HRC subcommittee hopes for vote on liaison proposal in response to discrimination concerns

The Palm Springs Human Rights Commission is responding to community concerns about local incidents of discrimination and harassment by developing recommendations that could include appointing a formal City Council liaison to improve communication between the HRC and city leadership.

Vice Chair David Vignolo said Thursday he will seek to amend the commission’s July 14 agenda to add a motion recommending the council appoint a liaison for a one-year period who would attend at least one regular HRC meeting each quarter. The proposal directly addresses calls from community members who testified about feeling marginalized and urged the HRC to establish better communication channels with city officials.

If the agenda amendment is seconded and approved by a majority of commissioners, the item could be discussed and voted on that evening. If approved by the HRC, the recommendation could then be forwarded to the City Council for consideration at their July 21 meeting or in September.

The liaison proposal represents the HRC’s direct response to emotional testimony from residents at its June meeting who described incidents of discrimination and harassment they say have occurred locally since October 2023. Vignolo and Commissioner Carlotta Rinke developed the recommendation over the past month as part of an ad hoc subcommittee created specifically to address rising community tensions and find ways for the HRC to better serve residents who feel their concerns are not being heard.

Seven community members addressed the HRC during public comments at the June 9 meeting, with several speakers describing what they characterized as increasing Islamophobia and anti-Arab hatred in Palm Springs. The speakers called for the city to take action and establish better communication channels with city leadership.

Abraham Ishaq, who requested the original agenda item, specifically urged the HRC to recommend that the City Council assign a formal liaison to facilitate communication between the Human Rights Commission and city leadership.

“Human rights deserve more than lip service. They demand responsibility,” Ishaq said. The liaison proposal being considered Monday directly responds to Ishaq’s recommendation.

Jake Bachman, a Palm Springs resident, told commissioners he was physically assaulted earlier this year during a protest for wearing a keffiyeh, a symbol of Arab heritage.

“We demand that you explicitly add Islamophobia and anti-Arab discrimination to your agenda, condemn this hate unequivocally and ensure Palm Springs is a safe and welcoming place for all of its residents and visitors,” Bachman said.

Other speakers alleged that a Palestinian family was expelled from Palm Valley School after bringing Palestinian items to a culture day, hostile reactions to weekly vigils mourning casualties in Gaza, and social media posts containing what they called anti-Arab racism from individuals associated with city leadership.

Commissioner Michael Horne, who made the motion to include the discussion on the June agenda, expressed concern about how to address residents’ feelings of being unheard while working within the HRC’s legal limitations. A May 2024 memo from the city attorney stated that the HRC’s authority is limited to discriminatory practices occurring within Palm Springs’ territorial limits and does not extend to international relations.

The HRC voted to form the ad hoc committee consisting of Rinke and Vignolo to develop proposals for community dialogue sessions.

“I would really like to see us take the lead on bringing diverse groups together from the community to have respectful dialogue conversations about what has clearly been ongoing and contentious issues in our community,” Vignolo wrote in comments submitted to the June HRC meeting.

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