Cemetery support

CAIR-SoCal executive director and 26-year Corona resident said Islamic burial is a religious obligation and burial costs have become unaffordable; acknowledged neighbors' concerns as legitimate.

Menifee resident and property owner welcomed the thorough process and supported the project.

48-year area resident and Islamic Center of Riverside leader said the Muslim population has grown from one center to 14, and the nearest Islamic cemetery is a two-hour drive away.

Imam of the Islamic Center of Hemet Valley supported the project, citing religious requirements for in-ground burial.

Lifelong Mead Valley resident with a UCLA civil engineering degree said vacant land gets dumped on, and trusted the professional experts' four years of review.

Chairwoman of the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California, representing 100+ mosques, said 500,000 Muslims in Southern California face a burial crisis and urged approval.

UCR student described grieving while traveling far for burials and asked the commission to support a local, dignified option.

Geotechnical consultant with 39 years of experience said subsurface conditions pose no problem and noted cemeteries near his own home haven't hurt values.

Civil engineer with 35 years' experience said he reviewed the geotech and hydrology reports and they fully address drainage and groundwater concerns.

37-year Riverside resident, retired county civil engineer, and MMCC board member supported the project and wants local burial for his family.

Retired licensed engineer noted Lake Elsinore's cemetery sits a mile from that lake and existing burials already exist nearby, so feared impacts should have materialized by now.

Temecula-area businessman and grower said his family lives and will die in Riverside County and needs an affordable, respectful Islamic burial option.

Family physician of 45 years shared losing her husband and struggling to find burial space, and urged approval.

Corona resident with geotechnical background said leaching into the lake would take eons and deferred to the environmental review.

Medic and Riverside County resident supported the project, praising the six-sided vault redesign and water flow controls.

Retired Riverside pastor praised her positive experience with the Muslim community's charity work and said neighbors would get a beautiful, quiet use.

Former Islamic Society of Orange County director said families pay $10,000-$20,000 and drive hours to bury loved ones, and praised the nonprofit's vault concession.

UCR doctoral candidate and Riverside City College instructor said the project removes uncertainty about burial for 20,000 future families and pledged continued attention to water concerns.

President of the Islamic Society of Corona-Norco and scientist said the MND studies addressed the environmental questions and urged deciding on facts.

Spoke as a father and neighbor, calling the cemetery a place of peace and closure and the request a plea for dignity, not luxury.

Born-and-raised local recalled a friend's family struggling with Islamic funeral services and said MMCC has already changed traditions to be better neighbors.

Rabbi Emerita of Temple Beth El said the Jewish community faces similar burial equity challenges and urged a yes vote for religious equity.

Canyon Lake and Meadowbrook property owner contrasted the area's existing illegal dumping with the project's engineered protections and noted burial timing is quiet midday.

Menifee resident supported the cemetery as a matter of dignity, equity, and religious freedom, while acknowledging environmental concerns should be addressed.

Lake Elsinore resident from Paris, California voiced brief support for Crescent Gardens Cemetery.