LA Votes in Favor of Arizona Boycott

[SMOKE 1,426]

The Los Angeles City Council passed a resolution Wednesday that calls for cutting some of its business ties to Arizona.

The council's move comes amid controversy over Arizona's tough immigration law -- SB 1070. Thirteen of the council's members approved the resolution.

That makes LA the nation's largest city to boycott Arizona over SB 1070.

"Los Angeles the second-largest city in this country, an immigrant city, an international city. It needs to have its voice heard," said Councilman Ed Reyes. "As an American, I cannot go to Arizona today without a passport. If I come across an officer who’s having a bad day and feels that the picture on my ID is not me, I can be... deported, no questions asked. That is not American."

The resolution before the council called for the city to "refrain from conducting business with the state of Arizona including participating in any conventions or other business that requires city resources, unless SB 1070 (Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhood Acts") is repealed." The resolution was introduced by councilmembers Reyes and Janice Hahn.

LA's top policy analyst Tuesday identfied $56 million in Arizona-related investments. The analyst recommended that the council suspend travel to Arizona, refrain from entering new contracts and review current contracts.

The city must now decide which of those contracts can be broken without risking a lawsuit.

According to the city controller's office, the city has 15 contracts with Arizona-based companies that are worth a combined total of $7.7 million.

The city's proprietary departments -- namely, the Water and Power and Harbor departments and Los Angeles World Airports -- have another $51.8 million in affected contracts. The city does not have the authority to direct its proprietary departments to terminate those contracts; it can merely request that they do so.

"We asked our city to officials to find out what contracts we have right now that we could actually terminate and have a bit of a financial impact," Hahn said. "It is about $7 million or $8 million. We're asking them to terminate those contracts, where possible and feasible."

The Arizona law makes it a crime for unauthorized migrants to be in the state and requires police to check immigration papers of people they suspect of lacking legal status.

LA's resolution notes that the city has "historically supported policies that prohibit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation and disability. For example, LA supported economic sanctions in protest against apartheid policies in South Africa.

The council will consider a few exemptions. Reyes said the council will take cautions to avoid potential lawsuits over a boycott.

Officials with the Harbor Department and LA World Airports said they are concerned about possible termination of contracts. The Harbor Department has four contracts with Arizona firms.

Most of those contracts involve a program to reduce truck pollution at the Port of LA.

"We don’t recommend rescinding the contracts due to adverse effects on the environment and public health," a port spokesman told the LA Times.

LA World Airports has equipment contracts with Arizona. It also recieves revenue from US Airways and Mesa -- Arizona-based airlines.

"We're being very methodical," Reyes said. "We're asking to have this assessed. The fact is, if we chose to ignore what happened in the South in the 60s, we'd still have the kind of discriminatory laws that were being proposed back then.

"We're not going to wreckless here. We want to evaluate the legal impacts."

Hahn, a candidate for Lieutenant Governor, also was asked about the Lakers upcoming NBA playoff series with Arizona. Games No. 3 and 4 are scheduled in Phoenix.

"We're hoping the Lakers take two games in Arizona for the sweep," Hahn told NBCLA. "If you go, we're hoping you take your own snacks and won't buy things in Arizona."

The Arizona law takes effect July 23. Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer called the boycotts -- several cities have proposed or approved plans -- unfortunate and misguided.

"It's already the law in the United States, and I have a responsibility to stand up and protect the people of Arizona and we will do that," Brewer told the Associated Press. "I find it really interesting that we have people out there that are attempting a boycott in favor of illegal actions in Arizona. That to me is just unbelievable."

http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local-beat/LA-Council-Considers-Arizona-Boycott-93575949.html

[Heracles 417]

What do you expect? They're renowned for looking out for their own. E.G. La Raza.

Meet the mayor - Antonio Ramón Villaraigosa

Edited May 12, 2010 by Booyah!

[Darnell 8,478]

Excellent ! More Silliness !!!

I'm holding out for the balkanization of the CONUS !! Yay!!! GoGoGadget TeamAmerica!!!

(silly f*ckers - this is mondo stupid)

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

The only thing more stupid than Arizona's useless law...is boycotting it.

When will SOMEONE vote to enforce our labor laws and strictly punish anyone that exploits an illegal alien by hiring them to line their pockets by avoiding our wage and hour laws, work safety laws, and insurance requirements? When?

ONLY when the penalty for exploiting illegal aliens is FAR HIGHER than the benefit for exploiting them, will the system stop.

ALL THE REST IS SMOKE AND MIRRORS. ALL. ANYTHING.

[SMOKE 1,426]

What do you expect? They're renowned for looking out for their own. E.G. La Raza.

Meet the mayor - Antonio Ramón Villaraigosa

i would hope they understand that arizona has quite a few latinos living there, most of which support the new law. i wonder if they thought about what this might do to latinos living in arizona.

on the plus side for the state of arizona.. arizona won't have to worry about cali defaulting on the debt.

[The_Dude 1,142]

i would hope they understand that arizona has quite a few latinos living there, most of which support the new law. i wonder if they thought about what this might do to latinos living in arizona.

on the plus side for the state of arizona.. arizona won't have to worry about cali defaulting on the debt.

Most lations in arizona support the law? Come on now smoke, don't pull a BY by making up statistics here.

I am actually not in favor of this boycott by the city, but not for the reasons that you'd think. This will cost the city money, plain and simple. If a contract is put out for bids, but the city is mandated not to accept any bids from an Arizona company, that could raise the total cost. Villaraigosa is a douche, he has cost the city millions in lawsuits and mismanaged funds, but he looks good on camera, and that got him the job.

[Darnell 8,478]

I keep hearing this South Park song in my heid, 'Blame Canada!' but somehow, really doesn't apply

Edited May 12, 2010 by Darnell

[one...two...tree 2,762]

i would hope they understand that arizona has quite a few latinos living there, most of which support the new law. i wonder if they thought about what this might do to latinos living in arizona.

...the nation's largest Spanish-language newspaper , La Opinion, reported that 70 percent of Arizona Latinos "strongly oppose" SB-1070 and 11 percent "somewhat oppose" it. The study, conducted by Arizona State University, showed that only 12 percent of Arizona's Latinos strongly support the law. Opposition to the law also isn't limited to recent Latino immigrants who are potentially unable to vote. Approximately 82-67 percent of second, third, and fourth generation Latinos oppose SB-1070:

[Heracles 417]

i would hope they understand that arizona has quite a few latinos living there, most of which support the new law. i wonder if they thought about what this might do to latinos living in arizona.

on the plus side for the state of arizona.. arizona won't have to worry about cali defaulting on the debt.

but see from his perspective, he's sticking up for Latinos. #### the country, just look at for your raza.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

70% of Arizonans support the law. Who cares what race or ethnic group they are, they're right to support it. Who cares what LA thinks? Their leaders have ruined a once glorious state and haven't shown much intelligence in decades.

Yay, Arizona! Screw political correctness and LA! Do what's best for your citizens. If only Barry would, we'd all be better off for it.

[Heracles 417]

don't pull a BY by making up statistics here.

I won't hold this (liberal arts grade) stance against you as it's no different to assuming the Arizona laws will only target brown people. No evidence needed, just the accusation. Not unless it comes to minorities and crime, then the Robs of America demand justice!

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Oh well, Arizona will be laughing when LA falls off into the ocean and Arizona becomes beach front property

OH and:

"Los Angeles the second-largest city in this country, an immigrant city, an international city. It needs to have its voice heard," said Councilman Ed Reyes. "As an American, I cannot go to Arizona today without a passport. If I come across an officer who’s having a bad day and feels that the picture on my ID is not me, I can be... deported, no questions asked. That is not American."

This guy is an idiot and should not get re-elected. He's either playing BS politics or he really is this damn stupid.

Edited May 12, 2010 by Paul and Vanessa

[one...two...tree 2,762]

70% of Arizonans support the law. Who cares what race or ethnic group they are, they're right to support it. Who cares what LA thinks? Their leaders have ruined a once glorious state and haven't shown much intelligence in decades.

Yay, Arizona! Screw political correctness and LA! Do what's best for your citizens. If only Barry would, we'd all be better off for it.

Something tells me you'd think differently if Colorado were to pass a law that unfairly targeted Muslims.

[Heracles 417]

Something tells me you'd think differently if Colorado were to pass a law that unfairly targeted Muslims.

Straw man alert.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Most lations in arizona support the law? Come on now smoke, don't pull a BY by making up statistics here.

what statistics did i post?

the nation's largest Spanish-language newspaper , La Opinion

la bullsh!t. you gotta link?