SAN DIEGO (SDJW) — The Assembly Judiciary Committee has voted 10-1 in favor of legislation by Assemblyman Chris Ward (D-San Diego) to provide penalties of up to $25,000 per instance in civil trials in which a victim proves he or she was adversely impacted by the spreading of hate flyers or other acts intending to intimidate members of religious, racial, ethnic, or LGBTQ+ groups.
The measure, which Ward introduced at the request of San Diego City Councilman Raul Campillo, goes next to the Assembly floor.
Campillo represents the 7th Council District which includes Del Cerro’s Temple Emanu-El, and San Carlos’ Tifereth Israel Synagogue, Chabad of East County, and Young Israel of San Diego. Those communities have been targeted by neo-Nazi hate literature. Two of the affirmative votes came from members of the San Diego delegation, Assemblymembers Marie Waldron and Brian Maienschein, respectively a Republican and a Democrat. The lone vote opposing the legislation was cast by Diane Dixon (R-Newport Beach).
JEWISH COMMUNAL ACTIVITIES
The American Jewish Committee regional office in San Diego — headed by Sara Brown — is participating in the planning for the June 9-11 AJC Global Forum in Washington, D.C. for which delegates are paying $850 per person to attend, such price being $100 less than the price for those who register after April 30.
The forum will include “plenary sessions with world leaders and headline speakers;” “smaller breakout sessions designed to explore the key political, strategic, and social concerns affecting the Jewish people,” “exclusive opportunities to engage with ambassadors, foreign dignitaries and policy experts,” and “face-to-face advocacy meetings on Capitol Hill.” To register, click here.
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The Anti-Defamation League and the Secure Community Network — represented in San Diego respectively by Fabienne Perlov and Bill Ganley — have encouraged Jewish synagogues and organizations to remain open notwithstanding the threat from the leader of Iran to target Israeli and Jewish facilities in retaliation for Israel’s alleged attack on Iran’s consulate in Syria.
The two organizations issued the following statement: ““In this moment of escalating international tension, the lights are blinking bright red, and they are blinking fast. The Jewish community across North America is facing unprecedented antisemitism and a heightened threat landscape and we must increase our vigilance to protect the community. We have a dual imperative to prioritize safety and security while continuing to live our lives as proud Jews. Absent actionable information provided by law enforcement or public safety partners concerning a specific facility, we are urging Jewish institutions to remain open and operational while those in charge of security, community leaders, and indeed all members of the community should heighten awareness and security measures across organizations and in daily activities. We must not allow those who seek to spread fear to win. We will never abandon what makes us Jewish in the face of those who wish us harm.”
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GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS
San Diego City Councilwoman Jennifer Campbell says enforcement of the Sidewalk Vending Ordinance began March 29th. It clarifies what activities of vendors who line the approaches to such public places as the Zoo, the Embarcadero, and the beaches are protected by the Free Speech provision of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and which are not.
“Activities that are not considered free speech include the sale of items handcrafted or mass-produced – like jewelry, mugs, clothing, pottery, incense burners, rocks, or skin care products,” Campbell said. “Exercise and yoga classes and various other classes are also not considered free speech and are not protected by the First Amendment.” On the other hand, “An artist, author, musician, or other type of busker selling their original work and performing live is protected under the First Amendment.” Vendors unprotected by the First Amendment are required to obtain various permits and licenses or have their equipment and goods confiscated.
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Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-San Diego) says her proposed Child Care for Every Community Act would guarantee universal access to affordable, high-quality child care for every family in America by creating a federally-funded, locally-run network of child care providers. Based on a sliding scale, lower-income families would be fully subsidized, half of families would pay no more than $10 a day for child care, and all families would pay no more than 7% of their income. It would also pay all providers a living wage. Every family deserves access to affordable, safe, high-quality child care.”
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An Orange County Judge to whom the San Diego Courts referred the controversy has ruled that San Diego County Superior Court Judge Howard Shore should be disqualified from hearing cases involving allegations of racial bias, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported in its Friday edition. The finding by Orange County Assistant Presiding Judge Cheri Pham applied only to those cases in which the San Diego County Public Defender’s office had objected to Shore trying their cases, but may be used as a precedent by the Public Defender to challenge Shore on future cases. In its evidence against Shore, the Public Defender’s office persuaded Pham that “from his comments, a person aware of the facts could reasonably believe that Judge Shore believes certain racial or ethnic groups commit more crimes than others.”
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JEWISH HUMOR
Rabbi Rafi Andrusier of Chabad of East County passes along this story: David is telling a new joke to Yossi. “Yitzhak and Hymie were talking one day…” Right away, Yossi interrupts him. “Always with the Jewish jokes! Give it a rest! Why do your jokes always have to be about Jews? Just change the names to another ethnic group for once will you David!” So David starts again, “Hashimoto and Suzuki were talking one day at their nephew’s Bar Mitzvah….”
OBITUARY NOTICES
Am Israel Mortuary reported the death on Thursday, April 4, of Rosalie (Millman) Grundon, who was born Sept. 15, 1933. A graveside funeral service will be officiated by trans-denominational Rabbi Ian Adler on Monday, April 8, at El Camino Memorial Park.
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Ross David Kurland, 76, died March 27 and, according to Am Israel Mortuary, will be buried at 9:15 a.m. at the Miramar National Cemetery in a ceremony to be officiated by Rabbi Devorah Marcus of Temple Emanu-El.
An obituary on Am Israel’s website said: “Ross Kurland was a loving husband, friend, and had a great love of family. Ross grew up in Iowa and joined the army to become a Community Relations Representative of the United Nations Command in Korea. He had a successful career in business which included running a boxing gym in Times Square, developing a franchise corporation for the first rent-to-own computer company, and building a Lawsuit Settlement firm in 42 states. He also loved basketball (playing weekly at the Jewish Community Center) and was deeply involved with the American Basketball Association. Ross was preceded in death by his brother Allen Kurland, and survived by his wife Lisa Kurland, brother Jack Nebedrick (Annette), and numerous nieces and nephews.”
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Preceding compiled by SDJW staff