On Saturday, June 11, 2022 the City Council led a community event to visit the Angel Island Immigration Station in coordination with the Cupertino Historical Society. This community trip was one of Council's activities during Immigrant Heritage Month, recognized in June every year.

Located in the San Francisco Bay, the Angel Island Immigration Station was an immigration port between 1910 and 1940. When millions of people immigrated to the U.S. in pursuit of a better life between the 19th and 20th century, most of the individuals who came to the west coast landed at Angel Island.

The files and video shown below are reflections from Council's high school student interns on their experience.

Essay by Sonya Bhagwan

Essay by Caroline Cheng

Essay by Sudisha Kumar

Video by Kelly Tung

On December 11, 2021 Mayor Darcy Paul hosted a panel discussion regarding the Chinese Exclusion Act. The 1882 law made it illegal for Chinese workers to come to America and for Chinese nationals already in the U.S. to become citizens. The panel included Stanford University professor Gordon Chang, author Connie Young Yu, and Executive Director of the Angel Island Immigration Station Foundation Edward Tepporn.

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*Video courtesy of PBS: This excerpt has been posted as background on the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. A slightly longer version was shown originally with the live recording of the panel on December 11, 2021.

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Toward the Golden Mountain

This excerpt from a publication by the Cupertino Historical Society (CHS), accompanying its 1997 exhibit on the history of people of Chinese descent in Santa Clara Valley, was written by Dr. Michael Chang, a former Councilmember and Mayor in Cupertino. The excerpt is provided here with permission from both CHS and Dr. Chang. Dr. Chang's essay is entitled "150 Years of Chinese Lives in the Santa Clara Valley." A translation of the text of the essay into Chinese characters is found at the end of the excerpt. For a full copy or for copies of CHS's publication, which is designed as both a reference and as an educational resource, please contact Jennifer Furlong at the Cupertino Historical Society and Museum at jennifer@cupertinohistoricalsociety.org.

On June 5, 2020, the Cupertino City Council unanimously approved a resolution to stand in solidarity with the Black community. See the resolution below:

A RESOLUTION OF THE CUPERTINO CITY COUNCIL AFFIRMING THE CITY’S COMMITMENT TO STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE BLACK COMMUNITY

WHEREAS, our country is mourning the senseless killing of George Floyd that occurred in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020. The actions and inactions of the police officers involved were deplorable; and

WHEREAS, the most basic form of injustice and inequity occurs when a group of people feels their safety is placed into jeopardy by the very people entrusted with ensuring their safety; and

WHEREAS, police brutality and racism against the Black community has been persistent in both our past and our present. Systemic injustices, racism, and dehumanization are deeply rooted in our society; and

WHEREAS, it was unquestionably unfair and unacceptable when the lives of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Freddie Gray, Walter Scott, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Oscar Grant, and many others were taken as a result of discrimination and inequity. These lives mattered and Black lives matter; and

WHEREAS, the unrest regarding racial injustice, particularly towards the Black community, has been building for decades. Thoughtless violence by our own government only serves to incite more violence; and

WHEREAS, Cupertino is blessed to be a multiracial community, and we decided long ago that mutual understanding and respect develops a much healthier, safer, and caring community; and

WHEREAS, it is important for the community as a whole to stand in solidarity with Black communities across the country.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council does hereby affirm its commitment to stand in solidarity with the Black community and resolves as follows:

The City of Cupertino condemns racial inequity in general and violence against the Black community by law enforcement in particular; and

The City of Cupertino does not tolerate discrimination, racial injustice, or police brutality; and

The City of Cupertino demands that Black lives matter; and

The City of Cupertino will oppose any attempts to undermine the safety, security, and rights of members of our community and will work proactively to ensure the rights and privileges of everyone in the City—regardless of race; and

The City of Cupertino will promote safety, a sense of security, and equal protection of constitutional and human rights, leading by example through equitable treatment of all by City officials and departments; and

The City of Cupertino encourages the community to stand together through peaceful exchange and discourse to enact change and move forward towards a future with more equity and inclusion in Cupertino, California, and our country.

PASSED AND ADOPTED at a special meeting of the City Council of the City of Cupertino this 5th day of June 2020.

Mayor Steven Scharf
Vice Mayor Darcy Paul
Councilmember Liang Chao
Councilmember Rod Sinks
Councilmember Jon Willey

On March 16, 2021 the Cupertino City Council unanimously approved a resolution to stand in solidarity with the Asian and Pacific Islander community. See the resolution below: 

WHEREAS, the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council and Chinese for Affirmative Action launched a hate incident-reporting internet website, titled “Stop Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Hate,” at the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak in March of 2020; and

WHEREAS, the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center documented over 2,800 hate incidents against the Asian and Pacific Islander community in 2020; and

WHEREAS, over 700 of these incidents occurred in the Bay Area of California; and

WHEREAS, racism against the Asian and Pacific Islander community has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, as a community, we should all stand against racism, prejudice, and hate crimes against any member of our community, as this runs counter to our shared democratic values, and as such behavior against one diminishes all of us; and

WHEREAS, on January 30, 2021, 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee, a nearly-blind and gentle elderly Thai man, died from injuries resulting from an attack while he was walking in the City of San Francisco, in what is deemed as a hate crime; and

WHEREAS, on January 31, 2021, three elderly Asian Americans were assaulted in the City of Oakland’s Chinatown District, including a 91-year-old Asian man who sustained serious injuries, such as lacerations, abrasions, and a contusion to the left thumb, in what is deemed a hate crime; and

WHEREAS, about 31% of Asian Americans report having been subject to discrimination since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a Pew Research Center report; and

WHEREAS, Cupertino is blessed to be a multiracial community, and we decided long ago that mutual understanding and respect develops a much healthier, safer, and caring community; and
 
WHEREAS, it is important to acknowledge that the Asian and Pacific Islander community is made up of people from various socioeconomic backgrounds, and many face significant financial struggles; and

WHEREAS, in Santa Clara County, one of the first minority-majority counties in the nation, Asians have been the largest racial group since 2014, and currently, Asians make up nearly 38% of the county’s population; and

WHEREAS, in the City of Cupertino, Asians make up 64% of the City’s population; and

WHEREAS, it is important for the community as a whole to stand in solidarity with the Asian and Pacific Islander communities across the country.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council does hereby affirm its commitment to stand in solidarity with the Asian and Pacific Islander community and resolves as follows:

1. The City of Cupertino denounces hate crimes, hateful rhetoric, and hateful acts; and does not tolerate discrimination, xenophobia, or harassment; and

2. The City of Cupertino will oppose any attempts to undermine the safety, security, and rights of members of our community and will work proactively to ensure the rights and privileges of everyone in the City—regardless of race; and

3. The City of Cupertino will promote safety, a sense of security, and equal protection of constitutional and human rights, leading by example through equitable treatment of all by City officials and departments; and

4. The City of Cupertino encourages the community to stand together in affirming its commitment to the safety and well-being of the Asian and Pacific Islander community in Cupertino, California, and our country.

PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cupertino this 16th day of March, 2021, by the following vote:

Mayor Darcy Paul
Vice Mayor Liang Chao
Councilmember Jon Willey
Councilmember Hung Wei
Councilmember Kitty Moore

Upcoming Meetings

TBA

Past Meetings 

Community Forum: Challenging Anti-Asian Racism
April 15, 2021
Virtual Meeting

City Manager Deborah Feng and Captain Urena discussed anti-Asian sentiment on Thursday, April 15. Captain Urena presented hate crime data and what the Sheriff's Office is doing regarding hate crimes. Feng led a discussion on what Asians can do and how allies can support the Asian and Pacific Islander community. A Q&A session followed.

Forum on Implicit Bias
October 14, 2020
Virtual Meeting

The City of Cupertino hosted this virtual forum regarding implicit bias on Wednesday, October 14, 2020. The forum featured subject matter expert Dr. Shaun Fletcher, Assistant Professor at the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at San Jose State University. Dr. Fletcher discussed implicit bias, which was followed by a Q&A session.

Community Forum on Policing, Part 2: Discussion with CUSD and FUHSD Students and Alumni
July 8, 2020, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting

Community Forum on Policing
June 22, 2020, from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
Virtual Meeting

The City of Cupertino hosted a meeting in cooperation with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office-West Valley Division in regards to policing in Cupertino. The City and the Sheriff's Office, which the City contracts for law enforcement services, have received many inquiries about policies and training regarding use of force. The event featured Captain Ricardo Urena. Mayor Steven Scharf will opened the meeting, which was moderated by City Manager Deb Feng. There was a Q&A session with those in attendance.

Q&A Transcript

The City of Cupertino contracts with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement services out of its West Valley Substation, located at 1601 S. De Anza Avenue. Following are the Sheriff's Office's policy and procedure documents, along with its response to various community questions and inquiries.

Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office: 8 Can't Wait

Ban Chokeholds and Strangleholds
The Carotid Restraint was recently removed as a less lethal option from our policy and stole mandated training. Use of the Carotid Restraint has been prohibited except in rare, life and death circumstances where deadly force is justified.

Require De-Escalation
De-escalation and interpersonal communication training, including methods that use time, distance, cover, and concealment, to avoid escalating situations and to minimize use of force are emphasized in our policy and training.

Require Warning Before Shooting
Our policy expressly requires a verbal warning when feasible. This training is reinforced through scenario training and verbal commands are required during all range qualifications.

Exhaust All Alternatives Before Shooting
Deputies may only use deadly force after all reasonable and feasible means have been exhausted. Our policy and training emphasize de-escalation and the use of less lethal options.

Duty to Intervene
Intervention and duty to report observed use of force, including any instances of excessive force, is required.

Ban Shooting at Moving Vehicles
Our policy prohibits shooting at a moving vehicle, except in rare circumstances when a life-threatening situation requires immediate action to stop a deadly threat.

Require Use of Force Continuum
Our policy and training emphasize a use of force continuum and requires only the degree of force which is reasonable under the circumstances to protect themselves or others.

Require Comprehensive Reporting
Comprehensive use of force reporting is required by policy, including all involved deputies and witnesses. Body worn camera and supervisory review are required for all instances of use of force.

Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office: Policy and Procedure Documents

Sheriff's Office General Orders

In light of current events, the Cupertino City Council requested that City Manager Deborah Feng review the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office. She decided to base her review on the six pillars of 21st Century Policing that was published under the Obama administration. This document shows her overview of how the Sheriff’s Office aligns with the 6 pillars.

Overview of the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office Alignment with the Six Pillars of 21st Century Policing in Cupertino

County of Santa Clara, Office of the Sheriff Average Cost Per Resident for Police Services and Percent of City Budget Allocated to Law Enforcement Services (2019-2020 Police Operating Budgets)