California
Top California politicians are condemning video of Oakland council meeting on Gaza. Is it fair?
OAKLAND — The approach behind Oakland’s resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza was intended to be “mild” and “moderate,” its author said — a simple plea for U.S. leaders to help secure lasting peace in a region trapped in a traumatic cycle of violence and death.
But as Israel resumed airstrikes in Gaza after a temporary truce deal expired Friday, top Democrats in California were condemning the city.
The lawmakers piled on after a video went viral that showed speakers at the City Council meeting on Monday — where the ceasefire resolution was unanimously adopted — offering strong opinions about Hamas, a U.S. designated-terrorist organization that targeted civilians in Israel during an Oct. 7 attack.
Most cities in the U.S. have resisted signaling support for Palestinians in Gaza or taking any other position on the Gaza situation. While ceasefire resolutions have been approved in Detroit, Atlanta and Seattle, plus Akron, Ohio, and Providence, Rhode Island, other major jurisdictions have not followed suit.
As the backlash toward Oakland might indicate, adopting such a proposal comes with enormous risks for any city, including the possibility of having the proceedings cut-and-pasted to reflect any number of views aired by ceasefire supporters.
“The potential for blowback is enormous — even people who are highly critical of Israel would draw the line at expressing any kind of sympathy for Hamas,” said Jack Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College.
Even Berkeley, known to be one of the Bay Area’s most liberal cities, has refused to endorse a resolution such as Oakland’s, with the City Council there ending two meetings early in recent weeks amid bedlam among pro-Palestine advocates in attendance.
“These resolutions will not end the violence abroad, but they do fan the flames of hatred here at home,” Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín wrote in a statement formally opposing a call for ceasefire.
At Oakland’s City Council meeting, one speaker claimed, for instance, that Israeli troops were the ones responsible for the Hamas terrorist attack that killed 1,400 people and led to the capture of 240 hostages. Another referred to Hamas as the “armed wing of the unified Palestinian resistance,” while a third suggested that Zionist speakers in attendance were “old white supremacists.”
“Hamas is a terrorist organization,” wrote Gov. Gavin Newsom in a social media post responding to the video. “They must be called out for what they are: evil.”
U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, running to represent California in the Senate against Rep. Barbara Lee, among others, was one of the earliest supporters of a Gaza ceasefire. “It’s shocking to see people continue to downplay, deny, or even seek to justify their October 7th attacks,” he wrote.
Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis described the comments as “deeply disturbing,” while state Sen. Scott Weiner seized on Oakland’s ceasefire resolution itself, noting that the City Council had declined to include a condemnation of Hamas, which governs in Gaza.
The smattering of public comments was just a few of around 250 made Monday that were largely far more mainstream, with most showing support for Palestinians who have seen between 13,000 and 15,000 civilians killed in Israel’s extended retaliation.
In scrambling to distance themselves from the comments in the video, the lawmakers also shifted the focus from Oakland’s actual resolution, which offers mostly a neutral call for peace.
“Gaza is in a dire humanitarian crisis that is getting worse with each passing day,” reads the resolution, authored by Councilmember Carroll Fife, who defended it as mild and moderate in its provocations given its withholding of more direct criticism of Israel.
The resolution did not ultimately condemn Hamas, but in a further show of neutrality, it also contains hardly a mention of Israel. The country’s name appears in the language just once, in a clause listing the number of people killed in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that sparked Israel’s attacks.
The video that sparked the outcry was compiled by the Jewish Community Relations Council’s Bay Area chapter, but it went viral after an influential social media user reposted it — leading some of the state and country’s most powerful Democrats to set their sights on Oakland.
The Bay Area chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, an anti-Zionist group, addressed the backlash in a statement, saying the video was part of a “malicious, misleading propaganda campaign that seeks to undermine the (ceasefire) resolution.”
While the organization “does not agree with every single comment made throughout the course of the evening, overall the hearing was a peaceful gathering of residents from across the diverse city of Oakland,” the statement read.
Oakland Councilmember Dan Kalb tried unsuccessfully to add condemnations of Hamas to the council’s ceasefire resolution, including one that blamed the group for “repression and violence” against Palestinians.
His proposal was voted down 2-6 after the council’s president, Nikki Fortunato Bas, said adding such language would necessitate further context — namely that “this conflict did not start on Oct. 7,” she said, referring to Israel’s repeated expansion into the West Bank.
In an interview, Kalb doubled down on his statements, noting that Weiner had called him after Monday’s meeting to offer support. Kalb, who voted for the ceasefire resolution itself, is campaigning to fill a vacant seat in the state Senate — a race that will pit him against Arreguín.
“What was disappointing and, to me, shocking, is how many of the people who made public comments tried to legitimize, condone or even support the actions of Hamas on Oct. 7,” Kalb said.
Meanwhile, the broad range of opinions expressed Monday — the majority of which aligned far more closely with Bas’ view — appear to have been lost in the social media frenzy. Bas could not be reached for comment.
Oakland’s statement demands an immediate ceasefire, the “release of all hostages” and the “restoration of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies” that have been cut off by Israel during the country’s prolonged retaliation to the Oct. 7 attack.
The carefully-worded language, in this case, did not appear to be enough to stave off political fallout.
“Those commenters have a right to free speech,” said Tyler Gregory, CEO of the Bay Area’s chapter of the Jewish Community Relations Council’s Bay Area chapter, which published the viral video. “But those council members have a right to call (the statements) out as not consistent with the values of Oakland. And they didn’t do that.”
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry reportedly are called local villains by neighbors of the ritzy California town the couple fled to after leaving their royal roles behind.
One Montecito resident, who has never met the couple but spoke to Vanity Fair, referred to the duo as the prince and “the starlet.”
The neighbors of the quiet Santa Barbara area attribute many of the new annoyances to Markle and Prince Harry, including increased housing prices, busy streets and more.
The neighborhood has seen much more tourist traffic since Markle and Harry’s arrival in 2020, anonymous residents told the outlet. Vanity Fair also reported that several people they spoke with noted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have become local villains.
MEGHAN MARKLE POSTPONES LIFESTYLE SERIES RELEASE DUE TO CALIFORNIA FIRES
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been called local villains in their Montecito neighborhood, according to Vanity Fair. (Fox News Digital)
“You know, the thing about [Meghan and Harry] that is so great is they didn’t come here to live off of our community. They came here to be a part of our community.”
Markle’s latest business endeavor, American Riviera Orchard, is also located in Montecito, Vanity Fair reported. According to the outlet, a book published by the Southern Pacific Company rail lines in 1898 states, “The Montecito is known as the American Riviera.” However, that honor reportedly now belongs to Santa Barbara.
“It’s such a kind of hucksterism,” a resident told Vanity Fair. “It’s just finding every way she can to monetize something.
“I still think they’re the most entitled, disingenuous people on the planet,” the resident added. “They moved away from England to get away from the scrutiny of the press, and all they do is try and get in the press in the United States.”
Fox News Digital reached out to representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for comment.
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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle aren’t the only celebrities who live in Montecito. (Chris Jackson)
Meanwhile, the couple’s arrival has been praised by their celebrity neighbor, Sharon Stone.
“You know, the thing about them that is so great is they didn’t come here to live off of our community. They came here to be a part of our community,” she told Access Hollywood in 2020.
“My friend said she was sitting in her car, and they bicycled across the street and waved at her while she was sitting at the red light,” she recalled. “They’re a part of our community. They’ve become a giving, caring, participating part of our community. They’re not here to be like, ‘Would you like to kiss my butt?’”
Montecito has been home to a handful of celebrities, including Natalie Portman, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow, Adam Levine, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael Keaton and Oprah.
The gate of the estate where Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle live in Montecito. (Getty Images)
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Despite moving to the United States five years ago after stepping back from his senior roles in royal life, Prince Harry reportedly doesn’t have a social life aside from his nuclear family.
“[Meghan] was up front about the fact that Harry hadn’t made many friends yet,” a source, who previously interacted with Markle professionally, told Vanity Fair.
Markle and Prince Harry threw themselves into work and landed a bombshell Netflix contract months after establishing Montecito as their home in 2020. They first released their docuseries, “Harry & Meghan,” in 2022. The show earned the biggest one-day audience for any Netflix series since monitoring began in October 2022. One year later, they followed up with the “Heart of Invictus” docuseries in 2023 and produced “Polo” in 2024.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to California in 2020. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images for the Invictus Games Foundation)
However, multiple sources described Markle and Prince Harry as having “really great ideas” for shows that never got made.
“I think Harry doesn’t know what he wants because he grew up in a fishbowl, and so he doesn’t know what real life really is,” an insider, who worked on media projects with the couple, told Vanity Fair. “I think he probably wants to be left alone and be able to go kiss babies every once in a while but not have to worry about money. I don’t think he wants to be famous the way Meghan wants to be famous.”
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were interviewed by Oprah Winfrey in 2021 at a friend of Winfrey’s home in Santa Barbara County, Calif. (Harpo Productions)
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Fox News Digital’s Tracy Wright contributed to this report.
Over a week after destructive wildfires erupted in the Los Angeles area, fire crews have made progress with containment and stopped the growth of the Eaton and Palisades fires.
After several “Particularly Dangerous Situation” red flag warnings expired, firefighters were able to work in favorable weather conditions. Cooler temperatures are expected over the weekend, increasing humidity levels.
On Jan 7., a “life-threatening” windstorm caused by powerful Santa Ana winds fueled the Palisades Fire in the community of Pacific Palisades and a few hours later helped exacerbate the Eaton Fire in the northeast portion of the county near Pasadena.
Search and rescue crews have found human remains in debris and the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed 27 deaths in connection to the fires.
The Eaton and Palisades fires quickly became two of the most destructive and deadliest wildfires in California’s history. Residents were forced to flee their homes as flames inched closer. As of Saturday morning, 10,694 structures were confirmed to have been destroyed, according to Cal Fire.
As fire officials continue to assess the damaged areas, some residents in both fire zones have been able to return to their neighborhoods.
“Please be assured that our firefighters continue to work 24/7 to achieve full containment of these wildfires as fast as we can. We continue to plan for the repopulation of evacuated areas, when safe,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said.
Eaton Fire
The 14,117-acre Eaton Fire has reached 73% containment as of Saturday morning. Ground crews and air operations are continuing to extinguish hot spots around the burn footprint.
“Containment continues to grow, with a total of 60 miles of control lines established around the fire’s perimeter, including 8 miles of hand lines,” Cal Fire said.
Urban Search and Rescue teams have completed 8,856 inspections which has led to repopulation in certain areas. On Saturday morning, Cal Fire reported that nearly 10,000 structures were damaged or destroyed by the fire.
Several areas affected by the fire remain under evacuation orders and warnings. Officials have said they will allow residents back to their homes once the areas have been properly assessed and deemed safe.
The LA County Medical Examiner has confirmed 17 deaths tied to the Eaton Fire. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department is actively investigating 24 missing persons cases, related to the fire.
To see a full update of firefighting efforts and updates to evacuation orders for the Eaton Fire visit the Cal Fire website.
Palisades Fire
The Palisades Fire which has burned 23,713 has grown to 43% containment. The calm wind activity has allowed for minimal fire behavior as firefighters continue to put out hot spots.
On Friday afternoon, Cal Fire announced several evacuation orders had been downgraded and warnings lifted. Even though repopulation has begun in some areas, fire officials warn residents that some of their homes may still be impacted by power outages.
Aerial assessment of the affected area showed that about 5,000 structures were damaged or destroyed, according to Cal Fire. On Saturday morning, the agency reported that 12,250 structures were threatened by the fire.
At least 10 people have died in relation to the Palisades Fire, according to the LA County Medical Examiner. The number of fatalities is expected to rise as search and rescue crews are still working to inspect several areas. The LA County Sheriff’s Department is investigating seven active missing persons reports for the Palisades Fire.
To see a full update of firefighting efforts and updates to evacuation orders for the Palisades Fire visit the Cal Fire website.
Evacuation orders and curfew
Saturday morning, mandatory evacuation orders remain in place for residents in the Eaton and Palisades free areas.
Throughout the week officials announced several orders were downgraded to warnings and warnings were lifted allowing residents back into their neighborhoods.
Even though some residents have been allowed back to their homes, many areas are still experiencing power outages and no water.
A 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew continues to be enforced nightly in the mandatory evacuation areas in the Palisades and Eaton fire zones.
Have a tip about the Southern California wildfires? Send it to CBS News Los Angeles and KCAL News.
California
California firefighters confront alleged looters stealing Emmy Award during Eaton Fire: ‘You are not doing this’
A group of California firefighters stopped an alleged looter from robbing a burned-down house and jetting off with an Emmy Award that had miraculously survived the fiery carnage of the Eaton Fire.
Smoke eaters with the Los Angeles County Fire Department were working in a burned-down Altadena neighborhood on Thursday when they came across two suspicious people who were leaving one of the properties.
One of the firefighters confronted a woman – wearing a dark sweatshirt and skirt over sweatpants – carrying possessions from the home including the prestigious award.
“There’s no way what?” the suspected looter asked the firefighter as he walked away from a white pickup truck with the award, according to LAFD Watchdog video obtained by Fox LA reporter Matthew Seedorff.
“No way, you are not doing this,” the first responder argued.
“This was our house. We tried to save all these people. You are not stealing from them.”
The woman claimed she wasn’t stealing and was protecting her neighborhood.
The firefighter walked away but turned around when the woman and her friend attempted to get into the truck.
“You’re not going anywhere,” the firefighter ordered.
The Emmy was awarded in the news and documentaries category in 2002, Fox LA reported.
Along with the Emmy, the woman allegedly stole another award, the Sharp Award from 2016. Both awards had the name of the rightful owner on it, who was not publically named.
The firefighter called for an engine to be parked in front of the suspect’s white pickup until police arrived.
Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office arrested the looters.
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman revealed nine more individuals charged with crimes related to the aftermath of the Eaton and Palisades fires.
The charges included felony arson, felony possession of ammunition by a felon, felony looting during mandatory evacuations, and misdemeanor impersonation of a firefighter.
Nine people were originally charged with crimes before Hochman’s update Friday.
Over 40 out-of-town vultures were arrested by the Santa Monica police for allegedly preying on the thousands of homes left abandoned there and in the neighboring Pacific Palisades.
The suspected criminals took advantage of residents fleeing the devastating fires and allegedly burglarized the homes.
“To anyone who believes they can use this disaster as a cover for criminal activity, let this be your warning: You will be caught, and you will be held accountable,” Hochman said. “The citizens of this county deserve safety and justice, especially in the wake of such unprecedented devastation, and I will not rest until we achieve both.”
The deadly fires killed 27 people and destroyed more than 11,000 structures after the raging infernos burned through over 40,000 acres since Jan. 7, 2025.
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