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Laguna Hills proclaims Jewish American Heritage Month; resident urges review of community‑center bookings
Summary
The Laguna Hills City Council proclaimed May 2025 Jewish American Heritage Month and heard public comments urging the city to review reservation policies at the Laguna Hills Community Center after a resident alleged an event hosted by CAIR had troubling links. Council accepted the proclamation and staff agreed to follow up on requests for meetings.
The Laguna Hills City Council on Tuesday proclaimed May 2025 as Jewish American Heritage Month and pledged to combat antisemitism while recognizing the contributions of Jewish Americans to the community and the nation.
During public comment, resident Steven Cogan, identifying himself as a 25‑year Laguna Hills resident and member of the local Jewish community, urged the city to review Community Center reservation policies after an event hosted by the Council on American‑Islamic Relations (CAIR). Cogan alleged financial ties between CAIR and Hamas and said members of the organization had promoted violence; he asked the council to consider new screening or exclusion criteria and to meet with Jewish community leaders to address concerns. Other residents, including Roberta Charlene Zinman and Dahlia Broomberg, thanked the council for the proclamation and described rising local fears about antisemitism.
Mayor Sweeney read the proclamation and invited Rabbi Marcia Tilshen to the podium as the council presented the recognition on behalf of the city. The mayor framed the proclamation as a public statement of inclusion and support; he and other councilmembers thanked community members for their remarks and noted staff would follow up on requests for meetings. No formal action to change booking policy was taken during the meeting.
Looking ahead, councilmembers and staff said they would continue outreach to affected residents and coordinate next steps by email and staff follow‑up. The council will remain the decision authority if any formal policy change is proposed.
