EHRAC continues deliberation tonight about community conversation on overseas conflict

The Equity and Human Relations Advisory Committee (EHRAC) will continue discussing the organization of a community conversation related to the escalation of conflict in the Middle East centered around Israel and Palestine at its Special Meeting tonight at 6 p.m. in the Dan Patacchia Room at City Hall.

While conflict between the two isn't new, an attack on Israel led by the terrorist organization HAMAS on October 7, 2023, prompted a significant response from the former in Palestine that has drawn international critique. Many Culver City residents have come out publicly, supporting one side while condemning the other.

Several cities near Culver City have already formally passed resolutions calling for an end to the conflict, and major organizations around Los Angeles, like the L.A. County Federation of Labor, have publicly called for an end to the conflict.

However, there has been resistance in Culver City itself despite demonstrations and public comment calling for a ceasefire trickling in over the past 13 months since the attack and the resulting reaction.

Instead, city staff received three nodding heads of approval from Vice Mayor Dan O'Brien and council members Albert Vera and Freddy Puza at the city council meeting on October 28 on an informal motion to agendize an item at a future meeting discussing hosting a community conversation.

EHRAC members will consider hosting the Middle East conversation alongside an already-approved race relations community conversation on February 25, but many have called for a separate discussion to be held sooner.

To host an entirely separate community conversation, the committee must get approval from the city council. City policy statement 3002 requires that the following must be provided for the city council to consider approving a community-based conversation that is not in a committee's approved work plan:

1. Amount of City Staff time required
2. Other City resources needed
3. Amount of City funding requested
4. Any other information requested by City Staff that may be necessary for the City Council to have an informed discussion.

Nailing down these and other logistical pieces is part of tonight's agenda. The staff report for tonight's meeting includes a list of items meant to help facilitate the organization of a smooth event. Staff hope that EHRAC can answer the questions included in the worksheet as part of their deliberation tonight.

It also recommends that the committee hire a professional facilitator to help guide the conversation, citing the topic's complexity and emotional weight.

"Staff strongly recommends...that EHRAC employ the expertise of professional services to facilitate an equitable and inclusive community healing conversation," the staff report reads.

While consideration to set this meeting for February is on the table tonight, many commissioners have already made their feelings known. At the previous EHRAC meeting on October 22, commissioner London McBride stated his belief that the conversation should happen sooner than February 25, receiving applause from several audience members.

"It does need to happen now," Commissioner McBride said at the October meeting. "The kids even said we need to have a conversation...that conversation is important."

However, not all the committee members were entirely committed to the idea. Commissioner Rebecca Rona-Tuttle expressed some concerns about how the conversation would be framed.

She argued that entering the conversation trying to educate one another would be counterproductive, instead hoping the conversation would be focused on understanding one another.

"If we are to hold this conversation, I think it needs to be done very carefully," Rona-Tuttle said at the October 22 meeting. "It needs to be done with a facilitator who is extremely knowledgeable about the history of the Middle East."

While a ceasefire resolution may be discussed at the community conversation, only the City Council has the power to enact such a resolution formally. However, Commissioner Haifaa Moammar argued that the ceasefire conversation was under the "umbrella" of the more prominent topic and should be considered when considering the future.

"What happens after the ceasefire?" Moammar wondered. "Can't we walk out of this room and meet each other at their homes and be friends?"

Despite her concerns, Rona-Tuttle voted at that October 22 meeting to express an urgency to the city council for the discussion. McBride presented a speech at the October 28 City Council meeting where the three nodding heads were received.

For more information on tonight's meeting, view the agenda here.