Local Jewish opinion: Good that SF Mayor abjured antisemitism—but she should've vetoed Gaza resolution
Image by Wally Gobetz
In a 1.21 statement, the Bay Area's Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC) applauds Mayor London Breed for condemning SF's unbridled antisemitism since October 7 and denying Supervisors' ceasefire resolution her stamp of approval. Yet, JCRC disagrees with Breed's choice not to veto the resolution altogether, arguing it'll “embolden” hateful activists at local forums.
Two days ago, just after we entered Shabbat, San Francisco Mayor London Breed returned without signature the San Francisco Board of Supervisors' non-binding resolution on Israel and Hamas. JCRC, ADL and AJC had called on the Mayor to veto the resolution, and we are disappointed that she chose not to do so. Now with the official seal of San Francisco, antisemitic groups are feeling emboldened to bring their poisonous circus to forums like the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee (SF DCCC).
At the same time, we appreciate the precision with which the Mayor addressed in her accompanying letter the palpable anxieties in our community, as well as the abject failure of eight San Francisco Supervisors to contain the spread of antisemitism in the Bay Area.
In a deal struck by Supervisor Aaron Peskin, the most egregious charges against Israel were removed from the flawed resolution. However, the final language still failed utterly to hold Hamas accountable for its atrocities. The public comment at City Hall surrounding its passage became yet another opportunity for local residents to spread harmful disinformation and antisemitism.
Mayor Breed's letter sends a message to the entire city that this toxic atmosphere does not reflect San Francisco's values:
“Sadly, demonization, heartlessness, and abject antisemitism have, it seems, become politically and socially acceptable among a certain subset of activists...
...Since October 7th, I have spoken with numerous Jewish San Franciscans who tell me they don't feel safe in their own City. They were afraid to attend the last Board hearing, and they certainly wouldn't attend another. They are fearful of the growing acts of vandalism and intimidation, and the targeting of Jewish-owned businesses. They are worried this is the beginning of something worse, right here in San Francisco.”
While municipal resolutions have absolutely no impact on the state of affairs in the Middle East, they are engendering hate and creating deep divisions between Bay Area communities. Antisemitism continues to surge in San Francisco, with unprecedented attacks on Jewish businesses, students, and congregations.
Read the whole thing here.
[Editor's note: Some Opp Now readers were confused at how the Merc positioned the JCRC Bay Area—which has publicly stated its opposition to municipal ceasefire resolutions—as being in "support" of the City of San Jose's generalized call for peace statement signed individually by SJ Councilmembers. When asked for clarification, Jeremy Russell (Director of Marketing and Communication) provided the following response for our community:
"... as (CEO Tyler Gregory) says ... we don’t agree with everything expressed in the (Council) members’ letter. What we do find appropriate, however, is that the City Council took this step without forcing a bitter public debate on the issue. The letter is an expression of their individual opinions, to which no one would say they are not entitled, and not an official resolution. This proved to be a much less divisive means of approaching the issue than we’ve seen in other cities."
Related:
Mayor Breed and local Jewish group unhappy with SF Supervisors' ceasefire resolution
Unhinged UCSF medicine prof warns against “supremacist” Zionist doctors
UC regent rebukes Ethnic Studies Council for pro-Hamas statement “rife with falsehoods about Israel”
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