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General Tips for Submitting Written or Oral Public Comment Guidance for Public Comments

  • Always be polite, civil, and avoid using profanity
  • Speak to your personal experience and explain the personal impact of the proposed action
  • Do not directly attack the board members or respond to the arguments of opponents
  • Mention that you are a resident or business owner in the city
  • State your most important point first and be clear about your concern and request
  • Research and follow board procedures for submitting public comments
  • Be aware that board members may not directly respond to your comments
  • Keep your comments brief and thank the board for their attention
  • For written comments, prepare two versions of your remarks: one version for the regular allotted time (usually 2-3 minutes) and another version for one minute of speaking. Review and practice your remarks to make your key points in the time allowed. To assist with timing: people generally read 130 words per minute.

Structure for Public Comments

  1. Introduction: One sentence on who you are
  2. Your Ask: One-two sentences on your request
  3. Your Concerns: Discuss a few problems and negative impacts of the resolution
  4. Closing: Reiterate your request and thank the board

Talking Points

Introduction

My name is NAME and I am a . . .

  • Resident of CITY living in the NAME neighborhood.
  • Business owner in CITY
  • Jewish resident of CITY and parent of NUMBER children.
  • An Israeli-American living in CITY

Your Ask:

Do not bring and oppose resolutions on the Israel-Hamas War.

Non-Binding Resolutions Inflame Hate Targeting Jewish Community

  • The resolution will not address the root causes of the crisis in the Middle East, have no binding effect on it, and will exacerbate the feeling of insecurity among Jews.
  • When Israel is in the news, antisemitism in America always increases
  • Recent resolution in Oakland led to a surge in antisemitic incidents, including graffiti, vandalization of a Hanukkah menorah, and offensive posts by government/school staff.
  • In San Francisco, we witnessed flyers targeting Jewish businesses and online posts accusing local Jews of genocide after a resolution was adopted

Public Meetings on Israel-Hamas War Plagued With Hate

  • Meetings discussing the war are marked by five hours of public comment filled with antisemitic jeering, perpetuation of conspiracies, and a lack of decorum.
  • Examples include comments that that Hamas actions on October 7 were justified and that sexual violence against woman by Hamas did not occur

Focus on Unity, Not Wasting Resources:

  • Resolution will divert valuable time and resources that could be better utilized addressing real issues impacting the local community.
  • Matters of foreign affairs are in purview of federal elected officials, not local officials
  • Instead, focus on constructive steps that support all traumatized communities
  • Considering the ongoing trauma residents are experiencing, efforts should be directed towards bringing people together rather than creating further divisions.

Proposals to Reduce Divisiveness of Resolutions on the War

Call for the removal of Hamas from power

  • Any resolution must explicitly call for the removal of Hamas from power
  • This is the view of all federal elected leaders, the US, the European Union, and other key international stakeholders.
  • There will be no “ceasefire” with a terrorist organization on Israel’s border that calls for the violent destruction of Israel, as evidenced by October 7 and its ongoing attacks.

Condemn the October 7 massacre

  • October 7 was the deadliest single day for the global Jewish community since the Holocaust and this terrorist attack precipitated Israel’s military response.
  • Following the attacks by Hamas, every federal elected official forcefully condemned Hamas and supported the traumatized Jewish community – but this board did not
  • The resolution’s silence as to the cause of 1,200 Israeli deaths and the start of the war – Hamas terrorism – is glaring and undermines the intent of the resolution.

Call for Two State Solution

  • To authentically call for a ceasefire, the Board must also outline what a lasting peace will mean for both sides.
  • A two‐state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, in which both parties peacefully live with fully normalized diplomatic relations is the only realistic solution
  • This solution is the consensus view of almost every world power including the US, EU, Arab League, the Saudis, and many others.