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From:Rabbi Ilana Goldhaber-Gordon <br />To:publiccomment <br />Subject:Agenda Item 9.A - Virtual Public Comment <br />Date:Sunday, September 8, 2024 9:01:45 PM <br />You don't often get email from rabbiilana@gmail.com. Learn why this is important <br />Dear Esteemed City Council, <br />I am one of the rabbis at Congregation Beth Jacob. This has been a difficult year forthe Jewish community. I do not ever remember feeling such despair amongst my <br />congregants as I have in this past year. The City Council has been deeply supportive <br />on many levels throughout this time, and I am grateful to you. <br />I understand that you are considering reinstating virtual public comments duringCouncil meetings. I have mixed feelings about this issue, as I am sure you do as well.It breaks my heart to see our democratic processes limited by intimidation. I want tooffer my cautious support for this change, to empower more people to express theirviews at Council meetings. <br />The emotional impact of a verbal attack is heavy. May I suggest a few precautions, to <br />help protect all of us from that possibility: <br />Please consider limiting virtual comments to residents of Redwood City.Please retain the right to suspend the privilege of virtual comments forparticular Council sessions, for when an issue is on the agenda that is likely todraw out people interested only in spreading hate.The presiding officer should be empowered to mute or remove from the <br />meeting any individual who is not being civil. <br />Thank you for your hard work in balancing the many, varied needs of Redwood City. <br />Warmly,Rabbi Ilana <br />-- <br />Sometimes my inbox gets very full and I don't respond to emails right away - please <br />don't take it personally. If you don't hear back, don't hesitate to call or follow up. <br />Rabbi Ilana Goldhaber-Gordon, PhD <br />Associate Rabbi <br />Congregation Beth Jacob, Redwood City, CA <br />https://www.bethjacobrwc.org/ <br />Cell: 650-440-2412 <br />Schedule a phone call with me here.