Irvine City Council strongly condemns Jewish Community Center bomb threat
By Irvine City News staff
“There is no place in Irvine for bigotry or discrimination. In Irvine all are welcome.” So said Irvine Mayor Donald Wagner during an emotional several minutes of the Feb. 28 city council meeting. The topic was the bomb threat telephoned into the Merage Jewish Community Center and Tarbut V’Torah Community Day School just the day before, which resulted in some 1,000 people being evacuated from the Irvine center of culture, community and learning.
Councilmember Melissa Fox first discussed the frightening incident at the session. Fox was already visibly moved from reporting to the council on her visit to Teresa Johnston, the young girl injured by a falling tree during recent storms, and the Johnston family. Fox directed residents to the Irvine Gives page on the city website, urging support for efforts to help the family with significant medical bills.
On the topic of the JCC bomb threat, Fox emphatically stated that, “We will be supporting everyone’s civil rights and safety of everyone in our community,” telling the city’s Jewish community that “everyone in this room and government stands with you against these despicable acts.”
She also revealed that while growing up in Orange County, she received death threats for being Jewish while answering the phone at her Hebrew school. “The city stands ready to support the safety of all of our residents, and those who traverse our city for business or school,” Fox said.
Mayor Wagner added to the comments of Councilmember Fox. “I’d like to make clear, if it isn’t already, that this council and I stand unambiguously with our Jewish friends and residents in condemnation of this hate crime here in Irvine, and the similar crimes that plagued the country yesterday and unfortunately have in the past,” Wagner said.
Wagner went on to thank, on behalf of himself and the city council, the prompt and professional handling of the crime by JCC staff, Irvine Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
Councilmember Melissa Fox first discussed the frightening incident at the session. Fox was already visibly moved from reporting to the council on her visit to Teresa Johnston, the young girl injured by a falling tree during recent storms, and the Johnston family. Fox directed residents to the Irvine Gives page on the city website, urging support for efforts to help the family with significant medical bills.
On the topic of the JCC bomb threat, Fox emphatically stated that, “We will be supporting everyone’s civil rights and safety of everyone in our community,” telling the city’s Jewish community that “everyone in this room and government stands with you against these despicable acts.”
She also revealed that while growing up in Orange County, she received death threats for being Jewish while answering the phone at her Hebrew school. “The city stands ready to support the safety of all of our residents, and those who traverse our city for business or school,” Fox said.
Mayor Wagner added to the comments of Councilmember Fox. “I’d like to make clear, if it isn’t already, that this council and I stand unambiguously with our Jewish friends and residents in condemnation of this hate crime here in Irvine, and the similar crimes that plagued the country yesterday and unfortunately have in the past,” Wagner said.
Wagner went on to thank, on behalf of himself and the city council, the prompt and professional handling of the crime by JCC staff, Irvine Police Department and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
