CC 06-21-2023 Oral_Late _Written Communications (Updated 6-22-23)CC 06-21-2023
Written Communications
Oral
Communications
From:Munisekar
To:City Clerk
Subject:Oral Communications on 6/21/2023.
Date:Wednesday, June 21, 2023 12:02:34 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear City Clerk,
I am registered to attend the City Council meeting tomorrow; I plan to speak during Oral
Communications asking the city to Oppose Discriminatory Law SB403.
I would like you to play the following clip during my Oral at my prompting.
https://youtu.be/_41wmoXLHms?t=22
Please keep the above video clip queued up for Orals.
Thank you.
Muni Madhdhipatla
Cupertino Resident
CC 06-21-2023
Item #1
Consider the Memorial
Park Specific Plan
Written Communications
CC 06-21-2023
Item #7
Consider To Be
Determined List
Written Communications
From:Munisekar
To:City Clerk
Subject:Oral Communications on 6/21/2023.
Date:Wednesday, June 21, 2023 12:02:34 AM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear City Clerk,
I am registered to attend the City Council meeting tomorrow; I plan to speak during Oral
Communications asking the city to Oppose Discriminatory Law SB403.
I would like you to play the following clip during my Oral at my prompting.
https://youtu.be/_41wmoXLHms?t=22
Please keep the above video clip queued up for Orals.
Thank you.
Muni Madhdhipatla
Cupertino Resident
From:Uday Barulkar
To:City Council; City Clerk
Subject:Fwd: Request to put SB-403 on Council Agenda - Call to action today! Email 3
Date:Wednesday, June 21, 2023 8:23:40 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Dear Mayor Wei, Vice Mayor Mohan and the City Council,
The undersigned residents of Cupertino are very concerned about a new bill SB-403 being
rushed through the California legislature. This bill unfairly targets the Indian Americans &
the Hindu community as presumptively guilty of caste discrimination.
We affirm that discrimination in any form is unacceptable, and must be addressed by the
state. Existing California laws against discrimination list out the protected characteristics like
race, national origin, ancestry, religion etc. They do not explicitly list specific groups, unlike
SB-403 which has a focus on South Asians. Singling out a specific minority community is
unfair and the bill is not facially neutral.
The recent Carnegie Endowment survey shows that a majority of Indian Americans are not
caste conscious with that number being higher among American born Indian Americans. Our
children learn about caste in schools; they do not have any idea what caste they need to
identify with, and we have no way to prove or establish our caste. Santa Clara County DA
Jeff Rosen expressed the same concern about how to even define or determine someone’s
caste (Youtube)
“I know a little about caste. What I've learned is if you ask five South Asians what caste is
you get 15 different opinions about what it is. I know that there have certainly been
discriminatory practices in societies all over the world since the beginning of time. As district
attorney I'm focused on whether there is discrimination or hate crime or violence based on
discrimination in my county and while there have been hate crimes committed in our County,
I'm not aware of anything related to caste and hate crimes or criminal violations. And so I
just wonder if the bill is necessary.
I'm also very concerned about anyone being stigmatized or any Community being assumed to
be racist because they look a certain way or come from a certain place. And so one of the
concerns I certainly would have about a bill that talks about caste discrimination is it
strikes me as discriminating against Indian Americans and making them suspect in some
way that others are not. “
Jeff Rosen, Santa Clara County District Attorney
The now withdrawn lawsuit by the CRD against two Cisco Engineering leaders confirms that
caste discrimination is already illegal under the existing California law. SB403 itself
contains language which says that it should not be interpreted that caste based
discrimination is not already covered. We do not require a new law which specifically
targets the South Asian community, which will be affecting our future generations and
subjecting them to caste scrutiny because of their descent.
We petition Cupertino City Council under the Cupertino Municipal Code 2.08.030 to
study SB-403 and put it on the agenda ASAP to give us an opportunity to express our
concerns. We also ask that the council pass a resolution condemning it on our behalf.
The matter is urgent as the SB-403 is being unfairly fast tracked to avoid public scrutiny. It
already went through Senate Judicial review, Budget review and Senate vote in less than 2
months and is being rushed through the Assembly.
There are a few more articles written widely on this topic:
1. Caste bill would harm California’s South Asian communities: Legislation may be well-
intended, but the unintended negative consequences are enormous. By Barbara McGraw The
Mercury News
https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/04/20/opinion-caste-bill-would-harm-californias-south-
asian-communities/
2. Preliminary Thoughts on Potential Constitutional Flaws in SB 403, a California Proposal
to Prohibit Caste Discrimination by Vikram David Amar
https://verdict.justia.com/2023/05/16/preliminary-thoughts-on-potential-constitutional-flaws-
in-sb-403-a-california-proposal-to-prohibit-caste-discrimination
3. Why California’s caste discrimination bill is itself discriminatory. Suhag Shukla
https://religionnews.com/2023/05/17/why-californias-caste-discrimination-bill-is-itself-
discriminatory/
4. Not all California innovations are good: stop SB 403. Samir Karla. Capital Weekly.
https://capitolweekly.net/not-all-california-innovations-are-good-stop-sb-403/
5. A letter from HAF (Hindu American Foundation) that articulates the problems with this
bill.
https://www.hinduamerican.org/say-no-to-sb403
6. Carnegie Endowment Survey https://carnegieendowment.org/2021/06/09/social-realities-of-
indian-americans-results-from-2020-indian-american-attitudes-survey-pub-84667
7. Santa Clara County DA Jeff Rosen's views on SB-403:
https://youtu.be/_41wmoXLHms?t=22
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_41wmoXLHms&t=22s&authuser=0
We strongly urge the City of Cupertino to oppose SB-403.
Thank you very much.
From:Debra Nascimento
To:City Clerk
Subject:FW: Oppose SB-403
Date:Wednesday, June 21, 2023 6:21:25 PM
Debra Nascimento
Executive Assistant
City Manager's Office
DebraN@cupertino.org
(408) 777-1302
From: chitrasv@yahoo.com <chitrasv@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 6:17 PM
To: City Council <CityCouncil@cupertino.org>
Subject: Oppose SB-403
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you
recognize the sender and know the content is safe.
Madam City Clerk,
I would like for this email to be read as part of the oral communications for agenda item 7 on my
behalf.
Dear Mayor Wei, Vice Mayor Mohan and the City Council,
The residents of Cupertino are very concerned about a new bill SB-403 being rushed through the
California legislature. This bill unfairly targets the Indian Americans & the Hindu community as
presumptively guilty of caste discrimination.
We affirm that discrimination in any form is unacceptable, and must be addressed by the state.
Existing California laws against discrimination list out the protected characteristics like race,
national origin, ancestry, religion etc. They do not explicitly list specific groups, unlike SB-403 which
has a focus on South Asians. Singling out a specific minority community is unfair and the bill is not
facially neutral.
The recent Carnegie Endowment survey shows that a majority of Indian Americans are not caste
conscious with that number being higher among American born Indian Americans. Our children
learn about caste in schools; they do not have any idea what caste they need to identify with, and
we have no way to prove or establish our caste. Santa Clara County DA Jeff Rosen expressed the
same concern about how to even define or determine someone’s caste (Youtube)
“I know a little about caste. What I've learned is if you ask five South Asians what caste is you get 15
different opinions about what it is. I know that there have certainly been discriminatory practices
in societies all over the world since the beginning of time. As district attorney I'm focused on
whether there is discrimination or hate crime or violence based on discrimination in my county and
while there have been hate crimes committed in our County, I'm not aware of anything related to
caste and hate crimes or criminal violations. And so I just wonder if the bill is necessary.
I'm also very concerned about anyone being stigmatized or any Community being assumed to be
racist because they look a certain way or come from a certain place. And so one of the concerns I
certainly would have about a bill that talks about caste discrimination is it strikes me as
discriminating against Indian Americans and making them suspect in some way that others are
not. “
Jeff
Rosen, Santa Clara County District Attorney
The now withdrawn lawsuit by the CRD against two Cisco Engineering leaders confirms that caste
discrimination is already illegal under the existing California law. SB403 itself contains language
which says that it should not be interpreted that caste based discrimination is not already
covered. We do not require a new law which specifically targets the South Asian community, which
will be affecting our future generations and subjecting them to caste scrutiny because of their
descent.
We petition Cupertino City Council under the Cupertino Municipal Code 2.08.030 to study SB-403
and put it on the agenda ASAP to give us an opportunity to express our concerns. We also ask that
the council pass a resolution condemning it on our behalf.
The matter is urgent as the SB-403 is being unfairly fast tracked to avoid public scrutiny. It already
went through Senate Judicial review, Budget review and Senate vote in less than 2 months and is
being rushed through the Assembly.
Most of the contents read above have already been sent to you in writing which I have also attached
to this email here. That email was on behalf of myself and 69 other residents of Cupertino. That
email was not acknowledged.
I urge you now to please schedule a special meeting with this topic being the only item on the
agenda ASAP.
Regards,
Chitra Iyer
Cupertino Resident since 2004.
CC 06-21-2023
Item No. 8
Consider approval of the
May 16 City Council
minutes
Written Communications
From:Kirsten Squarcia
To:Kitty Moore
Cc:City Clerk
Subject:RE: Item 8 20230621 FW: 2023-06–6 City Council Meeting, Agenda Item 2-May 16 Minutes
Date:Wednesday, June 21, 2023 9:38:49 PM
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Councilmember Moore, your comments will be included as requested.
Kirsten Squarcia
City Clerk
City Manager's Office
KirstenS@cupertino.org
(408) 777-3225
From: Kitty Moore <Kmoore@cupertino.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2023 9:01 PM
To: Kirsten Squarcia <KirstenS@cupertino.org>
Subject: Item 8 20230621 FW: 2023-06–6 City Council Meeting, Agenda Item 2-May 16 Minutes
Dear City Clerk,
Please add the following to the written communications for Item 8.
Thank you,
Kitty Moore
Kitty Moore
Councilmember
City Council
Kmoore@cupertino.org
(408) 777-1389
From: Peggy Griffin <griffin@compuserve.com>
Date: Tuesday, June 6, 2023 at 2:44 PM
To: City Council <CityCouncil@cupertino.org>
Cc: City Clerk <CityClerk@cupertino.org>
Subject: 2023-06–6 City Council Meeting, Agenda Item 2-May 16 Minutes
CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and
know the content is safe.
PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING EMAIL AS PART OF THE WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING AGENDA ITEM #2.
Dear City Council and City Staff,
In the Meeting Minutes for the May 16, 2020 City Council Meeting, under CONSENT CALENDAR (Items 2-12), second
paragraph it states “Peggy Griffin was concerned about the conformity of accounts payables and treasurers reports…”
For the record, I’d like this email and the following text to be placed in Written Communications for ITEM2 Approval of the
May 16, 2023 Minutes to clarify exactly my concerns.
I’d like to bring these violations listed below to your attention.
In the May 16, 2023 Cupertino City Council Agenda, it includes the March 2023 Monthly Treasurer’s Report (Agenda Item
#18) which is late and violates both Cupertino municipal code and California state law. This is not the first time sinceDecember 2022. They are continually late.
I-Violation of Municipal Code Section 2.24.030 Monthly Reports and California Government Code Section 41004.
The May 16, 2023 Cupertino City Council Agenda Item #17 “Receive the Monthly Treasurer’s Investment Report for March
and April 2023”, the March 2023 Monthly Treasurer’s Investment Report is late. II-Violation of California Government Code Section 53607, Cupertino Municipal Code 2.24.050 and the CupertinoInvestment Policy
This is an excerpt from the top of the December 2022 Monthly Treasurer’s Investment Report. This is included in every
Monthly Treasurer’s Investment Report as background information.
Link to current and about to be updated Cupertino Investment Policy
https://cupertino.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=F&ID=11960748&GUID=32777BC5-C26B-4777-AFD8-
125ECE8D6F2D&G=74359C04-A5F0-4CB2-A97A-0032996BB90E
Last year, the Cupertino Audit Committee chaired by Councilmembers Moore and former Councilmember Paul worked to getour city into compliance with these laws. Since their removal from this committee the city Treasurer has fallen out of
compliance despite their response to the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury (CGJ) report “Show Me the Money”.
Link to the CGJ’s report “Show Me the Money”
https://www.scscourt.org/court_divisions/civil/cgj/2022/Show%20Me%20the%20Money%20-
%20Financial%20Transparency%20Needed.pdf
Link to City of Cupertino’s Response to the CGJ’s report “Show Me the Money”https://www.scscourt.org/court_divisions/civil/cgj/2023/Show%20Me%20the%20Money-City%20of%20Cupertino.pdf
In summary, Mayor Wei and the city staff decide when and what appears on each City Council Agenda. With regard to these
reports, they have the duty and obligation to follow state and municipal code by ensuring these documents are included on
the agenda in a timely manner yet they chose not to do so.
Sincerely,
Peggy Griffin