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Heated public comments on Gaza sister‑city and calls to press CalPERS for divestment dominate public comment period
Summary
Public commenters at Arcadia's June 18 meeting urged the council either to adopt Gaza as a sister city and to press CalPERS to divest from defense contractors, or to reject the sister‑city proposal, reflecting deep polarization and competing claims about humanitarian aid, antisemitism, and municipal authority.
Dozens of speakers used the public comment period at Arcadia's June 18 council meeting to call on the council to adopt Gaza as a sister city and to urge municipal advocacy for CalPERS divestment — or to oppose that course. The comments reflected deeply divided community views about Israel, Gaza, humanitarian aid and municipal roles in foreign policy.
Speakers in favor described urgent humanitarian need in Gaza, public petitions, and local fundraising activities. "There are two million innocent people who need our help," said a resident who urged the council to act; another caller on Zoom who identified as a managing attorney…
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