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Council proclaims Jewish, ANHPI and mental health observances after public testimony from students and community groups
Summary
San Diego City Council unanimously approved several proclamations recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month, Asian American/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Lupus Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month after public comment from Southwestern College students and community coalition representatives urging sustained resources and culturally specific support.
San Diego City Council on May 13 unanimously approved proclamations recognizing Jewish American Heritage Month, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, Lupus Awareness Month and Mental Health Awareness Month following a series of public comments.
Students and community leaders from Southwestern College and members of the San Diego Asian Pacific Islander Coalition addressed the council during the proclamation portion of the meeting, urging that recognition extend beyond ceremonies to sustained programs, language access and culturally specific mental-health supports. Professor Jojo Ruanter Ramirez told the council he had shared a reading list and urged officials not to treat recognition as “food, fun, and festivities” but as an opportunity to expand resources and curricula.
City leaders thanked the speakers and highlighted local institutions. A representative of San Diego State University accepted a proclamation on the university’s recent R1 Carnegie research classification and noted the institution’s research and economic contributions. Council members repeatedly cited culturally specific mental-health services as a priority, linking the proclamations to concrete policy discussions on funding and service provision.
The council moved and seconded the proclamations agenda and the clerk reported the items passed unanimously with two members absent. After the vote the chamber invited community members forward for commemorative photos.
The proclamations are ceremonial but serve as a public acknowledgement of council priorities and as an opportunity for community groups to press for further action. Council members said they intend to follow up on several requests raised by students, including calls for increased language access, school-based programs and mental-health resources.
The council adjourned for a noon recess and reconvened later in the day to take up other agenda items.
