|
Santa Cruz City Council to Bush: No war in Iran
By Shanna McCord
Sentinel staff writer
February 28, 2007
SANTA CRUZ — City leaders launched a pre-emptive strike at the
Bush administration Tuesday, declaring their opposition to any
possible military action in Iran.
The City Council, after a two-hour debate, passed a resolution
that denounces the war in Iraq and the possibility of military
involvement with Iran, one of Iraq's neighbors accused of
supplying weapons to Shiite militias in Iraq.
"It is appropriate for this council and others to speak up and
take a strong stand," Councilman Mike Rotkin said. "I want to be
able to look at myself in the mirror. I think this is one of
those times to take a stand"
The resolution passed 5-2 with council members Ryan Coonerty and
Lynn Robinson voting no.
The three-page resolution was a last-minute item put forth by
Mayor Emily Reilly after she heard Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Los
Angeles, speak at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium last Tuesday.
Waters encouraged people to act out against the war.
"[Waters'] speech was so moving, so inspiring, such a call to
action," Reilly said. "I felt personally responsible for
answering the call she brought forward. Time was of the essence"
The resolution, written by Rotkin over the weekend, was given to
council members late Monday night, which Coonerty and Robinson
said wasn't enough time to make a thoughtful decision. The
council considered holding a special meeting to allow further
study of the subject.
City leaders believe they are the first in the country to take
formal action against the U.S. possibly confronting Iran about
its suspected support for Iraqi insurgents, which the U.S. says
has led to increased violence in the region.
The resolution also states the council's opposition to the
recent surge in U.S. troops deployed to Iraq proposed by
President Bush.
It points to the deaths of more than 3,000 American soldiers in
Iraq and "the waste of over $400 billion of American tax dollars
that might have been put to much better use in serving the
education, health care, job training, housing, human services
and other domestic needs of Santa Cruz and throughout the United
States"
About 50 people showed up wearing T-shirts and holding signs
with such messages as "War is costly, peace is priceless," and
"The bell tolls for all of us" to support the council's
resolution.
Santa Cruz resident Fred Geiger said the council has a right to
speak out on the Middle East because of the numerous deployments
of local National Guard troops to Iraq.
"Our country has been led into war by lies and deceit and the
council has a moral obligation to act on this," Geiger said.
"This is about the health and safety of your constituents"
Contact Shanna McCord at
smccord@santacruzsentinel.com.
Source |
