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A roll call vote was taken as follows: Yeas —Bullock, Kepple, Litten, Neff, O'Malley, Rader, Shachner Nays —None Motion passed. The update was received and filed. 10. Communication from Councilmember Kepple regarding support for Lakewood's Asian and Asian American and Pacific Islander(AAPI) community. (to be provided) Councilmember Kepple delivered the following oral communication: It came to my attention last week through some of the merchant groups that I visit periodically that one of their colleagues of an Asian owned business here in our community had been the victim of some pretty strong and disturbing verbal harassment here in Lakewood. I reached out to this business owner and we had a conversation. This has been an ongoing thing towards that business throughout the pandemic. As we've seen unfortunately throughout our nation, the AAPI community has been on the receiving end of some unjust and unwarranted attacks, particularly around COVID. As I spoke with her about ways that we can be supportive, one of them was specifically asking for Council to officially condemn such behavior and show our support, which is something I suspect that we are all willing to do. That's the resolution that you'll see coming up. I want to say unequivocally that Asian, Asian American, Pacific Islander neighbors here in our community are a vital part of our community and bear no responsibility for COVID. They are absolutely Lakewoodites and are very valuable Lakewoodites. Councilmember Kepple made a motion, seconded by President O'Malley to receive and file the communication. Public Comment: eComment submitted by Lucinda Einhouse of the Beck Center for the Arts - As President and CEO of Beck Center for the Arts, I want you to know that safety is absolutely the most critical value to me and my colleagues. I was very sad to learn that a small business owner, who is Asian American, was on the receiving end of some terrible hatred, and I'd like to support Councilwoman Kepple's resolution condemning hate speech toward Asian and Asian American Pacific Islanders. The fact that we have seen such horrible treatment of Asian and Asian American Pacific Islanders across the country is greatly disturbing, and I believe we in Lakewood should stand together to denounce this. Hate speech leads to violence, and we need to do everything in our power to stop it in our community. Easy access to guns has created a public health crisis, adding to the level of fear that begins with hate speech. We do not have to accept this as normal. I support the Mayor and City Council in their efforts to develop a public safety plan that is comprehensive and community driven one that intentionally includes protection ofBIPOC.Please let me know if there is anything Beck Center can do to help, and thank you for all you do. On the motion: A roll call vote was taken as follows: Yeas —Bullock, Kepple, Litten, Neff, O'Malley, Rader, Shachner Nays —None Motion passed. The communication was received and filed.