City councils across California have passed resolutions against
military action in Iraq, but the Los Angeles City Council must
reconcile different priorities among its members before it can do
the same.
A disagreement exists between those who see value in passing a
resolution ““ like councils in Berkeley and Santa Cruz and
many others nationwide ““ and those who believe their
attention should be focused at home.
It is “largely symbolic,” said David Gershwin,
communications director for Council President Alex Padilla.
“The City of Los Angeles is a local government. The
residents of L.A. want councilmen to work on city issues,” he
said.
Among these issues is crime, which has been increasing and
earning the city a title it is not proud of, he added.
But another member is challenging this stance, suggesting it is
impossible to divorce the policy of Washington, D.C. from its
impact on local government.
Councilmember Eric Garcetti has been talking about proposing a
resolution for several weeks, his chief of staff said.
“Councilman Garcetti would like to see the council take
the position against the war and has been talking to his colleagues
about that,” said Rich Llewellyn. “Several council
members have expressed their quick support; others have said
they’re exploring it.”
A decision to propose such a resolution could come soon, he
added, but said there is no “target date.”
While Gershwin says “foreign policy is what we entrust our
elected officials to do,” Llewellyn said there is a
“clear connection” between federal and state
politics.
“There is no question there is a direct buildup in
military and security costs, which come at the expense of domestic
programs,” Llewellyn said.
The Berkeley City Council, with a history of involvement in
issues beyond their city’s boundaries, concurs with the idea
that it has a responsibility to contribute to nationwide
debate.
“There are times when city councils in general need to
weigh in on larger state and national issues, particularly when
they feel there is consensus in their community,” said Jill
Martinucci, aide to Berkeley City Councilmember Miriam Hawley, who
introduced the resolution.
Berkeley’s council made headlines in 2001, condemning U.S.
attacks against Afghanistan after Sept. 11, 2001.
Like Los Angeles, Long Beach and San Diego have not passed
anti-war resolutions.
“It has no power for legislation,” said Clifton
Williams, legislative analyst for San Diego City Council member
Scott Peters.
Fourth-year civil engineering student Eric Wade disagreed with
the Los Angeles City Council’s decision not to take a stance
thus far.
“Symbolic actions are important in themselves. They
express opinions and get the word out to people,” he
said.
Wade also said it was irrelevant if Los Angeles has seen a major
upswing in crime ““ the city council still needs to take a
stance on public policy issues. But other UCLA students felt it is
outside the realm of a city council’s responsibility to
participate in national concerns.
“It would just be some words on paper,” said
third-year history student Tucker Kelley. “Citywide issues
are more important for city councils to care of. They are elected
for city issues, not national concerns.”