City Council - Regular Meeting

All right, welcome everyone. Welcome to tonight's city council meeting. It's good to see so many of you here. If this is your first time joining us, welcome and I hope you return. Um, you can check out the agenda for today's meeting by scanning the QR code that's on the screen. There's also some printed agendas behind you, but the benefit of getting it on your phone is that you can go item by item and actually read the agenda attachments and see all the material that your city council sees sees and prepares for these meetings. So we follow the order of the agenda and first is a consent calendar with some routine matters and then we will have public comment and the public comment can be about anything you feel is important so long as it's within the jurisdiction of the city and then after that we will have some um legislative matters and some report outs. Um, if you feel like speaking on any item, you pull a blue card. There's some in the back and there's some up front and you turn them into the city clerk's office. So, if you want to speak on an item on the consent calendar, you may do so. You just fill in the card to say which item you want to talk about. And if you're here to speak during public comment, you fill out the card for that as well. And then when you come up to the mic, be sure to say your name. You don't have to give your address, but it is really helpful if you can say your city of residence. if you're a Corona resident or if you're in from anywhere within the region or even if you're in from out of town. Um and then everyone's given some time and you'll see the clock on the screen um that'll show you where you're at. Okay, so let's get started. Okay, moving on to item six, the consent calendar. All items listed on the consent calendar are considered to be routine matters, status reports, or documents covering previous city council action. The item

is listed on the consent calendar may be enacted in one motion with the concurrence of the city council. A council member or any person in attendance may request that an item be removed for further consideration. Would my colleagues like to approve pull any items for discussion? Yes. Go ahead. 6.3 6.3. Yes. Just want to get a report. I think it's important just because there's been um any other so much volat volatility in the tax part. Um, no. I think all my other questions were answered by staff previous. Thank you. Thank you. So, we have item 6.3. Miss Edwards, are there any speaker cards from the public on any of the items? Mayor, I have one speaker card for the consent calendar for item 6.9.

69 6.9 This is from the public. Okay. Miss, nothing else on the consent? No more cards, mayor. Sorry. Okay. In that case, I will entertain a motion on the I will entertain a motion on the consent calendar for all items except for 6.3 and 6.9. Do we have a motion?

Moved and seconded by Vice Mayor and by council member Richens. Everybody please vote. All right. And the balance of the consent calendar passes unanimously 5 to zero. Okay. Going to item 6.3. Council or vice mayor speak. You had um pulled this item. Mayor, uh for 6.3, HDL isn't on the line tonight, but we can have them come back to a future meeting if you'd like to get a full report on that item. Okay, vice mayor. No, that that's fine. I I read the report. I just thought it would be good and we can come back the next time. It's all right. Okay, we'll have one next time. Thank you. In that case, um C uh Vice Mayor, will you move to approve that item? Yes.

Okay. And can we get a second? Second by council member Steiner. That's item 6.3. Everyone, please vote. Okay. 63 passes 5 to zero. Thank you. All right. Moving on to item 6.9. There was a card from the public. If you pulled a card on this item, please come up to the podium. Hi, welcome. Hello. Hi, my name is Oh, one second. Your mic isn't on. Can we start the time? Is it on? Is the button green?

Yeah. Okay. Go ahead, Kevin. Go ahead, Kevin.

Hi, my name is Kevin. Um, I'm a resident of Corona. I live right across the street uh from like Hidden Valley area. Um, so I know I know that you guys are voting for an exemption. So I checked the numbers on the project that you guys want to do. Um, and the average single person only brings home about $3,600 a month take home. Um, but a new luxury condo with a mortgage and HOA fees could cost up to $4,500 a month. So that means that the average resident literally can't afford that. Um, so this project isn't for us. It's for high earners from LA who will just bring more traffic to our streets. And please, uh, don't hide behind the few affordable units. We know those are just temporary. Instead of just handing this public land over for private profit, please study a community land trust model. Um, that is the only way we can make housing affordable for our residents. Um, if the people who work here can't afford to live here, please don't approve the project. Thank you.

Thanks, Kevin. Yeah. [applause] [applause] And for clarity, we're not approving a project. its declaration um of exemption for the surplus land act. Um Miss Edwards, are there any speakers? Mayor, we do not have any more speaker cards for this item. Then I would entertain a motion for item 6.9. So moved.

Moved by Vice Mayor, seconded by Council Member Steiner. Please vote. Thank you. All right. And that item passes five to zero. Thank you. Okay, moving on to item seven, communications from the public. Persons wishing to address the city council are requested to state their name and the city of residence for the record. This portion of the agenda is intended for general public comment only, which means it is limited to items within the subject matter jurisdiction of the city council that are not listed on the agenda. Please note that state law prohibits the city council from discussing or taking action on items not listed on the agenda. The city council will appreciate your cooperation in keeping your comments brief. Please observe a three-minute limit for communications. All right, Miss Edwards, do we have speaker cards?

Mayor, yes, we have eight speaker cards for communication from the public. Eight speaker cards. All right, so come on up. Eight speakers. Whoever would like to be first.

I will start this off. Um, I unfortunately missed the last meeting. Oh, Mattie Paxton. Um, 30ome year resident of Corona. I missed the previous meeting and I'm really sorry that I did. The first thing is um as far as the the police department, I wanted to uh congratulate the promotion of Officer Kelly. Not yet. Not yet. Um Officer Kelly and to wish um K9 Officer Bruce a happy retirement. Okay, now we can do that one. Um there was also the the blood program that I had actually spoken um with Chief Young about several months ago. I had a particular question that was not answered. It was a great It was a great presentation. Thank you for being able to see it at home. But the question I had wasn't answered. The question was, I know that there are several blood types, A, B, AB, O, positive, and negative. And I do know for a fact cuz my husband had a rare blood disorder. If you give the wrong type, it could be disastrous or cause death. So, I wanted to know how on site they could possibly type. So, I was lucky enough to run into um uh Captain Marantes from station one who explained to me that they do they take the blood in hopefully monthly. They turn it into a blood bank and then they're given O negative which is the universal donor so it doesn't become an issue. That's what I needed to understand. So, I I thank you for that. Um and the other thing now if you would show the the slide please. Um, I've always had the question of why do firefighters have mustaches? Um, because to me being at campfires and such, hair burns. Why? So, um, back in in the fall, station the firefighters from station 7 [clears throat] explained to me that back in the in the 1800s, um, the practical natural filtration method

was for breathing was to totally wet their mustaches, which um um they grow the thick mustaches to wet them down before entering burning buildings to filter out smoke and ash. Well, with modern technology today, we don't have to worry about that. But it's a nod to tradition, brotherhood and the old school history of the profession. So again, those were that was on Facebook and the history of the um the mustaches. And the last comment that I have is again I want to go on record for Maine and 6th what's going on. Um I don't understand how in the world we're going to be able to handle transportation. I was at Orange County again this weekend with the highrises. Minimum of two lanes either directions up to four lanes either direction. When you start bringing in all the construction crews, all the other people, I don't see how it's going to be a huge bottleneck unless we invent something like the Jetsons and fly overhead. I don't know how we're going to do that. And again, my answer to that is go ahead and prove me wrong. Thank you very much.

Thanks, Maddie. We missed you last meeting. Thank you. All right, next speaker.

Good evening. I'm Don Fuller. I have a piece of artwork that the clerk can put up on the screen. There we go. [applause] A uh [applause] a con man, a pedophile, and a convicted felon walk into a bar. [laughter] Bartender says, "Are you alone, Mr. President?" So, our next No Kings protest will be on March the 28th. There have been in Corona previously. I do not know about the exact location yet, but as I find that out, I will let people know. The first uh of these protests under this organization was actually called Hands Off. It was last April. Uh it was a figured that there were around a thousand or so different protests around the country and the total turnout was around 3 million. On June the 14th, which was the convicted felon's birthday, there was a protest which was under the heading of No Kings. that was when he had that $45 million parade and uh it was figured that there were about 1,800 or so different protests around the country and that the total turnout was somewhere around three million. On uh October the 18th of last fall uh was the la the most recent of these no kings protests. Uh there were about 2,800 or so of those around the country. The total turnout was figured to be somewhere over 7 million and that was on a college football Saturday. The next one coming up on the 28th is projected to be much greater than that. Uh just to give you a little bit of a clue uh as some of those time frames on June the 14th of this coming year, he will be 80 years old. But before we get to that

particular date, we will get to April 25th and I will be 82. So I am more than two years older than him and I got to think I'm in better shape. Uh there is uh also been some work done by people who do such things studying protests. One thing they found out is that when the protests are peaceful and nonviolent they are more effective. So we work in keeping in that way. Another thing that people have found out is that around the world historically when the total turnout gets to be about three and a half% of the population you start to see regime change. Well, on the last one in October we were a little over 7 million. That's a little over 2%. So, we are getting there. The crowds are determined. The crowds are enthusiastic. And the crowds ain't quitting. So, as I learn more about what's happening on the 28th, I'll let people know. Uh, thank you everybody. Have a nice night. Everybody get home safe. Thank you.

Thank you, DON. [cheering] [applause]

Good evening, Joe Morgan, 2063 Ren. Um, it's great to see like an organized group here uh asking for things from the council. Um, I heard the mayor say that you're happy that they're here. I I that's you know that's not really true. I mean you I probably philosophically you know you you sort of think that you you know kind of you kind of feel warm that there's people here but just so these people aren't under any illusions that you actually care what they say. Please don't be under that illusion that they care what you say. You continuously run over the public. You continuously deny doing the things that the public asks you to do. The sixth and main thing is exactly that. So the the gentleman came up and said, "Please don't approve this." And you very cynically said, "We're not approving this tonight." When you know that there is no one night that this is approved. What you decided at the last meeting that you were going to pursue this exemption thing and it's all just a continuous march towards doing it. It's a serial approval. you you do one step and then you do another step and you do another step. The staff has decided what this project is going to be and at least a good fraction of the council said that wasn't what they wanted and then now you guys have been convinced by staff that this is in fact what you wanted. And so you just keep going along slurping up whatever they hand you like good little kittens and you're going to give this away to the private sector and it's going to be like basically for market with some pretend lowincome units and it's not going to serve the public use and it's going to be a flop just like the one where in the city manager's former city is a flop. the same one where the whole commercial is a flop and you already said that commercial's dead, you know, that you you won't be doing it, but we're going to be doing it. It's going to work. It's like the toll roads

you hate that you say, "Well, if we ran a toll road, it'd be great." You know, this is like the one of the more cynical groups I've ever seen. I I kind of get the other the other uh group was, you know, sort of independent contractors, you know, and didn't really they didn't really have any skin in the game. You guys are like just marching forward to the destruction of downtown. You know, this isn't this this is really about getting your name on a poster. This is about saying we're better than that other group. It's not about doing it right. It's lazy. It's a lazy development. It's just lazy and it's stupid and it's not going to serve the downtown. It's not going to serve the people downtown. And we've already seen over and over, you're willing to take people's property, you're willing to send semi-truckss through people's neighborhood. you know, you don't actually care about the people that live here. You care about your own personal careers and your own personal recognition. Thank you very much.

Thank you. [applause] Nice. Welcome back, Kevin.

Um, all right, I'm ready. Um, honorable uh, mayor and city council members. Um, I'm not here to yell at you guys. I I'm here because I'm worried. Um, I just want to ask everyone in the room to like do me a favor and just um, humor me for a second and just close your eyes and imagine what I'm describing. Um, so I want you to picture one specific person you know who came here from another country. Maybe it's a co-orker, neighbor, the person who serves you coffee in the morning. Um, I just want you to see their face. Just think about how hard they work and how much they love their families. Now, keep that same image in your head while I tell you the hard truth. On January 20th, the president signed an executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship, challenging the very Constitution that protects us all. He has already revoked legal status for over a million people. people who were here legally, who paid taxes, who lost their status overnight because he deemed their home countries undesirable. According to ISIS's own data, 70% of people held in these detention centers have no criminal record. So, please keep thinking of that friend and imagine that tonight you hear a quiet knock at your door. You open it and there they are. Their voices filled with terror. Federal agents are outside. They They took my paperwork. They They revoked my citizenship yesterday.

They They fear that ICE agents are coming to shatter their world, to tear their family apart. Answer this in your heart. Would you guys call ICE on them? Would you guys turn them in? Or would you guys help them? I I look at you guys and I see good people. I know you guys are good people. I know you guys wouldn't do that to your neighbor. [snorts] But [gasps] you know, because you guys know that a piece of paper doesn't define a human being. You guys have the power to pass a non-ooperation ordinance. You guys can make sure that city resources aren't used to tear apart families. And please stand up to the sheriff. He's uh you know, he's complacent in all this. So you you guys need to speak up and say something. Um be the neighbor that you guys would want to have. Thank you. That's all I have. [applause]

THANKS. WELCOME. Can we have your name, please?

Yes. Uh, good evening. My name is Julia Tala. I am a resident of Corona. I'm here to ask for your help with City. I need clarity as to the requirements that are needed to be met in order for an unhoused person to retain a shelter bed or longterm housing. I'm here on behalf of an elderly unhoused man uh named Mr. Navaro. Mr. Navaro and myself have been in contact with City since July 25th of last year. I have text messages and emails to confirm this communication as well as an ROI release of information from Mr. Navaro to speak and advocate on his behalf. um because he does not always have a reliable way to communicate because he is an unhoused person. Uh since that time, myself and Mr. Navaro have provided City with the following documents. A California ID uh that was paid for through a voucher through cityet. A copy of a social security card, a copy of a birth certificate stating that Mr. Navaro was born in Corona. 10 signed community and residency and character statements from business owners and from Mr. Navaro's friends in Corona, receipts and pictures of donations for settlement house. And still at this point in time, City has not been able to offer Mr. Navaro a bed in a shelter. it. They claim that he has not proved that he is a member of this city. City has also cleared Mr. Navaro through the police department and he has no pending warrants or legal issues.

I have reached out to the office of supervisor Karen Spiegel for help with cityet as well as opening a case with adult protective services because of my concern for Mr. Navaro's health. Since reaching out to City, I have personally taken Mr. Navaro to the hospital for fractured ribs, a bronchial infection, and to check up on his COPD. I'm hopeful I'm hopeful that with your help, um, Mr. Navaro will get the help that he needs and he will no longer be denied by City. The unhoused of Corona are our neighbors and now more than ever we need to strengthen our city by supporting everyone in our community. Thank you so much and I look forward to hearing from you.

Thank you Miss Tala. Miss Roer is Miss Tala. Miss Roer's in the back. She's going to catch you right now so you can connect. Okay, next speaker please.

Good evening. Good evening. My name is Larry Flynn. I'm here to address some facts that were put against the city of Corona that were dispersing as opposed to Elserto Cafe. There was an article put on the internet saying that the city of Corona put them out of business. This is not the fact. The fact of the matter was the property that was referred to as putting dirt on the parking lot was a parking lot that wasn't part of Mr. Martinez's property. Also, Mr. Mr. Martinez's lease expired three years prior. Mr. Martinez was 5 months behind on his lease and his rent. They just did one hatchet job on the city. And I think the people of Corona should know that the Corona had nothing to do with that. And I know the fact because I signed the contract with Alerta Hotel Cafe. I own the property. So I just don't think it's right that they just did a hatchet job on Corona. I bumped heads with Corona numerous times on the Dusters project, the crossings and [snorts] the Bedford Wash. What is right is right, what's wrong is wrong. I don't agree with the way we came out when we annex that land, but the facts are the facts and they need to stand for themselves and it shouldn't be put on Corona's back and turn around used to make a political stance or a quorum. Thank you,

Mr. Flynn. I think that's the first time that's happened. Thanks for coming to do that. appreciate you. [applause] All right, next speaker. Welcome.

Hi, my name is Bisma Fared. I've been a resident in Corona for over 10 years now. When I first moved out here, it was a great change compared to my last city. And I learned to love the community. Um, I'll go off and feed the homeless people on my own. I'll send people to um get services when needed. One thing that is causing me and many others great distress is how our police has been compliant with ICE. And it doesn't take a lot to see that what they're doing is against our constitutional right. Knights serve kings. We are a democracy. And I need you to really think about that. Knights serve kings. We are a democracy. And if we continue to stay compliant, if we continue to stay silent, this violence will never end. This division will continue to grow. Not just in skin color, not just in social economic status. I don't care if you make more money than me. If you're injured on the street, I'll help you. If I see someone try to take your kid, I will help them. And the only thing that I'm asking you as a council, because you have the power to do so, is to shape our police and ask them not to be compliant to what ICE is doing. Our firefighters, our police, they put their life on the line for their citizens. ICE has no training. They don't show their face. They don't have any ID. How will I know someone's going to abduct my niece just because she's a little bit darker than me? And does God knows what to her?

I need you to think about not just me, but your families, too. Your kids' friends, their teachers, their neighbors. And you don't have to be religious to know that everyone deserves to feel safe, that everyone deserves to feel loved. I need you guys to understand Jesus Christ didn't need a billion dollars. He was a carpenter. He was a worker. He sacrificed his life. And whether you believe or not, I'm willing to stand up and risk everything for my neighbor, for my stranger. And I need you guys to wake up. I'd rather be cringey and woke than vote for a pedophile. Thank you.

Thank you. [cheering] [applause] Okay, next speaker. [applause] Welcome.

Thank you. Hello. Uh, hello council. Hello, general public. My name is Jan Carlo and I live here in Corona. Uh, I came in today to talk a bit about um the decisions of considering Northgate at the corner of six in Maine. Uh, I saw the recent Facebook post about what that area could look like with the Northgate. Um, and there was some mixed reviews in the comments. Some people were really excited, hoping that it would be something like the Costa Mesa one. Um, and other people were addressing, similar to me, how it's going to bring bring a lot more car traffic into an area that we kind of thought was going to be more pedestrian forward and also potentially put out another small business, Gasad Pueblo, which is right around the corner, um, out of business. Um right now what I'm seeing done in the downtown there's been a lot of sacrifice. Uh this comp uh the restaurant super super taco had been in Corona for 32 years. I grew up um with a kid whose father owned that business. And so I really want us to consider um what it that what it is that we're putting there. Right now Corona has the opportunity to create something very beautiful, something unique to the city and not like something that could potentially just be found in Costa Mesa. So my proposal is that we consider doing something like a plaza and a park mixture, a space where we could actually get the farmers market and the local vendors into a more permanent venue and consider putting the north gate at a different location. One idea was to put it off of the corner of Maine and Parkridge, I believe, where an old super center had been recently demolished. That area feels more ideal given that it's between two exits, the high U hidden valley off of the 15 and Maine off of Corona. And yes, I really hope that there's more consideration, more discussion about that. I really think Corona has something to be uh something that is unique. There's not many cities that I know of that have a giant circle. And

so, please don't put a parking lot in the corner of our center of that circle. like put something beautiful. We have a library. We have a new mall, I guess, coming. Um something for the people, something for us to gather. I also want to pivot. I I'm really happy there's a lot of people here speaking out against ICE. And I didn't know this is my first time actually speaking at a council meeting.

Um and so yes, I also support uh [clears throat] ice out of Corona. The one time that I heard um news about ice in Corona was people got picked up on Christmas Day. And that's heartbreaking to be driving to my grandma's to visit her on Christmas Day and to read a post that people got picked up in Corona on Christmas Day. So please think about how is it that you want people to live their lives in Corona. All the people, not just the ones that have paperwork. All the people live here. Thank you.

Thank you, John Carlo. Thank you, [applause] John Carlo. I'm I'm happy also to share that Parkridge in Maine is actually going to get an RCCD Norco College extension. It's going to be an institution of higher education. So, that's coming. Okay, next speaker. Welcome.

Hi. Um, my name is Eko Bert. I've never spoken at a meeting before. I am here [clears throat] because I'm concerned about ICE and Corona. Um, I know everybody's probably tired of hearing it. Um, my husband is Mexican. Our daughter is half me Mexican. I worry about what happens to her, especially at school. Um, I know there have been a lot of protests. Uh, the kids have been leaving school and walking and and peace peacefully protesting. I'm very proud of that. Um, however, um, my daughter also has a PE class where they do walking in groups when they go out and they have to walk around the city. And I am concerned because ICE doesn't care whether you're there protesting, if you have signs, if you're out of school and you're in a group walking around, they're going to mess with you. Okay? I really worry about what's happening in humanity. On the wall it says e plurbus unum from many one. We're all here. We're all legally here and people are being taken away and put in cages whether they have a right to be here or not. That is not right. if we really need to do something about it. And that's what I have to say.

Thank you. Thank [applause] you. Thank you. [applause] Welcome.

Good evening. My name is Dia Coronado and what I'm going to talk about is um about the walkouts that happened all over the high schools in the in the district. And um I feel like that um if if any other student that's here wants to talk, I I hope they will. Um but right now I want to talk in representation of all those who walked out. And every day I I go to school praying that ICE is not anywhere near the school where they might try to go inside, try to to arrest anyone they see or be outside of of the of the campuses and uh try to abduct anyone who's just there waiting for their children or leaving their children at school. And it concerns me a lot because because you see there's so many people who are who who are citizens that are being abducted and they're being abducted just because of their of their skin or of their of their ethnicity. And never mind, he's just laughing. But all right. Well, I'm gonna say right now, if you guys do not help us as students to be safe at school and for our parents not to be safe, then we're just going to continue to walk out. We're just going to continue to walk OUT [applause] [cheering] cuz how are we all going to go through the fact that at some at some point maybe our parents are taken and we don't even know cuz we're at school. We don't even know because we're at

school. I want you I want all of you to think would you be happy if your children were taken away [snorts] and there might be a possibility you would be taken away of this country a place where you come to fulfill the dreams you have to try and live a life for not just yourself but for your children because that's how men That's that's how that's how some of us are going. That's how some of our parents are are um going. I don't know how to say um how some of our our parents um um what they thought when they came. They thought that for the safety of not just themselves but for us that we would live in a country where it's its whole purpose is freedom. and what's going on right now is not okay. And I want all of you to realize that if you guys do not try to do any change, more walkouts will happen.

Thank you, Dino. [applause] Hello. Welcome. Hi. First time here. Yes, thank you for speaking. And uh I'm nervous, but I'm here for the kids, for the community, for all those who are not able to come,

whose voices have been silenced. Um back, and I'm going to age myself a little bit, but back in 1994 95, I protested Prop 187. I was in high school then. I thought we were done and over with. Um, I cannot believe we are still fighting for equal rights. That is just it's it's unfathomable like to think about it. It's not freedom. It is privilege. When you get to walk down the street and you don't have fear, that is a privilege. That is not freedom. Many are in fear. I have neighbors who are in fear. I have co-workers who are in fear. That is not right. I am asking you guys to please help our police department. They are to protect and serve the citizens of this city. They are to protect and serve the residents of the city. Anybody who resides here, anybody who comes through here, it should not be whether they are of legal status or not. And um it's it it enrages me. It it enrages me because as a person of color, I have dealt with racism my whole life. As a kid growing up, I have not let that darken my heart. I have continued with integrity, with empathy. I see everybody as humanity. I fight for everybody's rights. I fight for those who are disabled, who don't have a say. I fight for those whose voices are silenced right now. So I ask you to please consider when ICE comes into this city, they are throwing fear

throughout the city. That's what they're doing. They're terrorizing communities. And we look at you guys. We voted for you guys and as a means to do well for the city. And as that part, I hope you guys can also consider us when they're here. protect us, please, because if you don't, if you don't put a limit, who will? We need to put a limit to what is happening. Enough is enough. We've fought for it for so long. History cannot repeat itself. History needs to stop. We need to learn from it, not continue to repeat the same mistakes we've continued to do over and over again. It's time for equal rights for all, not just some. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. [applause]

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. COME ON UP. Come on up. You can move the line up a little closer, too. Hi. Welcome. You can Yes, you can. It It moves. It's adjustable. Sorry. Thank you. Um, my name is Mia Vita Lara. This is my first time here. I live just up on Howard Street. Um, and I realized that a lot of you are very white appearing. Like in the in the most I'm sorry, in the most non-discriminatory way, you guys are white appearing. I'm I'm sorry. Um, how many of you actually identify with the race like his you identify as Hispanic, Mexican, anything like that? How many? Just by raise of hands, everybody in the room, how many of you align with that type of Do you guys do as well? Any of you?

Mhm. Okay. Um, that's a little funny to me because I look at all of you and I see that you all look very, very bored listening to this. And I understand that there's a lot of us here. We're all looking at you guys. And I admit that we're all judging you. And I'm sorry, but the fact that you guys look very, very bored as we're speaking to something so very serious. It's a little insulting because it seems like you don't necessarily care. And [applause] I'm sorry to be the one to say it. I really am. But um even as I'm speaking and pointing out, you all still look very bored. And you have my undivided attention. I'm glad.

I know. Thank you. Thank you. But I mean everybody else, you're all looking at me, but you're all bored. And you guys aren't thinking about it necessarily, but you guys have the power to do something about it. And the fact that you are also not necessarily ignorant but blinded to what's happening is also very insulting. And everybody in the room, how many of you have know someone who's an immigrant or someone who looks like an immigrant as in colored or speak Spanish? So that's a vast vast majority of all of us here. And the fact that again you guys haven't done anything necessarily about it or haven't at least tried more than 50% is again insulting. It's it honestly is very upsetting. [applause] And um I get it. I am just a teenager. I attend just a high school up the corner. Um, I walked out on Friday in support of abolishing ICE and [applause] um, I didn't see almost any support from anyone in the community who wasn't colored. I a bunch of cars drove by us. They all liked our signs. They all liked what we had to say, but they were all colored. And one again, white appearing person in a truck booed at us. and they booed us and they gave us a big red thumbs down. And I don't think that's okay. And I don't think that you guys didn't know that or don't necessarily care about that is okay. And I think that since you all have the power to do something about it, you guys should really think about it. You guys have that power to write legislation, put something in motion to keep ICE out of our streets, away from our schools, and out of again our city. And you guys haven't done anything. And I'd very much like it if you could. Thank you. Have a VERY NICE DAY.

[cheering] [applause] HI VICKI. HI. HI.

SO, I don't know how many times I've been up here, but I will just go ahead and give you guys some updated numbers. Um, so far we've calculated since late June over 60 people have been taken from our region, which is Corona, Norco, and Eastale. Um most recent one was actually about a week and a half ago. Um we know of uh families who have now officially been evicted because the main breadwinner was deported or detained. Um multiple families who've had to make the choice of leaving or staying and sometimes separating. Um, very few who have been picked up that we have been in contact with have any criminal record. Um, at least one man did not appear in the ICE locator system for weeks yet appeared on the DHS um page to show where all the worst of the worst criminals were. Um, we also know that money, documents, and other personal items have been stolen um either while they are being arrested or in detainment. And that includes actual documentation and that includes things like cash as well. Somebody even got their rent money stolen from them. And we do know that detention is now becoming more deadly and chaotic. Um we've had people who were moved up to four different states. Um family members not being able to get in touch with them at all or know where they are. And people who have been deported in less than 24 hours and who also have not shown up in the system at all. Um, and that's not including the people that we don't even know about. And we sure there's many of those as well. I mean, [sighs and gasps] we can we can sit here and beg for some type of legislation, be it a mask ban, be it banning them from staging on public

property. Um, you know, at the end of the day, especially after some side conversations, I know that there really isn't a whole lot you guys can do legally. So, I would hope that you guys remember that there might be a point where people in this room with power have to choose between what is legal and what is right. And I know nobody wants to make that choice because that can mean some very serious consequences, but we've already seen people die. We've already seen people be shot. And I don't want that to happen here. And I don't think you guys either. Even those of you who voted for it, I don't think you want to see that here because it's going to look pretty bad for us.

So I hope you take that into consideration. Thanks. Thanks, Vicki. Thank you. [applause] Hi, Ellen. Glad you're feeling better.

Hello, Madame Mayor. Uh, I'm Alan from We Protect Corona. We've served our community by making sure that we take care of our day labors at Home Depot. Uh, I'm glad that the mayor seems to be the only one on the council that actually seems to give a crap about what's going on. I'm sorry that council member Ddario, my council member, that you're bored with what you're hearing, but I most certainly am not bored. And I would ask you to actually pay attention. But also I think that when people say that there's not much the cities can do, I would point to what Herupa Valley did and what Chicago has now done. And we actually gave a letter to the city attorney and it seems that some of the council have gone the way of Congress. They're too bored to take up action on that piece in which basically city property is not accessible to federal officers without a judicial warrant.

[snorts]

excuse me, a warrant signed by a judge and creating safe spaces throughout our city for our community. And I am really going to keep pushing on it because clearly other cities are finding their pathway forward in a city that is pretty majority Latino. I see my communities out here present. I would imagine and hope that this council would be concerned about the safety of its people, which a majority of the residents are living in fear. We can't talk about how many DMs we get from communities saying, "Is this undercover cop and ICE officer? Is it a border patrol officer?" And I also would like to hear what the plan will be soon from our chief of police, Robert Newman, for the enforcement of Senate Bill 627, which now makes a misdemeanor for law enforcement officers to have a mask. And I don't want to hear the excuse from LAPD that it would create a public safety threat. I don't know about you, the public safety threat's already roaming our streets. It's killing people.

[applause]

I don't want to hear the excuse that it is that that we can't do that, that we're going to pit our law enforcement against each other. If our neighbors who are police officers are going to do their job, then I expect them to do their job and protect me and protect our community members and ensure that these federal officers and thugs are held to account because it has become very apparent that we have criminals in our streets that are masked and our federal agents that do not know how to act with the community who think it's okay to fire their weapons on the unarmed populace for having a phone for having something called radical decency for our neighbors. And I would and I'm going to keep pushing you y'all on this and the importance of it. I'm glad that we at least have somewhat of an ally with the mayor Jackie Casillas who's going to continue pushing. But now the question is do y'all the rest on this council have the willpower to do it because I've from now from my point of view you don't have the willpower to do it. And if you're bored with the position that you're in council member Jaria then resign. Let someone else fill that role. [cheering and applause] Including you to Tom Tom Richens. Pay attention because I want you to pay attention to the speakers following after me because your council members don't act bored. You you ran for this. So act like you care and give a damn. [cheering]

Thank you. [applause] Next speaker. Hello.

Hi. Welcome. My name is Aul and I would like it for the men in the room when I'm talking to please sit up while I speak. [applause] So I know I have your attention and if you don't that's okay. Um I'm not here to give any more statistics. I'm somebody who has been involved in my community um particularly with ICE since August. I have been showing up to these meetings since August. And my question is, what is the limit? We have already been compared, ICE has already been compared to the Nazis. We've already been compared to slave catchers. At what point are we going to step up and actually protect our community? I know in August we had spoken to a um police officer. I believe it was around August 10th or 11th, around that time. and they essentially told us that we that they don't have the federal power to because we're a state city state power and they're federal. However, we are our own separate like entity. I believe we have the right to override the federal government. I believe that's kind of what's in the constitution. I kind of think the founding fathers set it up that way so that we can override tyranny and fascism. Um, and as many people have point out, look, look at the audience. We are a Latino community. And no matter who you are, if you care about anybody who is Latino, you are facing an immense amount of stress right now. And stress kills. So, not only are you killing the immigrants and not even immigrants, the brown people in our communities, you are harming everybody who cares about them.

And if you It's your job to care about our community. And I would really like it if you guys would do your job. Thank you. [applause] All right, next speaker. And feel free to come a little closer. It's all right. Hi there.

Hello. I am Sunonny Gonzalez. I live in Corona and I would just like to say I love my community. I love the city that I live in. I have always felt safe in my community until recently. I'd like to think everything everyone has said here tonight will appeal to your emotions, but it wouldn't shock me if it didn't. In regards to the young lady and the young man earlier, I really wish you guys would at least try to seem attentive to your constituents. The issue might not worry you, but it is terrifying us. Ice is coming. It's in our neighboring cities. It's only a matter of time. They're in San Bernardino. They're in Riverside. What I want to know, are our police going to protect us or ICE?

[applause] and I'd appreciate your attention rather than being on the phone. Sir, thank you, Sunny.

I was just at the CU at the school board meeting last night and our children's mental health scores after fifth grade are going down. Children are saying they are afraid for themselves and their family. These ICE agents are wearing masks, not identifying themselves, and they are scaring our children from trusting law enforcement. We need to understand what this is doing to our next generation. The fear if you cooperate and protect these ICE agents, what you are doing to our children's trust in any authority. Nazis and the people who helped them were eventually held accountable. I'd like to tell this council while we are all here today with having your attention for this very brief moment, you dained to give that to us. We will remember who helped ICE. Thank you.

Thank you. [applause]

Hi, welcome. [clears throat]

Hello, my name is Dean. Uh, this is first time I've ever spoken out of city hall. This is my second meeting I've ever been to. And, uh, based on my shirt, I assume you know why I'm here. So, um, this week I participated in my school's walk out against ICE, which I'm very sure you guys saw, and I know a few people in here were there as well. At least 14th of my school showed up. That's over a thousand people who were at my school who wanted Icecon gone and that's the ones who went before we had the walk out. We had a room of a few people who were going to just talk about how they feel. A few things I heard include one person who mentioned how she no longer feels safe to go outside. Her grandma told her that they can't go to the grocery store as much anymore. They can't go outside anymore out of fear that ICE might just show up and take them. This is a person who was born in the United States, too. Not just immigrants are scared. We are scared. We are scared that immigrant members of our community are going to get kidnapped. We're scared that Hispanic members of our community who are citizens are going to get kidnapped. We are scared ICE will stop at nothing to take people. They are acting as the SS or the Gestapo acted back in the 1940s. And those groups are the direct reason I'm in the United States now since my grandpa immigrated here after living in Austria during World War II. My grandpa lived through fascism and I don't want to grow up in those same conditions. Now, to um build off what some other people said about you guys looking bored, if you want to stop hearing from us, do something. You have the power to act. You have the power to pass a law or do something. Other cities have done something. You guys can do something. Make Corona a safer place for everybody. Like uh we shouldn't be living in a time or a city where people especially high schoolers feel scared to just go outside. Like the

point of the United States was no kings, no tyranny. We should be able to live in a free society where we don't fear anything. This is why I am here. I want you guys to do your job and pass some sort of way we can help combat against ICE. And I'm sure literally everyone else in this room, too. Look how many yellow shirts are here. And some people are here even without the shirts because we ran out of shirts. We had so many people show up that we ran out of shirts. Now I I see I only have 30 seconds left. I just call for you guys to ask or do something. I'm sure you've seen the protests that happen every once in a while, whether it be in front of Rimpa Park, whether it be in front of the city center. Like there is more coming this month. Of course, as somebody mentioned, No Kings 3 is next month. And I know for a fact there will be a Corona location. There is an account on Instagram called mobilize.corona where you can see this information which I encourage all of you to follow. Um yeah, in my last 5 seconds I just want to say I'm in high school. Nobody here wants to live through this and you guys have the power to make a change. Thank you.

Thank you Dean. [applause]

Welcome. Hello. My name is Melody Meister and I go to Norcco College. I just want to say that two of you are not doing what's been taught at school and that is to pay attention to the speaker. We learned this in what, first grade, and yet I've seen one of you eat god knows what and lean back. And I know one of you was taking a nap. I'm looking at both of you right now. Yeah. Sit up. Sit up. Excu [cheering] And [applause] I just want to say

Excuse me. Excuse me. I I'm 5 foot four. I'm sitting up right now. This is as tall as I get. Okay. All right. And I have not napped. Okay. Go on, Melanie. And what about you? You're You're still leaning.

Go on, Melanie. I I'm I'm thrilled. Please continue. Mhm. I am an elder sister of five boys and I am a daughter of an immigrant mother. My brothers, four of them are darker than me. What happens if I want to take them out for a walk and I seize me with this beautiful young boy who just wants to go out and spend time with his sister? What happens if I can't defend that child? Will I get shot? Will I get pepper-sprayed? I am angry for my brothers. I'm angry for my community. And none of you are doing anything. I guess if you don't have the power, then speak up online. Speak up for us, the people that you chose to run for. Okay? Am I being hurt or not? You're nodding, but you're not doing anything. You're lying to us. We want results. We want ice out of our streets. Is that so hard to understand? I want my community to feel safe. I want people to be outside again. I grew up here. I was born here. And it's so heartbreaking for me to see the streets so empty when they were so lively. Look at me. You're closing your eyes. Look at me.

Writing notes. Yeah, you're writing notes cuz you can't look at me. You can't look at a white girl. Defending her her community. Okay, let's continue. Thank you, Melanie. You still have time if you want to use it. It breaks my heart that the people that run for us is working with a pedophile, a convict and rapist. We were we were promised safety for our streets, but all we got were people kidnapped.

Thank you, Melanie. [applause] Welcome. Good evening.

My name is Colleen. I've lived in Riverside County almost my entire life. I am 43 and a mom of four. All of my children, myself, my husband, are all Caucasian. So maybe you'll listen to me. The thing is that you shouldn't have to be a Caucasian person to feel safe in your house. You shouldn't have to be a Caucasian person to feel safe on the streets. You should feel safe as a citizen or a non-citizen based on human rights. Human rights whether you are breaking the law or not. It is not punishable by death to support your fellow man. And yet Renee Good and Alex Prey were both killed by ICE, murdered in cold blood because they decided to help, because they decided to protest, because they decided they didn't think that these people should be hurting others because of their skin color. Why doesn't that matter to you? Where is your humanity? Where's your heart? You are not all safe. We are none of us are safe in Trump's America. Like I said, I'm Caucasian. I'm scared out of my damn mind. Pardon my French. But the thing is is that none of us are safe here because right now they're coming for the brown people tomorrow. Who else are they coming for? I'd like to read a poem if I can here.

[sighs]

First they came for the communists and I did not speak out because I was not a communist. Then they came for the socialists and I did not speak out because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionist and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me. My family came here on the Mayflower. Some of them on my [clears throat] dad's side. On my mom's side, they immigrated from Ireland legally several years ago. That doesn't make me a better person, more deserving of rights than everyone else here, than everyone else in America. They're all people. They all have hearts. They all have blood. We are all deserving of human rights. We should not be supporting ICE. We should not be supporting Trump. He appears in the Epstein files over 3,000 times. That's not debatable. He is a pedophile. He is a sex trafficker. [applause] It's not the Epstein files. It's the Trump files and everything we do that supports ICE supports him.

Thanks, Colleen. Change it. [applause] [cheering] Thank you. Next speaker. Hello. Welcome. Good afternoon. Good afternoon. My name is Ezekiel. I'm currently a high school student, senior at Corona High.

As you know, over the past week, there's been multiple walkouts and I would I personally was tired of seeing my school not do anything. So, I decided to do one for my school. very successful. We had a lot of support from some of our APS, some of the adults that had children attending our school. And I want you guys to realize that the fact that it takes young students to speak up and walk out of their school in order to try and get their voices heard because they're scared for people in their community, their families. I know people personally that are scared and have asked me what they should do if they see an unmarked vehicle. I personally walk to school in the morning and I walk back home and I'm scared looking out for marked vehicles wondering am I about to get grabbed, killed, and who else knows what's going to happen to me? Because there's immigrants being kidnapped that we don't even know where they're at. And I want you guys to think about your family and think about that happened to your family. What would you think if you just seen your family getting kidnapped, walking home from school or getting their groceries or going to the hospital because they need help? It doesn't take much to realize what's going on is wrong. It doesn't matter your political viewpoints. What is morally wrong is wrong. And what is happening in our community, in our streets, in every city all over the nation is just not right. And I hope you guys realize that you need to speak up that the community can only do so much.

Thank you, Ezekiel. [applause] Hi, welcome.

Hi council. I was debating whether to speak or not, but I thought this is a great opportunity to speak, especially after hearing our youth share their experiences. And I'm so proud of all the young people that are here today and speaking out. And I feel as adults, responsible adults, we should be there for them and know that we support whatever cause they are passionate about. I am an American. I'm a Mexican American. My forefathers have been here in these lands for generations. And I have a family here in Corona as well. And I have a daughter that's in the Girl Scouts and she's here today. And the reason I put her in the Girl Scouts as a MexicanAmerican is because I wanted to her to love this country because I believed in the Constitution. I believed in the Bill of Rights for everybody. And I feel now with this administration and with ICE acting as law enforcement, because let's be real, they're not. Their tactics are not the law enforcement officers that we respect and trust in the streets. So don't stereotype the good law enforcement officers that exist right now in our society. That's not fair. So that is why we ask you people who we voted to be in those seats to do something about all the members, all your community members, not just the white ones, not just the ones that believe that Trump is our president. Everybody. This is a bipartisan issue that should not even be political. It's

the safety of us human beings. I am one of the lighter Mexican Americans and I also feel for my brothers and sisters who are being persecuted because that's what it is and we all know what's right and wrong and I think it's time for us to wake up all of us because it's getting worse and I'm tired. I want my children to grow up in the era where they felt that at least they knew they had civil rights. We just celebrated MLK, Martin Luther King. What happened to the civil rights movement? What happened to all our accomplishments during that era? They're gone. So, I just hope that tomorrow you have it in your heart to at least advocate and say something. That's all I have to say. Thank you.

Thank you. What was your name? So, sorry we didn't catch your name. Sorry, I didn't catch your name for the record. Shireen Solano. Thank you, Shane. Thank you so much. Hello. Welcome, ma'am, gentlemen. Good evening. My name is Quinton Clark. I live in Smemesco Canyon. I've been living in Corona my entire life. Um, I have some prepared. My body is shaking with the amount of anger that I feel, but we will do this respectfully. Thank you.

Um, and I prepared something I'd like to say to you. I am here speaking on behalf of the students at ABC SoCal whose theos Theas and cousins are sheltering in place afraid to go out. I am here speaking in solidarity with the students that attend our schools, the same schools I attended in my youth and have the privilege of safely graduating in 2017. I am here speaking with the active military and veterans that I have the honor of carrying their mantels as a former United States sailor who had his banner up on Sixth Street outside of Eduardo's restaurant. I am embarrassed, as I'm sure they are, to have represented a country whose values have become perverted and harmful to those I wish to protect. I am here speaking in conjunction with the beautiful humans you see behind me wearing yellow t-shirts. I would like to say this one thing and one thing only. You have an opportunity to do this with us and we would love for you to do this with us lawfully and peacefully. If you won't protect us, we will protect us.

[cheering] We have a right to a second amendment and we will use it and we will make sure I'm trained in a lot of gun safety and I would love to teach the people behind me how to use one. They will be protected whether you like it or not. You signed up to do something. Do you signed up to do something? Anybody in here wearing uniform? I I recognize wearing that uniform and I'm damn near ashamed sometimes to look at it and say I served this country. It hurts. It hurts that I made a vow and now it it's perverted by a president who is a pervert, who is a pedophile. Please listen to what these people are saying. This is not the last time I will be here. This is the first time. It is not the last. Thank you and have a good night. Thank you, Quentyn. [cheering] [applause]

Come on up. Welcome. Uh hello. My name is Kaden Recendes. Um, I don't have any public speaking experience, so pardon me if this is a little rough.

Um, I'm I'm nervous about ICE, and I have many reasons why, but since I stood up to this podium, I've forgotten all of them. Um, but there is one thing I do want to talk about is the older gentleman behind me. Um, I respect your opinion. and I respect your right to have an opinion. However, if you want to voice your opinion, please get in line with all the other people and not shout it at the top of your lungs while other people are talking. I respect that you're an elder. I respect that you are maybe a veteran. Now, I don't know for sure, but if you are, I respect your service, but it doesn't give you a right to talk over others. So, sorry. Um, the second thing I want to talk about is these shirts, the yellow shirts that were handed out to us outside. Um, I don't think that we should have to be wearing bright yellow shirts for you to be able to see how many people care about this issue. I think we should be able to just show or just say like, "Yeah, no, we don't we don't like this and you should be able to listen to us because a lot of these people voted for you. I'm too young to vote, so I didn't vote for you. So, I feel like I don't have a say in this matter. But as a young person, I feel like I, you know, have a young mind and I have the ability to have fresh thoughts. Um, sorry, pardon me again. This is rough.

Um, thank you. Um, I don't want to talk about any of you being bored because I know a lot of you are probably not bored or just look bored. I don't know. You probably have tough jobs. I don't know. Um, you I just It's just one thing that bugged me. Uh, I don't know your name, sir. Sorry. Uh, you right there. What's your name? Uh,

hi. Um, the [clears throat] young lady who spoke earlier said that you looked bored. You had your hand on your face. I saw I I rest my face like that all the time, but it just is kind of annoying to me that it took you like four people until you like fix your posture. I feel like when someone's speaking, you should just stand up straight like a man and just listen to them. Um the next thing is just really quickly the walkouts that happened the other day. Um, I participated in the Santiago walkout and the amount of people that were there and still nothing has been done just infuriates me. So, I'm again I'm sorry for being rough, but the fact that you guys have done nothing after all these people have walked out from schools, middle schoolers are walking out and you you should just listen to us by now. It shouldn't be this hard with all these people standing behind me. Anyway, thank you so much.

Thank you, Kayen. [applause] Hi, welcome.

Hello, my name is Tamara DRO. Unlike a lot of you, I'm actually a really new citizen to Corona. My husband and I moved our family here uh last summer um to mostly to escape the heat of Phoenix because 110 is ridiculous. Um I am not an extrovert by nature. Uh, so I was not planning on speaking up tonight, but seeing the people come and show up for their community has absolutely inspired me to speak up as well. Um, in the environment that we are facing right now, our strength comes from banding together. And I see that in this room. My family is white. We buy my old salsa. But my children's friends are not. My neighbors are not. I believe in the power of this community and the violence against our communities of color are a moral failing. This council must use its power to protect this community. Be clear that all residents are valued and that they are here that they are here. They are safe. If you have listened tonight to the people share their stories, to the children who have been inspired to walk out of their schools, I mean, if they're not playing video games and they're getting on the out on the street, this is serious. If you have listened to the people of color talk about their fear and that does not move you, what are you doing? In this room is humanity. And if you are not compelled to actually protect the citizens of this community, then you should not be in public service. That is all I have to say.

Thank you. Thank you for being here. [applause and cheering]

Hello. Welcome.

Thank you. Uh my name is Melb Navaro and I'm a longtime resident here at Corona and also a um um business owner, mental health provider here for the uh city residents of Corona and Riverside County in general. And I'm really concerned for the local community because I have uh I directly see kids who are really afraid of going to school. Uh I have families who are also even um afraid of coming to the clinic local medical clinic here in Corona. Um I am concerned uh for my own kids. I have kids here in in in the district and and and um obviously they uh attend the the local schools and I'm I'm concerned for them as well. Um and it's really um um concerning that um um a city as corona as diverse as it is that we are uh not taking a stand in regards to what's happening to our um to our city members to our uh residents and um when I first moved here to Corona with my family um you I always uh felt that this is a safe place to be in uh but that's not longer the case uh and I really uh I'm really proud of the students here uh that are present and I actually was not planning to to speak up um but uh a lot of the uh youth here actually motivated me to to do speak up because I do feel that uh uh it would be really important um for the community to know that this is not affecting just uh one particular um um members of our population but everyone here locally and I think it's affecting the businesses

too. I don't know if you guys uh ever drive by um Sixth Street uh because it seems like uh some of you members I don't know where you guys live but uh um yeah it seems like Lily has been dead just uh driving or walking around our our our local community and that's really saddened me to see that and um I just will hope that you guys take a stand and uh keep everyone safe. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Nvaro. [applause] Hello. Welcome. Hi, Kai.

Hi. My name is Kai Cruz. I've been a resident for over 30 years here. Uh I'm not making any assumption about uh people's attention or how they're paying attention. Uh and just uh in that vein, I also want to say I appreciate all the city council's member commitment uh to listen to us and I'm just hoping that we have your attention. Um, uh, talking about, uh, assumptions, um, people make the wrong assumptions about me because of my, uh, color, skin of my color. Uh, I'm assumed to be American. I'm actually an immigrant. So, um, I came to the United States over 30 years ago, uh, from Germany. Um, so I have my experience with, um, you know, racial prejudice. Um, and uh, I just I'm reminded of what Ronald Reagan said uh, a long time ago uh, in his last year of his presidency. Uh, he was talking about what makes America so special. And he said, um, if you go to France and you live in France, it doesn't mean that you're French, but if you come to America, you can become American. And I experienced that. So, it's a special country. [applause] I'm glad that even Republicans can agree with that. This is not has nothing to do about politics. This has something to do about being special and a special country. Now, we agree that that is true for America, but we can also agree that that's true for our city. [clears throat] your neighbor. It doesn't matter whether it's a Republican or a Democrat, whether it's a Latino or white person is your neighbor. And when we come together here and we demonstrate, we don't do that just for ourselves. We do that for our neighbors. And that's the only thing we can do

right now. Show up. And so I'm asking you right now, I know it's limited. I know we're not in charge. It's a federal deal, but there are some things we can do just a little bit. So, I'm asking you as a city council, ask yourself, what can you do for your neighbors, for the city? Thank you. Thank you, K. [cheering and applause] Hello. Welcome.

Hello, my name is Cole Peterson. Um, I did not get a yellow shirt. I came too late. But, uh, my home girl gave me a flag, so I have that at least. So, I just want to say that I am disgusted by your vile indifference. And to to just put into perspective a bit, my mom is a seventh grade history teacher. And her being a se a history teacher has led to me and her watching a lot of history documentaries and learning a lot about history. And so I've seen many people tonight come up and say ISIS is acting like the Gestapo and they're absolutely correct, but I want to get more into that. They started and previously the poem was quoted as well, but they start with just putting them back. In fact, there was a whole ship of Jews that the Nazis had taken and they tried to bring them to America, but America denied them. Now, before I get into the next part of that, why is America denying other people? People have told me all the time, "Oh, they're coming FOR THEIR JOBS." THEY'RE not coming for the jobs. In fact, companies love having immigrants because they can charge, they can pay them less. They can give them less of the necessary what's the word? Benefits. Thank you. Thank you. Um, [clears throat] and it's baffling to me why there is such a disdain to immigrants. I grew up here. I'm 19. I grew up every year of my life here and I have gone so I have made so many friends who are Latino, Latina,

black, Asian, the lot. And I'm worried for them. I might not be a victim of it yet. It's going to get there. But my friends could easily be taken away just like that. And the idea that from the sounds of it, I haven't been paying attention much to the corona. I've heard most of what I know from the people here today. But all I needed to hear was the people here today because I have seen that whatever you're doing is clearly not enough to continue my story from Nazis and trying to send Jews over to America when they weren't accepted. That's when the concentration camp started. [snorts] We are or not we sorry I don't affiliate with that but Trump is sending people to to Mexico and when Mexico is done they're going to start the concentration camps they already bought one up in Pennsylvania so thank you

Mr. Please take my words. Thank you. Hi, welcome.

Hi. Good afternoon. Um, council and respected mayor, uh, I would like to thank you guys for giving us the space to speak freely. For those sitting behind me, please hold your applause to the end because I do have a lot to say. Okay. Um, to start off, I've lived here all my life. I love my community. I love this city. And most of all, I love my country. I know this country was built on beautiful morals. To name a few, religion, freedom of religion, the right to vote, and freedom of speech. In the constitution, our constitution, it says when a government becomes destructive to unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, it is the right and the duty of the people to alter or abolish it. I want you all to know that you are not only here because of the power of the people's vote, but by the power of community. I hope you know that power is a beautiful thing to have when you use it correctly. Your people are scared, angry, and disappointed. ICE agents patrol the streets and terrorize people. Many of you voted for the current president. It may be for religious reasons or personal values. I hope you know that if you feel so strongly that you have to defend the man in the White House, you are on the wrong side. It says in it says, sorry, on your left and your right side, it says in God we trust. In the pledge of allegiance, it says one nation under God for liberty and justice for all. I know it by heart. I learned it in school. I hope you know that God sees all. What is done in the dark will always come to light. Stop pretending your racism is patriotism. Take action. ICE agents are regular people who harass, racially discriminate, and kill people who are

citizens and non-citizens. They put masks over their face to hide their identity. But if they're doing nothing wrong, why are they hiding their faces? You may think to yourself, "I can't do much." or that you're simply following orders. But history repeats itself. Back in 1993, forgive me, 1933 in Nazi Germany, German soldiers to the streets, kidnapped Jewish people, lined them up in the streets, and slaughtered them. They were also simply following orders. To quote Anne Frank in 1943, "Terrible things are happening outside. Poor, helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart. Men, women, and children are separated. Do not roll your eyes and scoff at our anger. Your actions did this. It is never too late to stop and do right. Do something because when revolution comes, we will remember those who stood with the Nazi in the White House.

Thank you. And your name, please. [cheering and applause] Thank you, Miss. I didn't catch your name. Thank you. And God bless. Thank you. I didn't catch her name, but I think she must have turned in a card. Or maybe you can. Thank you. Hi, welcome. Hi. Um, okay. Well, I'm just going to start with what they asked us to talk about, which is I'll get their names a minute.

The resolution to demand a steady resolution that no city resources for deportation, no masked agents, and no police um oversight be used, which is essentially to say that we don't want any of our um police resources or city taxes or resources being used for ICE agents uh in our city. And I think it's important as everybody has already stated because ICE doesn't belong here. They're not um they're not trained as our police officers are. Um if I can take a little bit different route than everybody else has. Um as a city, I know that it's really important that um you're always trying to build a connection with the community and the police department and the fire department. Just recently, my son goes to Coronita and you guys had um the fire department and the police department there and trying to build build community relationship and during Christmas time you were doing the you know um having everybody bring in um you know the Christmas toys and all of that good stuff, right? Well, you allowing [clears throat] the police department to work with ICE, you're going to destroy that. You're going to break that apart. You're going to destroy everything that you've been trying to build with your community within the city of Corona will be torn apart. That that community that you're trying to build, you're going to destroy everything that you've been working so hard to build. So, if you want to maintain that, don't allow them. And ICE is not trained. Your police officers are. They're trained. They know what they're doing. We know from experience that these ICE agents aren't they're not protecting our citizens. They don't know what they're doing. They aren't asking for the right questions.

None of that stuff. Um, on a whole other note, my name is Crystal Hilatis. My entire life, people have asked me, "Oh, what does your last name mean?" It's Greek. I'm a quarter Greek. Um, I am as white as white can be and I have experienced racism my entire life only in the opposite way because people have I've usually been blonde have looked at me and just assumed that I'm this white blonde blueeyed girl and that I'm on their side the racist side and I'm not. and I wanted to make sure that I came and showed up to make sure that everybody else here who isn't doesn't look like me knew that I'm on their side. So, I want to make sure that we don't we are not letting ice into our community so that you we don't destroy everything that Corona has been working so hard to try and build.

Thank you, Crystal. [applause] Hi, welcome. Please don't forget to say your names.

Good evening. My name is Katie Baja. I was not planning on speaking because social anxiety is a real thing, but I promised my daughter that I would never stay silent. I have amplified the silence tattooed on my arm and I will use my dying breath to do so. I understand most of you up here are older, white appearing in men. So, a lot of the atrocities don't really affect you and haven't really affected you in history, but this is 2026. The fact that we still have to shout from the rooftops that bigotry and fascism is lame is pretty insane to me. I work with special needs children's and I fight hate away from them all day long. Most of my friends fall under the LGBTQIA plus family and I fight hate away from them all day long. And with Gestapo here, I'm sorry, I mean ICE here, we will be up here fighting the hate away every day. It's time for you to do the same. Stand up for something. Do something. Use your privileges for good for once. Thank you.

Thank you. [applause] Next up, hi Zoe.

Good evening, council and audience. Uh, let me get my notes out. So I have been a part of voluntary and nonprofit movements and coalitions throughout my life for about eight years and a recent one I just joined was we protect Corona. uh with all the ICE deportations happening, we are coming up with a voluntary aftercare post deportation program to help families and I feel like that is something the council can also start to offer is for these families some sort of aid or resources. So about a week and a half ago, I had a very informative meeting with the mayor and Corona PD which I thank you all for inviting me. Uh during this meeting we covered a job neural understanding about community safety and what's going on with ICE. And although I appreciate that we all got to a point where we can all understand and come to a point um it would be nice for a followup with the mayor and Corona PD and we could talk how we can establish a start to help community members and the immigrant community about these resources. And that's all I have to say. Thank you. Thank you. [applause]

Hi, welcome.

Hello, my name is Kevin Salgado and I come from im immigrant parents. And if for most of you guys in the audience, my parents are from Guerrero, Mexico, Iwuala. I have some notes here to speak about about my parents, my mom and dad. All I want to say here is talk about my parents and most importantly my dad. I have dealt with my dad telling me every day that he's scared to go to work and he's scared for me to go to work also. Me and my dad fight every day to wake up at 3:00 in the morning to go to work at 4:00 and to God knows what's going to happen to us. And most likely I'm afraid for my dad too. If he's afraid, I'm afraid for him. Every time you guys go to a grocery store, think about those oranges, those apples, those crops, those fruits. My dad gives you guys all of that. [applause] Every time you guys go to a Walmart or Target and you guys see all those toilet papers, think about me. Cuz I work in a factory in Fontana where we produce every single paper towels, paper, napkins, everything. Think about me. You guys need to have some respect here. And I'm most foremost, you guys are going to see me back here again.

Thank you. Thank you. [applause] [cheering] Hi, welcome.

Hello. Good evening. My name is Joyce Sanchez. I am a citizen of Corona. Been here since I was 2 years old. Um, it is my first time speaking in front of city counsel. I came here tonight to speak for those who are unable to. I understand city council members uh must be tired, but my community members are tired. My co-workers, families, my friends, families, my neighbors, my hardworking parents who have sacrificed so much to give me everything are tired. The families and communities and concentration camps, c concentration camps or detention centers are tired. By the way, history of California, we also had Japanese concentration camps. This all connected. [snorts] Minorities and everyone that isn't a billionaire are tired. Well, guess what? There is no better time to do good than the present right now. I implore you to take action um to protect our communities, to protect the vulnerable.

[snorts] Please, no more resources for ICE. We want ICE out of Corona. And personally, I want ICE abolished. [applause and cheering] There will be no peace until there is justice. Also, happy Black History Month. Please read a book about all that. Thank you. Thank you, Joyce. [cheering and applause] Hello, welcome.

Hi, my name [clears throat] is Patty Himenez. I have been a resident of Corona for nearly 20 years. Raised my family here of four. Um, this is going to have a slightly different tone than all the others. Um, but my grandparents came here at through the Brasero program many years ago. Um they came because the US needed help in agriculture. Um they went through the proper path. Not like you know I mean the assumption is every from a lot of people that you know every Mexican came in and crossed the border the wrong way. That's not necessarily the case. There's a lot of times when the US has reached out and help and asked for help. Um that is why I'm here. I am a product of an immigrant that came here to help the United States when the United States needed the help. [applause] I have, as I said, four kids. Uh I have two kids currently still at home, but I'm also the mother of two Marines.

One [applause] I have one son that's currently active. Um, I am for that matter a blue star mom if you know uh what that refers to. I have a I'm also a gold star mom. I'm so sorry. My son passed my other son passed away three years ago. I'm so sorry.

I have been very proud to live in this city. We came to Corona because we knew it was a very familyfriendly city and I don't see that in the community that it is now. my my children's friends are scared to death. Uh they should not be scared to go outside to live a life. Um just by the fact that my daughter is of Mexican descent. I'm scared for her. She's a US citizen. I'm a US citizen. I was born and raised in California. But the fear never doesn't escape regardless of whether they're born here or there or wherever. These kids are scared and they shouldn't feel that way. And I implore you to hear the voices of all the people here, but not just the people here, the people that were at the walkouts. I implore you to listen to the voices that are in our community. I mean, this this needs to stop and we need your help to keep eyes out, to keep eyes at bay so this community can flourish the way bring it back to the corona that I used to know. That's all I have to say.

Thank you, Patty. [applause]

Hello. Welcome.

Hello. My name's Hello. [clears throat] My name is James Diaz. I'm a Riverside resident, but I work here in Corona. [sighs] We'll see if I have a job tomorrow for speaking out. Um, my shirt says freedom, not reform. I'm not wearing a yellow shirt because of a point that I'm trying to make. This shirt was made during the Obama administration. This has been going on for a long time. We are all tired, Dean. We're all tired, Tony. We're all tired, Tom. We have been here doing this since Reagan. We will continue to be here doing this as long as it takes. That is a promise we are all making to you. Get used to being tired. Get used to being mad. Cuz get used to it. We're not going anywhere. We will continue to be here doing what we do until you listen. [clears throat] You want it to end. Listen. Don't be participating with ICE. Don't be allowing these officers to be participating with ICE. I'd be grateful if you stop letting these officers moonlight as ICE, but that's up to you guys, I guess. So, please we're not going anywhere.

Thanks, James. Appreciate it. [cheering] [applause] Hello. Welcome.

Hello. I'm Sophia Heather. That's Sophia with an F because that's how you say it in Spanish. Um, Madame Mayor, I would just like to say thank you so much for, you know, being here and seems like you really care. I'm sure you all care in your own way. I'd just like to say that I recently turned 18. So, I'd say that I've become part I already registered to vote as well. I've become part of your constituents. I am part of your new voting block. And I'm sure that a lot of other high schoolers here are also going to turn 18 soon because, you know, to walk out, you kind of need a car and it's a whole thing cuz it's not easy to walk around Corona without baking in the sun. It's very hot. Not as hot as Phoenix, I assume, but you know. Um, I'd just like to say that I really like this town city. I was born in Anaheim, but I lived here all my life. And my father and mother, both immigrants, obviously, and I just like to appeal to you guys by saying, "Hey, a lot of us believe that this is wrong and we're going to be part of your new voting block and if you want to be reelected, consider it." you know, like we're come we're coming in soon and it's it's kind of necessary to have voters who are on your side and I don't know anyone else running, but you know what? Maybe I will. Maybe I'll take one of your seats [applause and cheering]

because we need we need someone who believes in what the town believes and lives here. I don't know where you guys live. Hopefully, well, I know one of you guys lives on West Grand. I think I looked I looked you up, Tom. [snorts] Sorry Tom, your name caught my eye. But I just wanted to say that we are the future. Everyone I most of people who I noticed especially because I'm on I'm Centennial High School. I participated in the walkouts. Yeah. Centennial. [laughter] Centennial's out here. [applause] I'm from Centennial High School. participated in the walkouts and most of the people who were against me like double fisting middle fingers [laughter] and were yelling at me were older white gentlemen and ladies a lot of ladies weirdly enough which you know I thought they would be more sympathetic but you know I I think they're coming on the out you know those older pe that voting block is leaving and I just like to say that we're coming in you should consider listening to our voices is and I think you I think you will you seem receptive. I'm talking to the madam mayor. All of you guys seem receptive. But you know, I just wanted to say justice delayed is justice denied. And we were not going to wait around and protest at a convenient moment. You know, we're going to do it where we can whenever we can with or without your permission. Thank you.

Thank you. [cheering and applause] Hi, welcome. Hello, my name is Simon Noela. That was my twin sister. So, double trouble. Um, [applause] I, you know, just turned 18. Also,

also turned 18. I'm also in the next voting block. Also registered to vote. Um, you know, I'm here I was here mostly to support my sister in the line because she is not an outspoken person. So, clearly you can see how difficult this issue is because she had to speak up. Um, Centennial High School had our walk out. We joined up with Corona High. Clearly a majority of the high school population like we want change. We want it and we want it to happen you know now like quickly like post haste because these ICE agents agents is even a stretch of the word are harassing our communities. They're causing fear. They're causing people not to want to go to work. And I don't know if you know this but work that work is part of the economy and it's you know allowing corona to flow as a city and I don't know why it's taking this many teenagers to convince you guys that you know we want change and why it's taking this many adults to convince you guys that we want change. I'm just saying it should happen sooner than later. And I don't I mean again I was here to support my sister but and I don't really know the processes that are behind you know the complicated interworkings of being a council member. But I think even just speaking up even just making that difference that difference starts with you. You, you, you, you, Tom. Come on. That difference, that difference all comes from the support of our council members to know that they that we have support behind us. Just even just like a social media post, like anything on your website, something just so that we know that despite that fear, despite how scared we are, we can we know we have the support of our council members and our government, our local government.

Someone else mentioned it earlier, but the whole point of our constitution, one of the amendments is that if there is tyranny in our country, we shall always always try to overthrow it and always have a more perfect union. That shouldn't change because we're a local government. [applause] We are a local government. We I'm pretty sure we have a constitution, right? Like, come on. We should, you know, fight tyranny. I don't know. I'm I just turned 18. I should not be the only one who is pointing this out. Thank you. Thank you, Simon. [cheering and applause]

Hi, welcome.

Hello. My name is Karen Nelson. I've been a resident of Corona for 30 years. Um I've been in participating in the youth sports, been on their uh boards. I've been in the PTAs for Foothill, Citrus Hills, Corona. My son and daughter have grown up in this thing, but I'm going to take it a different approach on this and I have a little something to read from you from my perspective. Um, [clears throat] they ask, "Why are old women protesting? They raised us to be nice. They told us that honey catches more flies than vinegar. They told us to smile through the discomfort of the words and the actions and we did. They taught us to be modest in our word and our dress. They asked us to dress for the male gaze and we did. They told us we could bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan and our man and our families. And we did because we could have it all. We could be earners but not the main earner because we still needed our man. We still needed to be care for the health and the home. And we bought in. We had our children to feed and communities that counted on us. and we and that the men that could counted on us and we had the men that couldn't have done it without us and we did it. We are doing it because it is the right thing and the nice thing. When we finally decided to acknowledge that growing and gnawing deep ache in our

core, then asked, "Who are you? What do you need?" We looked around and we saw [snorts] the world wasn't a better place and it wasn't what we hoped or for and it wasn't kinder and it wasn't cleaner. It's those same men, that same system that taught us to behave. Removing the rights of our sisters and our brothers and our daughters and our sons and our granddaughters and our grandsons and our neighbors. the same pale patronistic power mongers and we cried. [sighs] Then we listened to the people of color, LGBTQ, tribal members, and the marginalized, and we heard and held their pain. We cast off the yoke of niceness, and we stopped avoiding eye contact. And we heard and we held their pain. We cast off the yoke of niceness and we stopped avoiding eye contact and minding our own business. We started paying attention and reaching out and asking questions and we got angry. We did not want our legacy to look like this. We are no longer looking for approval behind our own hearts.

Thank you. We stand with you. Thank you, Miss Nelson. Thank you, Miss Nelson. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Nelson. [applause]

Hello. Welcome.

Good evening, Mayor Casier and council members. I do have a lot to say as well, but before I begin, I also want to just recognize the power in community right now. all the student organizers. Um, and just quite frankly, if you're not aware, there was someone with the concealed weapon on Santiago's high school walkout. And so, can you just see the magnitude that it's getting that even community members are coming with politics, but this issue is more than politics? It's a human a human rights issue. Um, but with that being said, you have an opportunity to do something and it's frustrating time and time again that you have not done something at this point. Um, and I just want you to really restrict city resources, our premises, our property, um, our, you know, police enforcement to be operating and kind of be in compliance with ICE. Please don't be like LA's police chief that says that they won't um uh enforce the mask ban that just passed recently. Um I also just want to say that um do you really acknowledge communities of color? And I say that because right now you haven't done anything to really combat the issue that's attacking primarily Latinos right now, but it's more than just broadly immigrants in general. And so I ask you, are you an indigenous person of this land? If not, you too are an immigrant and you too should be irritated and frustrated with what's happening in this community. Or just put it simply, are you a racist? Because the lack of action thereof is being complicit in white supremacy. [applause] And I also

want to say, how can cities, including one near in our nearby region, Herpa Valley, pass a resolution, but we can't. Um, and so let's not forget that some of you are also up for reelection. Um, And so I encourage some community members that are here tonight to challenge those folks that are in office that are not going to be stepping up to the plate and take their position. We're also have three members of this council that endorsed Ken Calvert, Dario, Richens, and Speak. And so you just blatantly kind of endorse Exenophobe um is disgusting to me. And so all I want to say is please have ICE out of our city. The abductions, family separation, and deaths will be in your hands in our community and it should end at this moment. But your position is also nonpartisan. So please put your implicit biases aside and get the job done. And [snorts] it's discussing that how I study Latin American studies at the university and sometimes I feel like I'm a subject of what's happening in reality. It should not be that way. and our students should be learning in school and not being um out in walkouts and protests.

They're already behind through the COVID pandemic and they should have their education. So, please do something. And I didn't catch your name. Uh my name is Jose Marcus Kas. And thank you, JOSE. [cheering and applause]

HELLO, MR. AROS.

HELLO. My name is Adrian Aros. Uh, and I, as promised, right, I said we would be back. So, here we are. [applause] Today is the day. Not next year, not next week, not tomorrow, but today. Today is the day where we rise up against racism, bigotry, and hatred. We stopped waiting for permission to speak. We stopped acting accepting backroom deals and the packs in the shadows like those who endorsed Ken Calbertt, Tony Dardio, Tom Richens and Westpeak and Jackie. Make no mistake, you were voted in by these very same people. So no more staying silent, please. Kindly Ken Calvert is the architect of these raids. Stop supporting the racist. We see you. We stopped looking the other way. Uh and we are here today asking that uh we want change. We are demanding a resolution. Let's get the process started. Let's add a future agenda item. It's easy. Pass a resolution to and and stop offering resources to ICE. Today is the day where everybody rises it up. Today is the day. Not next year. Not next week. Not tomorrow, but today. And I want to make it clear here that we will be fighting for this resolution. As you many here heard, a lot of people are very energetic to unseat you in your next elections. Right.

Yeah. [applause]

Let this be clear. We will work tirelessly to ensure that our leaders here are held accountable because we want to make sure that every resident here in the city and really across the country, but focusing here on the city now feels confident and can walk with dignity, right? We're not going to be walking around with some passport, right? Having to demonstrate our citizenship. Tony Dardio, Tom Richens, Jim Steiner, Westpak, a lot of you get to walk freely among the streets, right? uh people of color, immigrants have to walk with uh a lot of concern that they might be targeted. Even police officers have been targeted. So, it's time that we all rise up. It's time that we all unite. And again, we will be back. We will be using everything possible, every resource possible. We will be disrupting everything that we can within legal bounds, but of course to ensure that we get our voices heard. We will not, and I repeat, we will not hold back because we are demanding this resolution. And uh the students, as you may have saw, they walked out on their own accord. And uh it's time that uh you start paying attention to what's going on in the city because it's not going to be slowing down anytime soon. So, let's set up a future agenda item and uh let's get the process started. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Aros. [cheering] [applause] Hello, welcome Michaela.

Hi, good evening. Um, my name is Michaela. Um, I've come to speak on a few things. First of all, I want to acknowledge uh the difficult position that the federal government has put you in. Um, you know, I think the state has, you know, a few years passed SB54 and that, you know, provides some, uh, tools, I guess, to you all, if you want to place it that way. So, um, I do want to acknowledge the position you all are in. I think what I would ask actually is, you know, um to protect these students and encourage them to continue to exercise uh their First Amendment right and be able to walk out. Um I'd like to hear more about what um if we're providing a police escort for them um and a police response to make sure that um there's not people being aggressive towards them or harassing them um or being violent towards them as they um practice that right of theirs. Um so that's one thing. Another thing I did want to comment on today is um I've missed the last few council meetings, but I know there's been some items and some discussion about um the redevelopment, the hub, and housing. I'm here to tell you, I want housing, more housing in our city. Um as we all know, uh housing has become uh very unaffordable in our state and it's very complicated, but it a lot of it is a supply and demand um problem. And so, how do we do that? Well, we need more supply and um I think, you know, I know there's concerns about parking um and access that way, you know, but I think uh we can address those issues in time and I even would be someone that would be willing to live in those places that maybe has less parking but has a walkable area. Um so I wanted to be a voice here today to tell you uh folks want housing. I want more housing. Um and um I think that's it for my public comment. Thank you all for what you're doing. Oh, and uh uh whoever is now uh posting on your social media about like what's on the city council agenda,

that's cool. They should keep doing that. Um any way that you can simplify what's on the agenda because it's super long. Um that's great. I want more of that. And Corona PD, their social media is great, too. They've been doing a good job. So, uh thank you. Thank you. [applause] Hello. Welcome. Hello. My name is Sammy Depala. I'm not used to speaking. This is my first time ever speaking. Thank you. Welcome here.

Um, I'm Brazilian and an American citizen. I was born here and even I fear for my life. Um, me and many others are terrified of everything going on in the world right now because it's not just our country. There's so much going on and it's insane. Um, if you have read the book Night by I'm not completely sure how to pronounce that last name. Pretty sure it's Eel Wizelle, I think. Um, you know, in the book, Nazis slowly approach where he lives, and he asked his father for them to leave, and his father told him he's too old to leave his home. When Nazis show up, Jews went missing off the streets and sent to camps. Tell me, how is this different from what's happening now? How is this like remotely different? Cuz um, hold on. My mother told me we would go to Brazil if it got too bad around here. Um, and I said, "Okay." I personally do not want to leave cuz I do not want to leave my friends and I have other family in Massachusetts and like around here and I don't want to leave them. Um, these are all human beings going missing and there are many we don't even know about. There are like so much and it's horrible and we aren't going to pretend like this isn't happening because it is. I went to the Santiago protest and there was a lot of people and it was actually truly amazing to see that many people coming together. Um I think people were spread around all over that area. There were people by a Starbucks. I was over there. Um sorry I have to look at my notes. Um history has showed us something. If we don't do something about the injustice happening, we will suffer. We are our are our where families are families are already getting torn apart. My family has been torn apart before by

deportation and ICE and it's horrible. Um, hold on. Um, my generation is the future of the country. We are all the same. We all bleed red. This is that's not going to change anything. Like we should all be treating each other as equals. No one is above anyone and we are all equal. Um [applause] we are not going to ignore what's happening and we will speak up and we will try to make this change cuz if we don't do anything the world is going to be horrible and we will try to make that change. Thank you for listening. Um that's the end of the day.

Bye. [applause] Hi, welcome.

Hello, my name is Evette and I go to Centennial High School. I didn't plan to speak up, but the people here have gave me the courage to come up here and speak about what's going on and my fears. Every day I have the fear of being of my school being raided, getting separated from my friends and family, and being killed by ICE just for being Mexican. I always have to watch out every I have to watch out every time I go out and my dad actually wanted to come here with me but he wasn't able to because he is afraid of what can happen to him. He is scared of ICE. I am his voice. I am the people I am their voice who can't speak up and sorry I'm just a little nervous. You're doing well.

Um sorry. You're doing good. [clears throat] Sorry. Um, and nothing is being done. Everybody's in fear. Nothing is being done for the people who are scared. Even white people are scared. Everybody's scared. And you guys aren't doing anything. We can't even go outside without doing without doing basic stuffs. We're scared of ICE. We want ice gone. And I know my speech was pretty short because I didn't plan to speak up, but these people gave me the courage. And all I have to say is that racism is small dick energy. And that's it. [applause] Thank you. But [applause]

thank you. Well, Miss Edwards, that was a whole lot more than eight cards. Are there any other speaker cards for public comment? Mayor, we do not have any more speaker cards.

Okay. And I I wrote down some things, too, because believe it or not, it's hard sometimes to speak on these um tougher tougher topics. I want [snorts] to thank you all. Um, I want to thank everyone who came tonight and spoke during public comment. I [snorts] heard uh I heard pain. I heard fear. I heard uh frustration. And I heard deep concern for neighbors, for families, for friends who are living with a lot of uncertainty right now. I [snorts] want to take a moment to share where I'm coming from and what I've been doing. Because I know that in moments like this, silence can be misread and intentions can be questioned. I've struggled with when and how to speak on this issue because it's deeply personal to me. I don't believe that public meetings should be about grandstanding or using a p the public's time to process personal emotions. But I also recognize that this issue is weighing heavily on many people in our community. And it's important for you to understand how I'm meeting this moment. First, I want to be clear about the role of the city and the role of our officers. Corona PD follows California Values Act and does not cooperate with ICE. And none of our officers none of our officers moonlight for ICE.

That's not true.

Corona Well, I'm telling you a fact. The city of Corona does not have jurisdiction over federal immigration policy or federal enforcement actions. We cannot direct ICE and we cannot pass a local resolution that binds federal agencies. I don't believe that it's honest or helpful to suggest otherwise. That said, not having jurisdiction does not mean doing nothing. Quietly and often behind the scenes, I have been involved in connecting undocumented members of our community, including dreamers, with immigration lawyers and trusted nonprofit organizations, for direct assistance. I have personally supported and partnered with organizations on the front lines, including TODC Legal Services and Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice, and I want to thank them for the work that they are doing every single day to keep our families informed and supported. I have made myself a resource to leaders within CNUSD, teachers, staff, and administrators who are trying to support students and families facing the threat of deportation. Those conversations are not political. They are about children, stability, and care. I am also currently working with an immigration attorney to bring a family preparedness workshop to our city focused on practical tools for families who are facing or are fearing deportation. This is about information, readiness, and dignity during an incredibly stressful time. I share these things not to suggest that this is enough or that it's the only way to help, but to be transparent about how I I have chosen to act within the confines of the law and the role that I hold. I also want to say this plainly. Over

the past several months, I've experienced attacks and distractions from comments about the way I speak to questions about whether I care about the city or the people in it. I'm choosing not to dwell there. My focus is on being useful, on staying grounded, and on doing work that actually helps people. People can disagree on immigration policy and still agree that fear and violence have no place in our city. If you are looking for places where your advocacy can have a direct impact, I have a few that I want to name. Federal immigration policy is set at the federal level. Congressman Ken Calvert's district office is located just around the corner from these chambers. It's in city hall. Calling, emailing, and continuing to apply pressure there matters. Supporting organizations like TODC and the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice matters. Plugging into mutual local mutual aid networks that are helping families directly personto person matters. And finally, I want to ask that as we move forward, we do so with care for one another. Disagreement does not require dehumanization. Advocacy does not require escalation. Fear should never turn neighbor against neighbor. I never imagined that serving on this council would place me in the middle of a conversation like this, but I am honored by the trust of this community, and I am committed to continuing to seek practical solutions, to speak up where it counts, and to show up for this city and the people who call

it home. Thank you very much. [applause]

With communications from the public having been completed, we're going to move to the next item on the agenda. You're welcome to stay. Item number eight is public hearings. There are none. Item number nine is administrative reports. There are none. Item number 10 is legislative matters. 10.1 Ordinance number 3426 making minor clarifying amendments to the mobile home park rent stabilization provisions of the Corona municipal code CMC chapter 5.47. Does a council member want a staff report on this item?

Okay, Mr. Dorlith, you are off the hook for presenting on this item. They were minor changes. So, Miss Edwards, are there any speaker cards from the public on this item? Mayor, yes. I have one speaker card for this item. Okay. Will the speaker please come to the podium? Oh, okay. We'll take a moment. Which item is this one? Which item? This is for item number 10.1, ordinance on making minor clarification amendments. So, sorry, Maddie. Um, this is about the mobile home park rent stabilization. That's you. That's you. Go ahead. So I couldn't get here. Um what I want to talk about tonight is called numbers.

Yeah. Okay. This this is RSO. Yes.

It's called numbers. Um the number 1143. I'm going to repeat 1143. Mrs. Roer and I had a discussion the other night and it actually may be only 11:33 because many of the parks put aside one space, one um one unit for the um park managers that live there. So regardless 11:33 or 113 11:43 is a big number. I'm going to cry. I've again been sick and several people that I've few times I've gone out have come up to me and said thank you. Thank you. You have made their lives so much easier. Um in fact somebody's come up and told me that before all of this her rent got raised $118 a month which is about 10%. you have had an impact. So, I want to talk numbers again. I've been in Villa Corona for 10 years. Prior to that, I lived um 18 years on Patriot, which is Mangular Park, but it is the playground side. I was told when we moved in there that in the 1980s that was the beginning of the big houses um south of Ontario, Pepper Corner. It um had five bedrooms, three baths, 200 2400 square feet. Many of you live in big houses. I know. And I want to thank you for finding the compassion in your hearts to see from it the situation from our point of view and really

[snorts] sorry pass the RSO for so many people. You have no idea how many people thank you for doing that. And the other thing I have got to say is our angel over there, Mrs. Roer, we've not been left high and dry. That's the other thing is you pass it and then what's going to happen? And I have been told that we're having workshops. We're going to be answering questions. we're going to take it from the community or take it from the um homeowners so we get the direct information because I don't want to be the representative to pass off long information wrong information. So I really want to thank you for the continued effort for this. You have made lives so much better and moving forward again I want to thank you. This has been huge. Thank all of you. Thank you.

Thank you for your advocacy. Maddie. Mayor, I'm sorry. One second. Maddie, I'm sorry. I I was trying to understand and I know it was a little bit hard, but can you please explain to me the significance of 11:43 or 113? I I I'm sorry. I didn't Oh, 1143. I said those are the number of mobile homeowners households in the city of Corona. the total number. But again, there's 10 parks and mo a lot of the parks put one unit aside for those managers that live in the park. So 11:43 - 10, it might be closer to 11:33. Okay. I I was trying to understand the significance.

I'm sorry. I thought you all were aware. Yeah. 11 11:43 keeps popping up. Um it's a big number. And you did it. You did it. Thank you, Maddie. You did it. Well, no matter how much I advocated, you had to approve it. So, thank you all. Thank you, Maddie. Any questions or comments for my colleagues? No. Okay. This motion has to be read. Do we have a motion? I'll make a motion. All right. Mr. Richens, can you please read it?

Yeah. Introduce Introduced by title only and wave full reading for consideration of ordinance number 3426. First reading of an ordinance making minor clarification clarifying amendments to the mobile home park rent stabilization provisions of the Corona municipal code CMC chapter 5.47. Congratulations, Manny. Perfect. It's a motion. Can I get a second? Second.

Thank you. Please press the button and let's vote. All right. Great. That item passes unanimously. Moving on to item 11, reports from boards and commissions. Uh, library board of trustees. There's none. Planning and housing commission conditional use permit 2022-00007 to allow for the establishment of a new fund foundry uh use on property developed with an existing industrial operation located at 204 North Smith Avenue in the M2 zone. Applicant Akos Dashi for Almexus USA incorporated. Miss Edwards, are there speaker cards from the public?

Mayor, we do not have any speaker cards for this item. Okay. Then would my colleagues like to [cough] take no action or set this item for review? Take no action. Okay. Then this item is uh take no action. Therefore, um supporting the Planning and Housing Commission's actions. Thank you so much. Moving on to item 11.3, Parks and Recreation Commission. There is none. Item 11.4, regional meetings. We have an update from council member Jim Steiner on the Riverside Transit Agency RTA board meeting of January 22nd, 2026.

Thank you, mayor. There's just a few items. Um, the wrership continues to climb on um all our RTA uh vehicles at a modest level, but it's still going in the right direction. Also, today is Transit Equity Day, February 4th. It's in honor of Rosa Park's birthday, which is today. Uh RTA's have given free rides all day long and will continue for the rest of what's left of the day. And they're also keeping the front seat reserved in her name, so nobody sits in the front seat on any of the buses today. And then finally, um we revised the AY's policy for transferring titles of surplus vehicles. So non-revenue support vehicles were added to eligible vehicles donation options. So, if you need more information on about the retired vehicle donations, you can visit riversetransit.com. And mayor, that completes my update.

Thank you, council member. Item 12, city attorney's report and comments. Mr. Dorith, do you have any comments other than the fact that um you are sitting up straight? [laughter] Okay, good. Um Mr. Ellis, do you have any comments? No, mayor. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Do my council members um have any comments? Uh let's go this way. No, no, no. Just a couple things. One, I wanted to say um thank you. There was um

we have a very active group of folks that use Cclick Fix and the staff has done an amazing job in responding to folks. In fact, I want to uh thank a uh a woman and the only reason I know a woman is she said her she's me and identified herself. Um but she did not leave her name her first name. Uh she identified a need for some speed signs and some additional trimming on a trees on Fullerton um and viewpoint including showing some really great pictures uh that staff went back out and looked at and we were able to put in some street signs and do some tree trimming and want to say thank you for for doing that because you're probably not the only person that affected. So, I want to say thank you for staff for not only making sure that all of those um claims are investigated and and thought out and and brought through to to fruition, but it was really uh really great. And then lastly, I wanted to note that um with uh uh Corona having closing its uh labor and delivery, the last native coron has been born was born last month and there'll be no more native born coronins. That's so that's so heartbreaking. Thank you. Okay. Um, thank you all very much once again for being here tonight. I really appreciate your time and I appreciate your your commitment to um to our community. We're going to adjourn tonight's city council meeting and we will be back for the council meeting of February 18th, 2026. This meeting is adjourned.

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