Erica Montejo, Cleveland Heights — Opposition to HB 188

Summary

Testimony from Erica Montejo, who identifies as a home owner and registered voter in Cleveland Heights, stating strong opposition to HB 188. The testimony says Ohio communities face deep cuts to education systems, libraries, infrastructure, healthcare and public services such as SNAP benefits, and refers to the federal government remaining shut down and a loss of federal SNAP benefits. It asks that funding be allocated to food banks and food pantry programs instead. It also states that the legislation contains no clear benchmarks, performance reporting requirements or room for community input, and says there is no independent oversight.

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Full text

Good evening,

My name is Erica Montejo and I’m a home owner and registered voter in Cleveland Heights. I’m
writing you to express my strong opposition to HB 188, as this bill’s priorities are completely
misaligned with the values and needs of Ohioans everywhere. Prioritizing funneling millions of
taxpayer dollars into a foreign partnership with the State of Israel while communities in Ohio are
facing deep cuts to our education systems, libraries, infrastructure, healthcare, and public
services such as SNAP benefits is frankly abominable and I hope that you will vote your
conscience by opposing this bill.

Our domestic needs here in Ohio are far more pressing than any partnership with any foreign
entity. In a time when our federal government remains shut down and many of my neighbors are
facing food insecurity due to a loss of federal SNAP benefits we have a responsibility to show up
for each other and ensure that no Ohioan goes hungry by bridging this gap and allocating more
funding to our food banks and food pantry programs. This funding proposed for Israel should
instead be allocated to meeting our domestic needs, and frankly I’m appalled that Ohio
lawmakers would make such a proposal in such a trying time for so many of their constituents.

I’m also deeply concerned about this bill’s utter lack of transparency, oversight, and return on
investment for Ohio taxpayers. This legislation contains no clear benchmarks, performance
reporting requirements, or room for community input. This bill would create a board stacked with
political appointees tied to pro-Israel organizations and explicitly excludes Palestinian,
Arab-American, Muslim, and neutral voices. There is no independent oversight here; therefore
there is no accountability here. This is dangerous. The International Court of Justice, Amnesty
International, Human Rights Watch, and countless other organizations and entities have all
declared that Israel is committing war crimes in Palestine, and in no way shape or form do I
support a single taxpayer dollar being sent out of Ohio to go toward such an inhumane
endeavor.

All of this to say that I hope you’ll stand for transparency, equity, and fiscal responsibility, and put
your constituents here in Ohio first — not foreign lobbyists — and firmly vote NO on HB 188.

Thank you,
Erica Montejo


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