Monday’s Council Meeting Moved to Convention Center

The City has canceled its scheduled meeting with Supervisor Kathryn Barger and instead will discuss the ongoing conflict and vote on a motion that would not take any official position on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East; adopt a policy that the City will not take official positions on any non-local, political, or social issues; or adopt a resolution taking an official position on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East; or take any other action determined by the City Council.

Due to the size of the crowd expected, the one-item meeting will be held at the Convention Center.

Ample security will be provided at the meeting, officials said.

On Monday, advocates for a ceasefire packed the council chamber and demanded City Council members vote on a resolution supporting a ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible.

But the other side is having its say also.

According to a statement released by the Chabad of Pasadena Rabbis met with “prominent City officials and expressed their concerns over a City resolution calling for a ceasefire in Israel.”

“The Rabbis at Chabad of Pasadena and Jason Moss, executive director of the Jewish Federation of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys had a meeting this morning with a number of prominent City officials,” according to a statement released on Thursday. “We unequivocally expressed our concerns and anticipation for a denial of this resolution.”

In the update, the rabbis said that passing the resolution would open a Pandora’s box for future damaging resolutions.

The last time a City Council meeting was held in that location was soon after the California Department of Transportation began a renewed effort to construct a freeway extension into West Pasadena in 2012.

About 70 cities across the country, including four in California, have passed resolutions calling for a Gaza ceasefire since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October.

Although the resolution would support a peaceful resolution it would mainly be symbolic as the City Council has no say on world affairs.

As of January, at least 48 cities had passed symbolic resolutions calling for a halt to Israel’s Gaza bombardment, with six others passing resolutions advocating more broadly for peace. According to Reuters, in total, 20 other cities passed resolutions condemning Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel.

The City Council could also pass a broad resolution that would condemn war and hate.

Pasadena has seen a series of demonstrations calling for a ceasefire in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war and supporting Palestinian rights since shortly after the start of the war in late 2023.

Protesters have gathered at Pasadena City College, City Hall, outside Congresswoman Judy Chu’s office, and various locations around the City at events sponsored by the Pasadena City College Anti-War Club, All Saints Church, and other organizations.

One interfaith group has protested almost every Monday evening since November outside Representative Chu’s Lake Avenue office, urging her to call for a unilateral ceasefire.

On Jan. 1, protesters briefly disrupted the Rose Parade while also demanding a ceasefire.

The protesters sat down in the street at Lake Avenue and Colorado Boulevard and held signs calling for a ceasefire.

Police eventually stepped in and removed the protesters, which prompted cheers from the crowd.

Israel bombarded and invaded Gaza shortly after an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants in which 1,200 Israelis died and hundreds of hostages were kidnapped.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is an agency in the Hamas-controlled government, the death toll in Gaza during the Israeli-Gaza war has reached 31,112 as of March 11.

This figure includes both combatants and civilians, with the Ministry reporting that women and children make up two-thirds of the dead. The Israeli military has claimed to have killed 13,000 Hamas fighters.