Public comment at the Arcata City Council meeting was dominated by sharply divided statements about the Israel‑Gaza war, a local sister‑city proposal for Gaza City and calls for the city to push CalPERS to divest from companies alleged to profit from the conflict.

Several residents urged the council to send a pre‑drafted letter to the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) asking the pension fund to divest from companies they said were profiting from civilian harm. A caller using the handle “Divest” said the council’s own investment policy — adopted in September 2024 and referencing socially responsible investing goals — required alignment: “There is no debate about this fact. Israel is committing its own holocaust on the Palestinian people,” the speaker said during public comment, asserting a position a number of speakers repeated. Other speakers called on the council to adopt a Gaza sister‑city arrangement as a symbolic act of solidarity and to foster humanitarian and cultural ties.

Opposing commenters urged the council not to adopt a sister city with Gaza while Hamas remains in power and warned that such a move would be inflammatory and divisive locally. A caller who had recently returned from Israel described living under rocket fire and said a sister‑city relationship “sends the wrong message” while the Hamas leadership remains in place.

Council responses were limited to later remarks and procedural statements. Councilmember Sarah Schaeffer had previously circulated a draft letter to CalPERS and was thanked by multiple public commenters; several speakers called on other council members to sign or send the letter. No council motion to direct staff to send letters, initiate divestment or adopt a sister‑city relationship was introduced or voted on during the meeting.

Nut graf: The council chamber heard an extended and emotionally charged public conversation with clear majorities on both sides of the issues; the city received requests for symbolic action (sister city) and policy pressure (letters to CalPERS) but took no binding action tonight.

Background: Speakers referenced Arcata’s sanctuary city status and the city’s investment policy language on socially responsible investing. Commenters cited national news and human‑rights organizations in support of their positions; others cited security and regional stability concerns.

Ending: Several speakers asked the council to act (send letters or adopt policy); staff and the council noted the topics’ complexity and the limits of local authority over CalPERS. The council did not adopt directions or policy changes at this meeting.