
Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD). You can read more about those
projects below.
As you know, our goal is always to ensure our developments meet and exceed the highest
standards, which is why we were thrilled to attend the SVBJ 2025 Structures Awards and
celebrate the commendation of La Avenida Apartments in the Affordable Residential Project
category. We were especially happy to celebrate this recognition alongside our partners at the
City of Mountain View and Santa Clara County, whose leadership and collaboration made this
achievement possible.
And, if you’ve ever wondered how we maintain all our developments to the excellent
specifications with which they start, we can thank our hard-working maintenance staff. You can
find out more about how they keep facilities safe and comfortable in the video below on Eden’s
new Maintenance Training Facility.
Finally, we were honored to have our financial stewardship recognized by the S&P, which gave
Eden Housing a credit rating of AA-, one of the highest ratings to be obtained by a nonprofit
social housing provider.
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As always, thank you for taking the time to keep up on the latest developments at Eden
Housing. Whether we’re breaking ground on new projects or supporting residents in existing
communities, each milestone moves us closer to a future where quality housing is within reach
for all.
Linda Mandolini,
President & CEO of Eden Housing
EDEN HOUSING UPDATES
S&P Global Ratings Assigns ‘AA-‘ Rating with
Stable Outlook to Eden Housing
S&P Global Ratings (S&P), one of the leading rating agencies in the country, has assigned Eden
Housing an issuer credit rating of AA- with a stable outlook, one of the highest ratings to be
obtained by a nonprofit social housing provider. S&P expressed confidence in Eden’s strong
financial performance, prudent risk management and extremely strong management and
governance.
The rating by S&P reflects the agency’s expectation that Eden’s organizational and financial risk
profiles, based on historical and projected performance, will continue to support the
organization’s mission.
Learn More
Eden Housing Secures Over $78 Million in
State Funding for Affordable Projects
The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) announced earlier
this month that it has awarded more than $414 million in new funding to support 30 affordable
housing projects statewide, creating over 2,000 new homes. Five of the funded developments
are being led by Eden Housing.
The Eden projects that received funding include:
73rd Street Apartments, San Diego
Iris Avenue Trolley Apartments, San Diego
Donner Field Senior Apartments, Sacramento
Oak Hill Apartments, Marin
Point Reyes Coast Guard Housing, Marin County
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“We are extremely grateful to the State of California for this funding and deeply appreciative of
Governor Newsom’s leadership in prioritizing solutions to our housing crisis,” said Linda
Mandolini, President and CEO of Eden Housing. “This investment is critical to moving these
developments into construction or across the finish line. It represents a major win not only for
Eden but for affordable housing providers throughout the state. We are honored to have been
selected and thankful to our local partners who make it possible to bring these homes forward.”
Read More
A Summer of Progress
The summer was full of milestones as Eden celebrated a number of events, including grand
openings and groundbreakings. A big thank you to our speakers, partners and funding partners,
without whom these projects wouldn’t come to fruition.
La Avenida Apartments Grand Opening
Eden Housing, in partnership with the
City of Mountain View and the County
of Santa Clara, hosted a grand
opening to celebrate Mountain View’s
newest affordable housing
development, La Avenida
Apartments. The development is a
100-unit project for individuals and
families earning between 30% and
60% of the area median income. It
also seeks to address the
homelessness crisis by providing
permanent supportive housing to
individuals experiencing
homelessness in the area.
On a related note, La Avenida Apartments was honored in the Affordable Residential Project
category at the Silicon Valley Business Journal 2025 Structures Awards, an achievement that
wouldn’t have been possible without our incredible partners: the City of Mountain View, County
of Santa Clara, Santa Clara County Housing Authority, Wells Fargo, California Community
Reinvestment Corporation, Housing Trust Silicon Valley, California Energy Commission, The
Home Depot Foundation, California Tax Credit Allocation Committee, California Debt Limit
Allocation Committee, California Municipal Finance Authority, David Baker Architects, James E.
Roberts-Obayashi Corp. Thank you to each of you for making La Avenida a reality.
Casa Canal Grand Opening
After much anticipation, Eden introduced the organization’s first adaptive reuse project—
transforming a once-vacant office building into safe, permanent homes for individuals
transitioning out of homelessness. Casa Canal in San Rafael delivers 41 much-needed
permanent supportive homes to the region and provides residents with comprehensive
supportive services, including mental health care.
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We are grateful for the tremendous
partnerships we have developed over
the years with like-minded
organizations and individuals in the
region who made this project
possible. This repurposing initiative
was funded by the Project Homekey
and California Housing Accelerator
programs, and the County of Marin.
Vista Verde Grand Re-Opening
Eden Housing celebrated the grand
re-opening of Vista Verde Apartments
in Freedom, California. The
rehabilitation project transformed the
building into an updated and more
comfortable place for residents to live.
Originally built in 2001, Vista Verde
was acquired in 2015 by Eden Housing
as part of a comprehensive effort to
preserve the South County Housing
portfolio.
The transformation at Vista Verde Apartments has been amazing. All units have new kitchens
and bathrooms equipped with energy-efficient appliances and new flooring, LED lighting and
fresh paint. Additionally, the exterior of the apartment building was painted; new LED lighting
and building signage were added; and a new roof was installed. The parking lot was redone, and
a new basketball court and hoop were installed. Several landscaping improvements, including
new plants and trees, were also made.
Downtown Library Affordable Housing Project Groundbreaking
The City of Santa Cruz, Eden Housing and For the Future Housing hosted a groundbreaking for
the Downtown Library Affordable Housing project to celebrate the $150 million financial closing
and the beginning of construction. The site, which is being jointly developed by Eden Housing
and For the Future Housing, as well as the City of Santa Cruz for public use components,
features a multi-story mixed-use building which includes:
124 studios, one, two and three-
bedroom homes
A modern public library with
resources for all
A childcare facility
Commercial space
A public parking component to
serve the Downtown Santa Cruz
retail community
Support Affordable Housing in Santa Cruz
While Eden Housing is proud of its efforts to help our
community members find a safe place to call home,
there is so much more to be done. That’s why we
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invite you to learn more about Measure C, the
Workforce Housing Affordability Act of 2025. This
initiative will help ensure that teachers, healthcare
workers, service employees and others who provide
essential services can live in the community they
support. We encourage you to get involved and
make your voice heard today!
Learn more about Housing Santa Cruz County and Measure C
Eden Launches Maintenance Training Facility
Eden recently launched a Maintenance Training Facility to support and train its maintenance
teams with hands-on learning and real-world simulations. Its Maintenance University
contributes to thriving careers while helping sharpen skills that keep Eden’s housing
developments in top-notch shape.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Groundbreaking:
Goldfinch at Mulberry Gardens
November 14 at 12:00 PM
Riverside, California
EDEN HOUSING IN THE NEWS
America ByDesign: Blue Oak Landing
Santa Clara County hoped to build 4,800 new homes with Measure A money. How did they exceed that
goal by 38%?
San Ramon council poised to vote on Eden Housing project
Donate Today!
Eden Housing
22645 Grand Street
Hayward, 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
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From:Aram James
To:Reckdahl, Keith; Vicki Veenker; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Lu, George; gstone22@gmail.com; Lait, Jonathan;
planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; Shikada, Ed; Burt, Patrick; Gennady Sheyner; Riley Cooke; Roberta
Ahlquist; WILPF Peninsula Palo Alto; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; EPA Today; Human Relations Commission; Diana
Diamond; vramirez@redwoodcity.org; Stump, Molly; Patrice Ventresca; board@pausd.org
Subject:Chronic homelessness worsens in Santa Clara County - San José Spotlight
Date:Tuesday, October 14, 2025 8:34:19 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
https://sanjosespotlight.com/chronic-homelessness-worsens-in-santa-clara-county/
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From:Aram James
To:Reckdahl, Keith; Reckdahl, Keith; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Vicki Veenker; Human Relations Commission; Palo Alto
Renters" Association; Council, City; CityCouncil; city.council@gilroy.org; Sean Allen; Pat M;
citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Clerk, City; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; EPA
Today; Dave Price; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Diana Diamond; The Office of Mayor Matt Mahan
Subject:Chronic homelessness worsens in Santa Clara County - San José Spotlight
Date:Monday, October 13, 2025 9:54:57 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
https://sanjosespotlight.com/chronic-homelessness-worsens-in-santa-clara-county/
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From:Aram James
To:Reckdahl, Keith; Jessica Speiser, Educational Leader for California Democratic Delegate, Assembly District 23; Ed
Lauing; Josh Becker; assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Jay Boyarsky; Jeff Rosen; Gennady Sheyner;
Raymond Goins; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg; ParkRec Commission; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Doug
Minkler; Shankar Ramamoorthy; Sheree Roth; Lori Meyers; Gerry Gras; Dana St. George; Angel, David; Friends
of Cubberley; Nash, Betsy; Vicki Veenker; dcombs@menlopark.gov; Chief.sjpd; Sean Allen; Yusra Hussain; Seher
Awan; Salem Ajluni; james pitkin; Pat M; Rick Callender; EXT.Richard.Hobbs; Salem Ajluni; Holman, Karen; Tom
DuBois; Human Relations Commission; city.council@gilroy.org; citycouncil@mountainview.gov;
citycouncil@nenlopark.org; CityCouncil; Clerk, City; city.council@menlopark.gov; dennis burns; DuJuan Green;
Lu, George; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Emily Mibach; Dave Price; EPA Today; Diana Diamond; The Office of Mayor
Matt Mahan
Subject:Source: Progressive International this is the beginning of the end of Zionism
Date:Monday, October 13, 2025 9:10:04 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
In a talk he gave on October 21st, 2023, historian Ilan Pappé stated: ‘Before October I wrote
an article saying this is the beginning of the end of Zionism…after last week in fact I’m even
more convinced. As happened in apartheid South Africa, this is a very dangerous period. The
regime fights for its life….historically I have no doubt that this is what we are experiencing,
we are experiencing cruelty and brutality because a certain regime is losing it, not because it’s
winning, but because it’s losing.’ Israel’s attacks on Iran and Lebanon, attempting to lure the
US into a broader regional war, are another sign of that desperation.
Source: Progressive International In our thousands, in our millions: On Aaron Bushnell’s final
act https://share.google/SUx6MpxEqsXXgdS50
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From:Aram James
To:Reckdahl, Keith; Reckdahl, Keith; Lauing, Ed; Vicki Veenker; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Lu, George; Shikada, Ed;
Council, City; Anna Griffin; jgreen@dailynewsgroup.com; Emily Mibach; Braden Cartwright; Brandon Pho; Brian
Good; Shankar Ramamoorthy; Doug Minkler; Yolanda Conaway; Yusra Hussain; Seher Awan; Senator Becker;
assemblymember.berman@assembly.ca.gov; Human Relations Commission; james pitkin; Reifschneider, James
Cc:GRP-City Council; city.council@gilroy.org; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Clerk, City; Binder, Andrew; Wagner,
April; PD Kristina Bell; Chief.sjpd; MGR-Melissa Stevenson Diaz; Donald Mendoza; City of Menlo Park; ladoris
cordell; Lotus Fong; Roberta Ahlquist; Barberini, Christopher; chuck jagoda
Subject:Re: Israeli Historian Ilan Pappé: Despite Ceasefire, Palestinians Still Face “Elimination, Genocide”
Date:Monday, October 13, 2025 8:35:51 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
On Mon, Oct 13, 2025 at 8:11 AM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:
https://www.democracynow.org/2025/10/13/ilan_pappe_israel_on_the_brink
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From:Aram James
To:Shikada, Ed; Lauing, Ed; Vicki Veenker; Gerry Gras; Lu, George; Blackshire, Geoffrey; Bains, Paul; Raymond
Goins; Gardener, Liz; Binder, Andrew; james pitkin; Lotus Fong; Roberta Ahlquist; dennis burns; Salem Ajluni;
Steve Wagstaffe; Jeff Conrad; Jeff Rosen; Jay Boyarsky; Baker, Rob; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg;
Human Relations Commission; Council, City; citycouncil@nenlopark.org; city.council@gilroy.org; CityCouncil;
DuJuan Green
Subject:ABC Tried to Bury This James Baldwin Interview. Four Decades Later, It"s Blisteringly Relevant.
Date:Sunday, October 12, 2025 12:13:23 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
ABC Tried to Bury This James Baldwin Interview. Four Decades Later, It's Blisteringly
Relevant. - YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jXwWCyMJyc
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9jXwWCyMJyc
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From:Aram James
To:steven mcgill
Subject:Watch "ABC Tried to Bury This James Baldwin Interview. Four Decades Later, It"s Blisteringly Relevant." on
YouTube
Date:Saturday, October 11, 2025 9:46:59 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
https://youtu.be/9jXwWCyMJyc?si=_SuNig9ImfTXL89o
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Packet Pg. 42
From:Aram James
To:Reifschneider, James
Cc:Council, City; Binder, Andrew; Dave Price; Gardener, Liz; Shikada, Ed; Stump, Molly;
citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Afanasiev, Alex; Barberini, Christopher; chuck jagoda; Human Relations
Commission; planning.commission@cityofpaloalto.0rg
Subject:Re: Watch "FxSMC Oct 7, 2025, Ekene Okobi & Coalition for Justice and Accountability, Case Against Tasers" on
YouTube
Date:Saturday, October 11, 2025 1:59:06 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
On Fri, Oct 10, 2025 at 10:31 PM Aram James <abjpd1@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi James,
Please review this informative webinar and be prepared to educate our city council, your
fellow officers, and community members about the extraordinary danger that Tasers pose. It
is time to shelve deadly Tasers before someone is seriously injured or dies.
Sincerely,
Aram James
https://youtu.be/jQdtATlt4lc?si=slgMzmeyUqsXXbeN
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Packet Pg. 43
From:Aram James
To:Doug Minkler
Subject:Watch "FxSMC Oct 7, 2025, Ekene Okobi & Coalition for Justice and Accountability, Case Against Tasers" on
YouTube
Date:Saturday, October 11, 2025 11:48:30 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
If your time permits please watch this informative webinar on the extreme danger of Tasers.
https://youtu.be/jQdtATlt4lc?si=gWarHVRSSLUGy4h1
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Packet Pg. 44
From:Aram James
To:Reckdahl, Keith; Reckdahl, Keith
Cc:Vicki Veenker; Veenker, Vicki; Lythcott-Haims, Julie; Paul George @ PPJC; Lu, George; Lotus Fong; Linda Jolley;
Ed Lauing; Gennady Sheyner; Riley Cooke; Human Relations Commission; ParkRec Commission; Council, City;
Roberta Ahlquist; Nicole Chiu-Wang; Penni Wilson; city.council@gilroy.org; Rick Callender; Sean Allen; james
pitkin; Pat M; Friends of Cubberley; citycouncil@mountainview.gov; Perron, Zachary; Binder, Andrew; Raymond
Goins; Enberg, Nicholas; Nash, Betsy; Doug Minkler; Shankar Ramamoorthy; Kaloma Smith; Gardener, Liz; Liz
Kniss; Figueroa, Eric; Anna Griffin; dennis burns; Reifschneider, James; Zelkha, Mila; Jay Boyarsky; Palo Alto
Free Press; Vara Ramakrishnan; Emily Mibach
Subject:Large RV encampment ensnared in abatement "whack-a-mole" since leaving San Jose"s Columbus Park
Date:Friday, October 10, 2025 5:23:34 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
https://www.mercurynews.com/2025/10/10/large-rv-encampment-ensnared-in-abatement-
whack-a-mole-since-leaving-san-joses-columbus-park/
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From:Aram James
To:Hans-Peter Tiemann
Subject:Watch "FxSMC Oct 7, 2025, Ekene Okobi & Coalition for Justice and Accountability, Case Against Tasers" on
YouTube
Date:Friday, October 10, 2025 10:05:34 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
Webinar: The Case Against Tasers!!!!
https://youtu.be/jQdtATlt4lc?si=sBS_Kz3Imps2rgSl
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Packet Pg. 46
From:Aram James
To:Adam.Oberdorfer@shf.sccgov.org; Foley, Michael; Figueroa, Eric; Jensen, Eric; Anne Cribbs; Templeton, Cari;
MGR-Melissa Stevenson Diaz; vramirez@redwoodcity.org; james pitkin; Freddie.Quintana@sen.ca.gov; Robert
Salonga
Subject:Watch "FxSMC Oct 7, 2025, Ekene Okobi & Coalition for Justice and Accountability, Case Against Tasers" on
YouTube
Date:Friday, October 10, 2025 9:16:52 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Be cautiousof opening attachments and clicking on links.
https://youtu.be/jQdtATlt4lc?si=2x0JSY4ojOmQKFdL
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