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RABBI COHEN:
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Madam Mayor and members of the Council and members of the Water District. I am Hillel Cohen. I live at
------------,in San Bernardino. (the author cannot list the address) I have been a resident of San Bernardino for the past
forty two years. My wife and I have made an unalterable commitment to live here for the remainder of our lives. We love this
city and its people. And that love has led us to join forces with others in the many efforts to improve our city and to support
those agencies and organizations that strive for the betterment of our city.
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Like so many others, we have seen the unfortunate decline and demise of some of the great institutions
that provided employment and strength for the City and its surrounding regions, most notably Norton Air Force and Kaiser Steel.
We have also seen what can happen when there is vision for the future such as the creation of California State University,
two malls, and the Jerry Petis Veterans Administration Hospital and more.
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Our historic city has been plagued and stymied too many times by short sightedness, narrow vision, self-interest,
and timidity. And I have great hopes for a real renaissance of our city. And I know that that kind of renaissance can only
come about by a readiness and willingness to think and act creatively and imagitively to forsake self-interest and self-grandizement,
to make sacrifices, to be flexible, and to be bold and courageous.
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Cohen: The Lakes and Streams project is visionary and viable. I firmly believe that it will
make the downtown core of our city a place that is safe and attractive that will bolster our economy and repair our
tattered social fabric. The plans are exciting. And I have full confidence in those who have devoted years to
creating this vision for our city. The only lament is that the original plan which encompassed the greater area has
been downsized. But I respect the conclusions of those who have the expertise who have been realistic in their
assessment of what is possible at this time . I believe the Lake and streams project is viable.
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Cohen: Will it displace some of our fellow citizens? Of course. Will they be fairly compensated for their
property that needs to be acquired to turn this into a reality
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Cohen: Will the end result be a place that attracts tourists that makes us and those generations that
will follow us proud and that undoes much of the image of our city that has come to be tarnished over the years
?
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Cohen: Most certainly. Will there be some who profit from this project because will open windows
of opportunity for residences and businesses? Absolutely .
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Cohen:That is in keeping with our American free enterprise system. And fortunately, there are ample safeguards
to prevent anyone from taking undue advantage of this opportunity . will.
MS. CLARK: Your time is up, Rabbi Cohen.
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COHEN: Those who will ultimately profit the most are the people of this city and its decedents.
Let me conclude by saying this. The Lakes and Streams project will require adjustment and sacrifice. No one minimizes
that. Memories of homes and businesses are important. But if we allow sentimentality or nostalgia either based on reality
or myth to deter us, we will besmirch and desecrate those memories.
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Cohen: I cannot help but think of the visionary words of the biblical prophet who said, "You shall draw
waters with joy from the springs of salvation and the well of deliverance." Ours is the opportunity
now to capture the waters which are our city's natural resource and let them open the ways to
salvation and deliverance for our city. And I hope that we will unite in mind and spirit to grasp this new and promising opportunity. Thank
you
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The Speech of Rabbi Cohen and the Rebuttal from the Author.
- Cohen: Madam Mayor and members of the Council and members of the Water District. I am Hillel Cohen. I live at
------------, in San Bernardino. I have been a resident of San Bernardino for the past forty two years. My wife and I have
made an unalterable commitment to live here for the remainder of our lives. We love this city and its people. And that love
has led us to join forces with others in the many efforts to improve our city and to support those agencies and organizations
that strive for the betterment of our city.
- Rebuttal: How can you make many efforts to improve if those agencies and organizations are morally incorrect? Seizing
real property and forcing to sell is not an ideal situation for the moral fabric of a City. Profiteering and plundering are
primitive behaviors and making huge profits on land seized are behaviors from the Wild West and ancient
Canaan. To refresh the Rabbi's memory the tribes invaded and occupied the land which is known as "Israel". The land
was taken and justified by a religious belief. The truth remains, however, the land was taken and conquered by
force.
- The City has proven Fair Compensation is not a win situation. In the case of Mrs.Trevino, in a redevelopment
area, the offer was $174 K for a average house on two lots. The median price of an average home is $352K opposed
to $174K. The idea of fair compensation is interpreted by the City and developers, and in the case of Mrs. Trevino, the
compensation was unfair. The experience of Mrs. Trevino, a woman in her late seventies, was an emotional experience
of pain and suffering.
- Cohen: Like so many others, we have seen the unfortunate decline and demise of some of the great institutions that
provided employment and strength for the City and its surrounding regions, most notably Norton Air Force and Kaiser Steel.
- Rebuttal: Did Mr. Cohen find out why those institutions and companies left the area? I recommend an investigation
and perhaps from his findings, the City can learn from those mistakes .
- Cohen: We have also seen what can happen when there is vision for the future such as the creation of California State
University, two malls, and the Jerry Petis Veterans Administration Hospital and more.
- Rebuttal: California State University is not Stanford or Harvard and the Central City Mall, Seccombe Lake, and
the Santa Fe are failures and cost the City financial set-backs.. Click: Central City Mall and
Develop do not Destroy.
- Cohen:Our historic city has been plagued and stymied too many times by short sightedness, narrow vision, self-interest,
and timidity. And I have great hopes for a real renaissance of our city. And I know that kind of renaissance can only come
about by a readiness and willingness to think and act creatively and imagitively to forsake self-interest and self-grandizement,
to make sacrifices, to be flexible, and to be bold and courageous.
- Rebuttal: To think creatively is to work with the people of the community. To exploit the community because of profit
for others are not creative but self-interest for a few. The respondents in their reply brief point out the
environment must be taken to resolve the contamination issue. Click: Latest News and Will Leviathan Prevail? I recommend
Mr.Cohen investigate the facts and data with the USEPA and ask questions pertaining to the contamination putting aside
self interest and self grandizement. Cohen must find out the truth about the Newmark Operable Unit and the five wells southeast
of Waterman which are clean and clear according to Dr.Kim Huoang, director of Region 9 in San Bernardino. Cohen
point out the North Lake Project is bold and courageous. The North Lake Project is bold and courageous in plundering,
and exploiting the environment, peoples, and dignity. The City fail to invest in less priviledged neighborhoods
and the outcome of such failures are poverty, crime, and a high homicide rate. The Government’s role
is to protect liberty and property from all predators. Philosopher John Locke found people as rational beings and are
capable of living under a social contract which provides small Government and more voice from the people. Eminent
Domain for private gain are contrary to the ideals of Americans and the philosophy of John Locke. Eminent Domain is the
ideal philosophy interpreted by Philosopher Thomas Hobbes who believed human beings are incapable and lives his
or her life short, nasty, and violent. If this was the case people are not capable and are violent, than why is there
an inherent part of us appalled by violence?
- The City of San Bernardino destroyed most of the historical buildings. The building the author owns was
officially registered on August 05., 2005 and according to Dr. Lauren Bricker, the chairman of the California State Historical
Resources, this City is the worst in preserving historical properties. How many properties does San Bernardino
have on the California and National Register opposed to Pasadena, Riverside, or Redlands?
- Cohen: The Lakes and Streams project is visionary and viable. I firmly believe that it will make the downtown core
of our city a place that is safe and attractive that will bolster our economy and repair our tattered social fabric. The plans
are exciting. And I have full confidence in those who have devoted years to creating this vision for our city. The only lament
is that the original plan which encompassed the greater area has been downsized. But I respect the conclusions of those who
have the expertise who have been realistic in their assessment of what is possible at this time. I believe the Lakes and Streams
project is viable.
- Rebuttal: The nine attorneys’ who are the respondents in the law suits pointed out in their reply brief
that the North Lake is not an Enviornmental Injustice but an Environmental Necessity. If this was the case why
did the water district need 363 acres for a Reservoir? Is the need for a reservoir or a need to exploit and plunder
making huge profits selling the water to outsiders? The large project of 363 acres was reduced to
82 1/2 acres because of large groups of people who resisted the invasion.
- The truth, Mr. Cohen, you find people who are less distasteful and such behavior is not Good for a Man that appears
to be religious.
A quote to the Rabbi from Deanna
"Only a man of intelligence can comprehend another man of lower caste. Laugh and Love that man who you find distaste
ful and enjoy him as a human being and a precious creation."
Those who invent the project lack the big picture of possibilities revitalizing
the project area and other areas in need. To revitalize areas in need takes effort, creativity, and immense dedication
opposed to eliminating people and their homes and businesses. To eliminate is effortless but to revitalize and enhance the
spirit of the citizen are tasks that requires endurance, stamina, will, compassion, and love.
- Cohen: Will it displace some of our fellow citizens? Of course. Will they be fairly compensated for their property
that need to be acquired to turn this project into reality?
- Rebuttal: The two thousand souls who are asked to vacate for others to profit, I believe, is an Environmental
Injustice and a disgrace to our moral character. Loyalty and dedication means nothing to the City because a
need for greed are traits admired and praised.
- Cohen: Will the end result be a place that attracts tourists that makes us and those generations that will follow
us proud and that undoes much of the image of our city that has come to be tarnished over the years?
- Rebuttal: The project does not promise us anything but false hope. A hope that people will flock to a crime ridden
City, and neighborhoods in desperate need for the City to invest in. A hope of a San Antonio river- walk in
San Bernardino? San Antonio makes the river-walk , the alamo, and all the historical significant sites.
What does San Bernardino have to offer?
- Cohen: Most certainly. Will there be some who profit from this project because will open windows of opportunity for
residences and businesses? Absolutely.
- Rebuttal: Our community should not be for new people and businesses to enjoy. The community is a self-sufficient unit
and proved well during the years the City struggled. The people of the community must be rewarded for their efforts and loyalty.
- Cohen:That is in keeping with our American free enterprise system. And fortunately, there are ample safeguards to
prevent anyone from taking undue advantage of this opportunity.
- Rebuttal: The American way is hard work and our free enterprise system failed if the Government seize and force
to sell real property. An eminent domain is contrary to the free enterprise system and in this case, the Government is Corporate
Welfare.
- COHEN: Those who will ultimately profit the most are the people of this city and its decedents. Let me conclude by
saying this. The Lakes and Streams project will require adjustment and sacrifice. No one minimizes that. Memories of homes
and businesses are important. But if we allow sentimentality or nostalgia either based on reality or myth to deter us, we
will besmirch and desecrate those memories.
- Rebuttal: Mr.Cohen must offer his Real Estate and Estate to compensate the losses our citizens in the project will
suffer. A religious man must have no trouble in giving his life savings to help others. Every cent should be donated and than
the Rabbi can comment on this matter.
- Cohen: I cannot help but think of the visionary words of the biblical prophet who said, "You shall draw waters with
joy from the springs of salvation and the well of deliverance." Ours is the opportunity now to capture the waters which are
our city's natural resource and let them open the ways to salvation and deliverance for our city. And I hope that we will
unite in mind and spirit to grasp this new and promising opportunity. Thank you.
- Rebuttal: The Rabbi should know the Torah well and not use the Torah for his benefit. From the Torah,
the Hebrew Bible: Micah Chapter 2: 1-2 "Woe to those who devise iniquity, and work out evil on their
beds! At morning light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and take them by violence,
also houses, and seize them. So, they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance." Micah 2:1- 2.
- To conclude, the arguments of Cohen are flawed. Please click: Josie Gonzales argument pertaining to the "waters
were here first". If Cohen's desire is to return to the original state many cities and countries will dissolve in waters
and oceans. My native country, the Netherlands, will lose seventeen million people once the dykes are destroyed.
The Dutch Government must destroy the Dykes in order to return to the Atlantic Ocean, the original state of Holland.
The argument of Cohen is flawed pertaining to the original state of San Bernardino; let us not forget New Orleans and
the Gulf of Mexico.
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