As a long-standing member of the Peninsula Jewish Community Center (PJCC) in Foster City, CA, my family and I have always considered this place our second home. It is where we practice wellness and find community. However, recent events have shaken our trust in this institution.

My 14-year-old son was assaulted by an adult member at the PJCC the weekend before President's Day. He was shoved and had his chain ripped off his neck after this member threatened to rob him. I, too, was physically threatened with violence at the PJCC by this same individual the next day after the PJCC decided not to revoke this person's membership immediately. Last year, a different member was hearing inner voices and physically threatened me in the locker room.

These incidents are not isolated; they reflect a growing concern about safety within our community center. A lack of mandatory background checks for members allows individuals with violent and other criminal tendencies to become part of what should be a safe space. How many of our children, nephews, and nieces play, learn, and grow up in the PJCC? How many are at their most vulnerable in locker rooms with grown adults?

Other gyms like Planet Fitness conduct background checks on all members. We believe criminal background checks for all PJCC members are crucial for maintaining safety within our community center.

We urge the management of PJCC to implement mandatory background checks for all present and future members without delay. This will help ensure that no other family experiences what we had to go through, making PJCC once again a place where everyone can feel safe practicing wellness.

Please sign this petition if you believe in creating safer spaces for everyone at PJCC.