A diverse group of El Cerrito residents are demanding that the El Cerrito City Council pass a resolution for a ceasefire in Gaza.
So why isn’t the council listening?
In multiple surveys over 60% of Americans and over 80% of Democrats support a cease fire in Gaza to end a genocide that has killed over 28,000 Palestians including over 10,000 children. Another 17,000 children are now orphans. The horrors get worse every day. Hundreds of El Cerrito residents have spoken up for a ceasefire but the city council refuses to bring up the matter.
Unfortunately the main obstacle to the council opening formal debate of a ceasefire resolution is my fellow Jew, Mayor Tessa Rudnick. Under El Cerrito rules, the mayor controls the city council agenda. Multiple sources have told us, in confidence, that Mayor Rudnick refuses to add a ceasefire resolution to the agenda. Councilpersons Wysinger and Quito have not returned emails from constituents nor met with residents on this issue. Two council members took the time to meet but would not introduce anything without the mayor taking the lead.
The mayor has a clear conflict of interest, she is a Regional Chair of the Bay Area Network of Jewish Officials (BANJO) part of the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) and she participated in a heavily subsidized JCRC propaganda visit to Israel. JCRC is focused on supporting the State of Israel and is actively opposing ceasefire resolutions. Their talking points directly mirror hers.
Mayor Rudnick’s refusal to allow a resolution to be added to the agenda is a violation of Section II of El Cerrito’s Administrative Policies and Rules of Order and Procedure which requires that council members “Endeavor to treat all members of the public and issues before them in a fair and equitable manner.” At the January 16 meeting the mayor limited public comments on a ceasefire resolution. According to the Brown Act, Section 54954.3 (B) (1) the council may adopt rules limiting time for public comments and limiting the length of individual comments. The mayor unilaterally imposed limits without seeking approval of the full council, knowing that such limits would directly exclude some there to speak. City councils in Alameda, Richmond, Albany, San Francisco and Oakland, allowed all citizens who so desired to address this issue regardless of which side they supported. As a result of the mayor’s actions, everyone in the room speaking against a ceasefire resolution got to speak, but some of my friends supporting the resolution were denied time to speak.
El Cerrito has a history of passing resolutions on human rights issues, most recently condemning Russian attacks on Ukraine. They also passed resolutions against South African Apartheid and annually commemorate the Tibetan Uprising against China. The city council chamber has a Black Lives Matter sign, an LGBTQ+ flag and a sign saying “El Cerrito Stands United Against Hate”. This inconsistency lays bare a disconcerting question: do we only oppose hate and violence when it is politically convenient?
There is a genocide going on in Gaza, funded with our tax dollars. 2.2 million Palestinians are being starved and denied medications and health services. Don’t they deserve our support? Is the life of a Ukrainian worth more than the life of a Palestinian? If many members of the community are calling for something to be done, is it not the duty of the city council to act?
It is time for Mayor Rudnick to recuse herself and for the remaining city council members to do the right thing and pass a ceasefire resolution now. It is incumbent upon all of us in El Cerrito to demand action, to stand united against hate and violence, and to support a ceasefire in Gaza without delay.
Seth Morrison is a Jewish antizionist activist living in El Cerrito, CA. He retired from a career in cable television marketing and product development.
Seth Morrison
El Cerrito, CA 94530
19 comments
Yet another example of why city councils should (but do not) stick to the “meat and potatoes” of running the city government and stay out of culture war issues.
As a Jewish resident of El Cerrito I believe that an opportunity for our city to have a discussion on a ceasefire resolution sends an important message to our Palestinian residents that their lives matter too. .
Our tax money is being used to support what is happening in Gaza. Our city council members, as elected officials, represent the voice of their constituents. When ignored for personal or political reasons, it becomes undemocratic. The majority of people want a permanent ceasefire, an end to hostilities and a return of the hostages and many people continue to call on our city council in El Cerrito to pass a resolution.
As a resident of El Cerrito, I wholeheartedly approve this article. It’s crucial for our city council to listen to the voices of its constituents and take action on pressing humanitarian issues like the ceasefire resolution in Gaza.
Mayor Rudnick and some council members’ refusal to address this matter is unacceptable, and it’s time for the council to prioritize the well-being of all people, regardless of political affiliations. Those who narrow-mindedly say “stick to local politics” are refusing to address that billions of our tax dollars are funding this genocide when that funding could support our local communities.
The city’s commitment to opposing hate and violence should extend to advocating for the rights and well-being of Palestinians, especially in the face of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. It’s time for the city council to uphold its values consistently and take meaningful action to support a ceasefire resolution.
El Cerrito passed resolutions for 3 international issues: Apartheid South Africa, Tibet, and Ukraine. So called “culture war” issues are human rights issues that concern us all. If your people were being targeted for extermination by a government, you would benefit from more people supporting your cause rather than less. Choosing to encourage a city government to not involve itself to stand against the genocide of a people is devoid of empathy and might make some see you as inhumane.
El Cerrito supports a ceasefire and rejects ALL hate, including hatred toward Palestinian, Muslim and Arab residents. We do not support this genocide. This proposed resolution does not harm ANYONE or take a DIME away from us, but the Mayors rejection and frankly, racist remarks and support of JCRCs efforts to oppose CFR in all cities is not acceptable. Ceasefire is a local issue, it only seems “over there” if you are denying the experience of many in the community .
Thanks to seth Morrison for this letter. I live in El Cerrito and I support an immediate and permanent ceasefire resolution. I can’t understand why our city council members are dragging their feet. The majority of Americans want an end to this brutal genocide.
Why is it that conflict of interest no longer matters? In the old days, there would be a public uproar if a leader with conflicting interests would use their powers to manipulate the system. The mayor of El Cerrito needs to be taken to task for this violation. It is undemocratic!
It’s “crucial” for the city council to “take action”? Nothing the city council does is going to have any effect on events in the Middle East. This is the great fallacy of your advocacy efforts. All you accomplish is wasting everyone’s time and creating divisiveness. You need to direct your views to those politicians who have oversight of foreign affairs – that means the President and Congress.
I appreciate publication of this letter given that so much about the Palestinian-Israeli issue is shut out of our mainstream media. As the letter stated, El Cerrito has taken a position on various issues of a political nature such as Tibetan rights and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. On humanitarian grounds alone it should at least bring the issue of a ceasefire resolution to the council. After reading the letter, I understand why the mayor hasn’t done so in spite of pressure from residents: she has a commitment to an organization focused on supporting the State of Israel and actively opposing ceasefire resolutions. As a resident of El Cerrito I for one would prefer a resolution for Divestment given that the billions we give Israel are better spent in our cities than on Israel’s bombing hospitals, schools and targeting innocent mothers and children, but at the least our city should put the resolution of a ceasefire to a vote
Thank you for voicing our demands for city council to pass a resolution calling for a permanent ceasefire now. Is El Cerrito united against hate except for hate against Palestinians, Muslims, and Arabs? If city resolutions don’t matter, then why are organizations like the JCRC organizing like hell to stop them from even being discussed? Of course it matters that we speak up as human beings to stop this bloodshed. Our electeds’ cowardly silence and refusal to “make waves” with their colleagues/friends and refusal to listen to their constituents is shameful. At the minimum, Mayor Rudnick needs to recuse herself and allow the council to vote on this most pressing matter. This is supposed to be a democracy. Others commenters have already pointed out that OUR tax money directly funds the bombs and weapons hurtling down on Palestinians in Gaza right now. How is this not a local issue?? As the writer says, it truly is a diverse group of residents of all faith, cultural, national, racial, and age backgrounds calling for a ceasefire.
City council takes care of their city.
International affairs are NOT in their job description and they should stay out of it.
Would not not be shocked to learn some of those pushing this are being compensated for their efforts.
It’s shocking that WPR suggests that those of us in El Cerrito who are volunteering a huge junk of our lives to try to halt a US funded genocide are being compensated in some way. We are acting out of conscience to try to stop the brutal and barbaric ongoing extermination of tens of thousands of innocent people, mostly women and children. Are you trying to discredit us because you have no moral foundation to justify your own silence during this 21st century holocaust? You’re beginning to sound like Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi…who continues to make false accusations of those standing for the right of Palestinians to live. May the people of Palestine one day be allowed the full dignity, freedom and human rights that all people deserve.
Thank you for sharing. If El Cerrito truly stood united against hate, they would pass a ceasefire resolution. There’s nothing more hateful than killing children. Please city of Cerrito truly stand united against hate and call for a ceasefire now!!!
I am a resident of El Cerrito, and I wholeheartedly support this declaration to a permanent ceasefire and end to this horrific genocide! This is unequivocally a matter of the most basic of human rights and humanity, involving the lives of thousands of innocent civilians that have no means to protect or fend for themselves. There is no neutral in any situations of such injustice. And the delay in supporting this ceasefire only reinforces the message that the communities’ lives affected by this don’t matter or aren’t as worthy or valuable. We are all connected in this regardless of our physical proximity to Gaza. It’s not about being on the right side of history or not, it’s the fact that every single soul deserves their basic right to life and dignity.
Thank you Contra Costa news for printing this story. I have been a resident in El Cerrito since 1996, and am traumatized on a daily basis by the ceaseless and useless violence being executed by Israel against the people of Gaza, and even more traumatized knowing that my own government is refusing to call for an immediate ceasefire, but rather continues to send military aid, and violating numerous international laws by doing so. Experts are predicting tens of thousands more in Gaza will die of starvation and illness due to severe shortages of food, safe drinking water, electricity, and medical services and resources. This is an unprecedented urgent humanitarian need. All Americans have a responsibility to step up. I call on all Albany and El Cerrito residents who care about this issue to attend the bi-monthly city council meetings and stand with us and express your concerns during public comment. When 80% of Democrats want a ceasefire and our president and Congress continues to aid and abet a genocide before our eyes, in spite of months of endless calls, letters and email messages to them. We have no one else left to bring our grievances to but to our local politicians, who themselves have a responsibility to act in this time of great urgency. Yes, Mayor Rudnick, it is time for you recognize your severe conflict of interest, and recuse yourself. Let El Cerrito City Council join the other 70-80 cities across the nation who have already signed Ceasefire Resolutions, including S.F., Richmond and Oakland!
As a resident of El Cerrito who has been trying for months to get the council to agree to put a ceasefire resolution on the agenda, it has been incredibly infuriating. We are merely asking for a discussion and a vote; for a democratically elected body to allow for a democratic process to happen. If some are concerned about the time it “wastes” then you should also be urging the council to allow it on the agenda so a vote can take place and then we can all move on.
The massacre of 30+ thousand people and 11+ thousand children, committed with OUR tax dollars in not only a local issue but is a personal one to anyone with a conscience.
This would not be the first or last time the council addressed international issues. If these resolutions do not matter or have no impact then why did they bother with the Ukraine resolution? or the Tibet one?
What we stand for as a city matters! And that should be for peace and an end to violence, NOT complicity in genocide.
Thank you for this article! This genocide has been going on for months now, yet utter silence from many of our elected officials. They need to amplify the voices of their constituents, and their constituents, in asking for a ceasefire, are asking for something that should not be controversial: Peace. No more killing. No more bombing (paid for by us). No more starvation.
All human lives are equal, no matter one’s race, ethnicity, religion, gender, etc., and the fact that El Cerrito council, along with neighboring ones as well, are looking the other way indicates that they don’t value the lives of Palestinians. Such prejudice should not exist.
El Cerrito Council, show that you care about the lives of Palestinians. Pass a ceasefire resolution. And Mayor Rudnick, an unnecessary impediment to this simple, human ask, please recuse yourself.
I am a resident of El Cerrito and I support a permanent ceasefire and I also believe that Tessa Rudnick should be recalled. I commend the council person who spoke up. I can see how terrifying it is to be on the right side of history. T. Rudnick is an extremist and does not represent the people of this city. I am shocked to hear that she supports the genocide of innocent men, women, and children in Palestine. I have never seen such cognitive dissonance from a societal perspective. I have heard collective outrage against Hamas and its action which is appropriate. But literally not a peep on the ongoing genocide, which leads me to believe that every member of our government is complicit. She needs to be removed and replaced with a candidate that is supports a permanent ceasefire and immediate aid to Gaza.
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