Resolution No. 2019-13 Condemning Anti-Semitism Acts by Airbnb - February 7, 2019
RESOLUTION NO. 2019-13
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
AVENTURA, FLORIDA, CONDEMNING ANTI-SEMITISM ACTS
BY AIRBNB, AND DIRECTING THE CITY CLERK TO SEND THIS
RESOLUTION AND A LETTER TO THE FLORIDA ATTORNEY
GENERAL’S OFFICE; PROVIDING FOR IMPLEMENTATION;
AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS
,the City of Aventura, Florida (the “City”) desires to stand in the fight
for equality for all and in the fight against the rise of anti-Semitism; and
WHEREAS
, the City Commission strongly opposes the practice of economic
discrimination and boycotts of persons and/or entities on the basis of race, color, religion,
gender, or national origin; and
WHEREAS
, on May 1, 2018, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2018-
44, providing that the City will not procure goods or services or otherwise contract with a
business which engages in the boycott of a person or entity based on race, color, gender, or
national origin; and
WHEREAS
, Airbnb, Inc. (“Airbnb”), is a privately held global company
headquartered in San Francisco that operates an online marketplace and hospitality service
which is accessible via its websites and mobile apps, where its members can use the service
to arrange or offer lodging, primarily homestays, or tourism experiences; and
WHEREAS
, Airbnb announced on November 19, 2018 that it would remove all
listings in Jewish settlements in the West Bank while continuing to allow non-Jewish/non-
Israeli listings in the West Bank, demonstrating hatred, prejudice, ignorance, hypocrisy, and
discrimination based on race, national origin and religion; and
WHEREAS
, Airbnb’s actions are antithetical to the non-discriminatory values that
are important to the City; and
WHEREAS
, the Israeli-Jewish Congress and human rights leaders have opposed the
company’s actions; and
WHEREAS
, prejudice and discrimination based on race, national origin, or religion,
have no place in our City, county, community, country, or world.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF AVENTURA, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: Recitals Adopted.
That the foregoing “WHEREAS” clauses are ratified
and confirmed as being true and correct and are made a specific part of this Resolution.
City of Aventura Resolution No. 2019-13
Section 2: Business Practices.
That the City Commission expresses its desire that
all businesses that operate within the City conduct their business at all locations in a way
that does not discriminate against anyone for any reason, including but not limited to their
nationality or religion.
Section 3: Discrimination Condemned.
That the City Commission hereby
strongly condemns Airbnb’s recent discriminatory decision to remove all listings in Jewish
settlements in the West Bank.
Section 4: Request for Action by Airbnb.
That the City Commission hereby calls upon
Airbnb to take all necessary action to correct this act of disrespect and discrimination against the
land of Israel and against the Jewish community in the West Bank and restore its original services
to all people, no matter their religion or nationality, immediately.
Section 5: Responsive Action.
That in the event that Airbnb does not stop the boycott,
restore original services, and take all necessary actions to correct this policy of disrespect and
discrimination, we call upon all people, especially those utilizing Airbnb on-line services to list
or lease property, to carefully consider the discriminatory behavior of Airbnb when they evaluate
the listing contracts and referral agencies they will utilize.
Section 6:Directions to City Clerk; Request to Attorney General.
That the City Clerk
is directed to send a copy of this Resolution to the Florida Attorney General’s Office, along with
a letter, asking her to investigate whether Airbnb’s conduct violates Florida’s anti-BDS law, and
whether it should be listed on the “Scrutinized Companies that Boycott Israel List” under Florida
Statute s. 215.4725.
Section 7: Effective Date.
That this Resolution shall take effect immediately upon
adoption.
The foregoing Resolution was offered by Commissioner Landman, who moved its
adoption. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Weinberg, and upon being put to a vote,
the vote was as follows:
Commissioner Denise Landman Yes
Commissioner Gladys Mezrahi Yes
Commissioner Marc Narotsky Yes
Commissioner Robert Shelley Yes
Commissioner Howard Weinberg Yes
Vice Mayor Dr. Linda Marks Yes
Mayor Enid Weisman Yes
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City of Aventura Resolution No. 2019-13
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 7th day of February, 2019.
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ENID WEISMAN, MAYOR
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ATTEST:
ELLISA L. HORVAT ,
CITY CLERK
APPROVED AS TO LEGAL FFICIENCY:
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CITY ATTORNEY
This Resolution was filed in the Office of the City Clerk this —7 day of 2019.
CITY CLERK
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