1.
COUNCIL PASSES ARIZONA RESOLUTION
By John Larson
Tacoma Weekly
May 26, 2010
http://www.tacomaweekly.com/article/4449/
After reading hundreds of e-mails and hearing six hours of public testimony over the past two weeks, Tacoma City Council members passed a resolution on May 25, opposing Arizona’s controversial new immigration law. It urges Arizona to “rescind or significantly amend” the law; urges the federal government to “adopt comprehensive immigration reform” and asks City Manager Eric Anderson to provide copies of the resolution to President Barack Obama and the area’s delegation in Congress.
Councilmembers Marty Campbell, Joe Lonergan, and Spiro Manthou voted against the resolution. Councilmember David Boe abstained.
Mayor Marilyn Strickland, who was out of town last week when the first vote was taken, cast the deciding vote. “Tonight’s resolution is not a call to boycott; it is a call to conscience,” she declared. Strickland said the resolution sends a message that “the council believes in the dignity of all residents, regardless of immigration status.”
Strickland said the Arizona law could lead to racial profiling. Another action by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer took aim at ethnic studies, a move Strickland said indicates Arizona is heading in the wrong direction on race relations.
Most who testified supported the resolution.
“Tell the world that Tacoma cares,” Julio Quan said.
Liz Dunbar, executive director of Tacoma Community House, said language in the resolution that urges the federal government to address immigration reform is a good feature and sends a message that needs to be heard in Washington, D.C.
Mark Jensen said police in Arizona might adopt a suspicious attitude toward all Hispanics.
“It cannot be conducive to good public policy,” he said of the Arizona law.
Several urged the council to boycott Arizona. That language was dropped from the original resolution introduced by Councilmembers Lauren Walker and Ryan Mello.
“It would have more teeth,” Lara Herrmann said.
Laura Valdez said she favored the resolution without the boycott language.
“This should not be about money. This puts it squarely on principles.”
Several people spoke in opposition to the resolution.
Joe Gilligan said Brewer signed the law because of the social and financial impact illegal immigrants place on her state.
“You think you are doing good but you do not understand,” he remarked.
Mello said the fact people of color in Tacoma asked the council to take action made it a relevant issue for the council. “That is all about Tacoma to me.”
“We are going down a very slippery slope when we weigh in on another jurisdiction,” Campbell said. Taking action on an issue elsewhere distracts the council from local matters, he said. “We could address an injustice every week.”
Councilmember Jake Fey said he opposed the original version with boycott language, but supported this resolution because it took “a measured approach.”
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2.
TACOMA COUNCIL CONDEMNS ARIZONA LAW
Associated Press
May 26, 2010
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_tacoma_arizona.html
TACOMA, Wash. -- The Tacoma City Council approved a measure Tuesday condemning Arizona's illegal immigration law as encouraging racial profiling.
The News Tribune of Tacoma reports the measure that passed on a 5-3 vote says America's immigration system is broken and needs reform.
The council dropped earlier language that called for a city boycott on business and travel to Arizona.
Mayor Marilyn Strickland says its measure is a "call to conscience."
3.
SEATTLE-TACOMA RESIDENTS REACT TO ARIZONA'S IMMIGRATION LAW
By Tim Robinson
Northwest Cable News
May 26, 2010
http://www.nwcn.com/news/politics/Seattle-Tacoma-residents-give-reaction-to-Arizonas-immigration-law-94925454.html
SEATTLE -- A KING 5 Survey USA poll asked 1,200 people in the Seattle-Tacoma area a series of questions based on Arizona's controversial new immigration policy. KING 5 News also surveyed residents on the street for their reaction as well.
Arizona's policy states that a law enforcement officer, who is enforcing another law, can ask for a person's immigration status papers. The 1,200 people were split in half: 600 from Seattle, 600 from Tacoma.
When asked if you oppose Arizona's new law, 55 percent of the respondents from Seattle said yes, they oppose the law. Compare that to Tacoma residents, where just 38 percent said they oppose the law.
But the majority in both cities is not for a business boycott of Arizona. When asked if cities should continue to do business with Arizona, 60 percent of Seattle residents said yes, while 72 percent of Tacoma residents said yes.
Besides the poll, KING 5 also took our cameras to the street to get some opinions on Arizona's law. Here are some of the reactions people gave:
"I don't think it's fair to stop someone just based on how they look like. I don't know too much about the law so I'm not familiar with all the policies," said one person.
"I think that's a little on the invading privacy side."
"Well when I heard about that I thought it kind of went back to profiling. You know, if you just see somebody that looks like a certain race, you know, you shouldn't be able to just pull them over and ask for their papers. But then again, immigration is a problem so they gotta do what they gotta do, you know."
"I'm really for our own people. It's not like I'm prejudiced or anything, but I think we need to help our own that's here first. And we've let so many people in. I don't know. That's a really deep question that you're asking, but it does need to be dealt with, that's for sure."
TACOMA VOTES AGAINST ARIZONA'S NEW IMMIGRATION
The Tacoma City Council voted on Tuesday to condemn the state of Arizona's new immigration law. Tacoma passed its resolution against Arizona's controversial new law by a 5-3 vote with one person abstaining.
The measure asks Arizona rescind its law, which takes effect July 29th. The resolution's sponsor says the law is unconstitutional.
The law requires Arizona authorities to check the immigration status of anyone they stop for another offense when they have a "reasonable suspicion" that person is in the country illegally.
4.
Local news
SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES ARIZONA-BOYCOTT RESOLUTION
By Emily Heffter
Seattle Times
May 17, 2010
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2011886559_arizona_boycott_wont_affect_bi.html
The Seattle City Council approved the Arizona-boycott resolution 7-0 Monday afternoon. It calls for comprehensive immigration reform, and denounces the Arizona law.
The resolution urges Seattle city govenment to refrain from sending employees to Arizona and from entering into new contracts with businesses headquartered there --when legal and practicable.
--
The Seattle City Council will consider a resolution Monday afternoon to protest Arizona's new illegal-immigration law through a city boycott of goods and services from Arizona.
Councilmember Sally Clark sponsored the legislation, which she says makes a statement about the city's disapproval of Arizona's approach. But the resolution was carefully crafted so as not to interfere with the city's biggest contract with an Arizona company: the red-light camera agreement with American Traffic Solutions, which is up for renewal early next year.
The legislation hedges thusly: "City Departments should to the extent practicable, and in instances where there is no conflict with law or prior contractual agreements, (1) refrain from entering into any new or amended contracts to purchase goods or services from any company that is headquartered in Arizona, and (2) avoid sending City officials or employees to conferences or events in Arizona."
The city pays the Scottsdale-based company about $106,000 a month to operate cameras at 29 intersections.
"If we can't meet the needs of city services and provide for the efficient provision of those services, then we would still contract with an Arizona company," Clark said in an interview last week.
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