More City Councils Move Toward Arizona Boycotts Over Immigration Law

While a number of local lawmakers want their states to adopt immigration measures similar to Arizona's, there is also a growing crop of lawmakers aiming to shun the state for its controversial measure.

The city of San Francisco was at the head of the trend, when its board of supervisors on Tuesday considered a measure to off the city's economic ties with Arizona. The board has yet to officially approve the boycott, but San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has imposed an immediate moratorium on city-related travel to Arizona.

The Arizona law at the center of the controversy, signed by Arizona's governor on Friday, would require immigrants to carry documents verifying their immigration status. It would also require police officers to question a person about his or her immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that person may be illegally in the country.

City councils in Washington, D.C. , and Los Angeles are also considering economic boycotts of Arizona, CBS News Congressional correspondent Nancy Cordes reported (watch her report).

"We want them to be the last state that does this," Los Angeles City councilwoman Janice Hahn said.

Seven members of the Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday signed a proposal for a boycott, the Los Angeles Times reports, calling for the city to "refrain from conducting business" or participating in conventions in Arizona.

City council members in Oakland today are also proposing a city boycott, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

As California officials at the municipal level continue to act, the leader of the state Senate, Darrell Steinberg, is asking Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to take action as well, according to the L.A. Times. He sent a letter to the governor asking for an inventory of Arizona businesses and agencies that do business with California.

In Washington, the city council could consider a resolution for a boycott of Arizona as early as next Tuesday, the Washington Post reports.

"Anything where government is sponsoring any sort of profiling that I believe is racist, we have to take a stand against as the nation's capital," said council member Michael A. Brown, who plans to introduce the resolution.

Like San Francisco's mayor, St. Paul, Minn., Mayor Chris Coleman on Wednesday issued an executive order banning city-funded travel to Arizona, the Twin Cities Pioneer Press reports.

Arizona Gov. Brewer said Monday at a town hall that she doesn't believe the law is "going to have the kind of economic impact that some people think it might." However, Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon may say differently.

Sacramento, Calif., Mayor Kevin Johnson on Wednesday called for an economic boycott but quickly changed his tune after hearing from Gordon, the Sacramento Bee reports. Gordon asked Johnson, who has ties to Arizona, to reconsider the boycott to avoid hurting the Phoenix economy anymore. Gordon reportedly said his city has already lost five conventions as a result of the law. Johnson is now simply flying to Arizona to discuss the immigration law with officials there.

The law is already facing court challenges, but if it goes into effect in July as planned, New York City could also consider a boycott. City Controller John Liu today called for a boycott of Arizona-made products if it goes into effect, the New York Daily News reports. In the meantime, the city council is considering a resolution formally condemning the Arizona law.

New York state assemblyman Adriano Espaillat called on immigrant players in Major League Baseball to boycott the 2011 All-Star game in Phoenix, according to the Daily News. Others around the country are calling for the MLB to move the All-Star game to another state.

"Baseball has been very, very good to us," Espaillat said. "We want our ballplayers to stand up."

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[leeellak]

The elected leaders of these cities and businesses boycotting or condemning Arizona may regret it with the unknown unintended consequences.

There is a grass roots movement out here that believes in law. We do not like city officials using poor judgment to condemn Arizona when they themselves have an illegal immigrant population draining their city budgets.

We teach our children to obey the law. Yet our wise city fathers tarnish respect for the law by supporting illegal aliens that have no respect for our law.

Also, what these wise city fathers fail to realize is that by condemning Arizona's immigration bill, it is putting up a beacon to all illegal immigrants to come to their city.

Since San Jose CA condemned Arizona's immigration law, I can hear the tune, "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" Councilwoman Madison Nguyen wrote the resolution so she should be the first one thrown out of office for using poor judgment.

Also, the rank and file taxpayers are in a foul mood, and when the wise city fathers throw the welcome mat down for the illegal immigrants to come to their city, the voters are getting angry.

Do we need Democrats that exercise poor judgment, especially when we are in a recession and can barely support existing social services?

I hear people telling me that the cities boycotting Arizona are good cities to boycott. Why buy from cities that support illegal immigrants. Unless the nation unifies and tells the illegal immigrants they are not welcome, they will keep coming.

Did I mention that San Jose has a budget deficit of $118 million dollars and just laid off 50 firefighters? So where are these wise city fathers going to get money to support the illegal immigrants from across the US and the rest of the world?

Unintended consequences result from lack of foresight!

[Jrios3300]

I support the boycotting of Arizona. How can we call ourselves Americans and have an ignorant view of incomming immigrants when not long ago we were the 'poor and huddled masses'. We put up the statue of liberty to welcome us but now spit in her face.
Whats wrong with this picture is that we are completely ignorant of Mexicans, Mexico and Hispanics. We're ingorant becuase we know nothing about them.
Cinco de Mayo...we wouldn't be the 'United States of America' without Mexico's heroic defending of its borders from French attack. The French were planning to help the south against the north. We would be the Confederate States of America.
WW1...Mexico was an ally to the U.S. becuase she refused an offer by Germany to assist against the U.S. In return for her participation in defeating the U.S. Germany promised to return the states of New Mexico, California and Texas to Mexican territory if Germany were to win. On top of Mexico's alliedship, 250,000 Hispanic Americans served militarily.
WW2...Mexico an ally against Germany via Escuadron 201..(201st Squadron). 750,000 of the American soldiers serving in that war were Hispanics.
Over one million and a quater Hispanics have served the U.S. military from the Revolution to Vietnam, not including the Gulf war or modern wars. Hispanics are the highest decorated ethnic group in the history of the U.S. military.
Now you know.

[lil_d3vil]

When U.S. cities and even entire states declare themselves to be "sanctuaries" for illegal aliens, they act outside the law, and by their actions could be charged with a felony for each violation of federal law by "concealing, harboring, or sheltering illegal aliens" (8 U.S. Code, sections 1324 and 1325; Immigration and Naturalization Act sections 274 and 275).

Sanctuary cities and states demonstrate a complete & utter contempt for the laws of the United States, a contempt that threatens to undermine the Republic. Among those residing in U.S. sanctuary cities are sleeper terrorists and others whose purpose is to destroy the United States.

Knowing full well that the concept of sanctuary has no legal standing in the United States, some cities claim instead to be "civil liberties safe zones." These renegade sanctuaries/safe zones attack the validity of the United States government and encourage anarchy.

Time for all those that have contempt for the laws of the United States, be it a city Mayor, Senator, to the President to be voted out of office as Obama has sided with a foreign government(Mexico) and AGAINST the laws of United States.

[quillerm]

A message to all Illegal Aliens: Please obey our laws and apply for entry to the United States legally. We will then welcome you with open arms. Demanding special rights to violate our laws will not sit well with the American people as the same would be true in your home country. We have some politicians that rely on massive Voter Fraud to remain in power. That is the real reason for these phoney boycotts of Arizona. They are willing to violate our laws for personal political gain but in the long run they will undermine the security of our Nation. Don't depend on these politicians for support they will be voted out of office in November.

[littlepinkhouse]

Why not deport-import to the Cities that are boycotting all the illegal persons no matter Nation of origin- also to the President of Mexico: let the illegal walk among, sleep, work,get medical care, commit crimes around their legal citizens.Than the boycotting Cities would be changing their laws also.

[inkibinkiagain]

These boycotts might be what are needed here in Arizona to drive unwanted illegal immigrants away. Without an income, why would they want to be in Arizona? Sure, the businesses such as landscapers, hotel and restaurant operators will have to pay more for labor without the illegals but that's OK with me. Let them lose the golden geese they were happy to enjoy. Those businesses are part of the problem as they were happy to get the cheap labor. Now, it's catching up with them. What goes around comes around. All they have to do is follow the law and pass any increased labor cost to the consumers who will decide if the new prices are worth the product. If they go out of business, tough luck. Yes, I can see how the boycotts can help our safety and overall well-being here in Arizona.

[AmericanCEO]

I am very troubled by the liberal media's portrayal of Arizona's yet to be enacted illegal immigrant law. I drive from Phoenix to San Diego twice a month, and every time I cross the border between Arizona and California, or stop at a US customs check point in the middle of the Arizona or California deserts, I am routinely asked where I am coming from, and if I am a US citizen. As far as I understand this yet to be enacted Arizona law, our police and Sheriff Deputies are now "legally" authorized to ask the same question when they stop a law breaking motorist, or arrest an alleged criminal if they suspect that person is not a US citizen. If that person turns out to be in this country illegally, then they could be arrested, prosecuted, and deported.

I'm also an employer. The Federal government requires me to verify every new employee's citizenship before I can hire them, using the government?s E-Verify service. Our employment application form even poses that question. In other words, EVERYONE driving the same road I take is asked if they are a US citizen, and EVERYONE I hire must be a US citizen. If I knowingly hire an illegal alien, I could be arrested, prosecuted, fined, and jailed.

Some people are even screaming about racial profiling and claim we are violating people's constitutional rights by asking them if they are a US citizen, or if they are in this country legally! I fail to see how anyone's rights would be harmed in anyway by such a simple question. No one I have ever hired complained about having to answer that question, and I sure as heck don't complain when asked as I drive to San Diego and back. Neither of us has ever felt harassed.

Hundreds of thousands of American citizens, including me, have been victims of crimes perpetrated by people that are in this country illegally. I guess if they can't legally work here, they have to steal from us and rob us, or sell us drugs to make a living. You don't need a green card for that. It doesn't help that it takes 2 to 3 years for them to even get a green card if do it the legal way. We victims have been screaming about how our rights, property, and person's have been harmed by illegal immigrants. Yet, our politicians and leftist activists have done little or nothing to help protect the tax paying citizens of this country. I'm pretty sure part of my tax dollars, and those of my 60 employees, help pay to keep the police on the streets that protect us, so I would encourage them to arrest and deport illegal aliens if they are caught committing a crime.

I am disgusted by police officers that abuse their power and the people they arrest, but I also know those officers eventually pay dearly for those abuses. Fortunately for all of us (even you illegals out there), there are only a few bad cops. I don't think this law will change that in any way, and it might even embolden some of the bad apples. I hope not, though. But, to hear the hysterical media, talking heads, ignorant politicians, and protesters whine about how the police in Arizona are going to stop every Hispanic looking person and ask them for their papers, makes me wonder how so many stupid people get so much air time and column-inches when they clearly are in the minority. Let's give some of our smart people at least equal time to drown out the idiots.

I believe that someone needs to start doing something to protect the victims and discourage illegal immigration. I don't know how this problem will ever get solved, but I do know that doing nothing guaranties that it will never be solved. As far as the calls for boycotting Arizona by the anarchists that claim to be Americans are concerned, I hope my fellow business owners and I don?t have to lay off our employees because of these irresponsible idiots calling Arizonans bigots. We all employee legal immigrants many of whom are Hispanic. Trying to protect the non-existent rights of law breaking illegals will only hurt those citizens that have chosen to obey our laws. I am happy to hear the news media report that the majority of Americans support our fight against illegal immigration.

[youcancallmeroy]

California become America's first failed state?
Their unemployment is at 12 percent, and government staff workers are being paid with IOUs. None other than Professor Kevin Starr, University of Southern California, State Librarian Emeritus, one of California's greatest historians, pronounced that "We are on the verge of becoming a failed state because we can't agree on anything." The California Senate has been in Democratic hands since 1970, and likewise, the Assembly ? The reason California may be our first failed state is because the Democratic recipe for success in California is the same as in every other liberal state ? more spending ?? particularly on social programs and public employee sector benefits, where for example, in California, prison guards can earn more than $100,000 a year. Spending is the public policy that gets Democrats re-elected. (Their state budget went from $56 billion in 1998 to an eye popping $131 billion in 2008.) What nobody on the left is willing to admit is that blue states are in meltdown. They are not moving to the right of center as is Europe. They are moving further left. Michigan, New York, New Jersey, Illinois (Obamaland), Pennsylvania, Oregon and, of course, California, are in debtors prison. High levels of taxation, a love affair with regulations ? the more the merrier ? and the unremitting expansion of public sector employment have made public sector unions a political powerhouse. The economic recovery of California would be more significant for the U.S. than any other state. The run-up to the June 2010 primaries might give some indication of whether the electorate realizes California is a failed state. The election will probably pit Republican Meg Whitman, former CEO of EBAY, against 71 year-old State Attorney General, former governor, and three-time presidential candidate, Jerry (Governor "Moonbeam") Brown. I'll put my money on Brown, who is a mixture of liberal social values plus fiscal prudence ? a strange Democrat ? but still a big union supporter in a heavily Democratic state, who nevertheless openly opposed the Clinton machine and supported the flat tax. It will all come down to his position on public sector unions, which have bankrupted the state, and how compelled he feels to continue catering to the Latino vote (42 per cent of the population).
Whitman has said she would cut 40,000 state jobs, and already took a swipe at teacher's unions, so I don't have much hope for her in a state with 31 percent of the voters registered as Republicans. But it's hard to imagine that the debates in the primary elections will not focus on job creation in the private sector, and stemming the tide of businesses and high-income residents fleeing the state. The debates and the resulting media coverage could well shape voter attitudes for the better.
So will California's election be a precursor of continued bad times in the upcoming round of state and federal elections, or will voters send a signal of the need for fiscal sanity? Albert Einstein teaches: "The significant problems we face cannot be solved with the same level of thinking we were at when we created them."
So will California's elections move them right of center as we saw with Europe's large social democracies, or will their fascination for Obama-like left-leaning economic policies remain intact ? no jobs, increased spending and bigger government.
Lastly, Los Angeles to vote on Arizona boycott over immigration law, this is bad news?

[ivan_vy]

can Arizona ( and so many states more) stop using inmigrants for jobs that nobodies want? Take the bullet to the patrons in the USA who employ inmigrants, but, then how you would construct your bussiness? and save a heck a lot of money, instead of paying to legally americans....that would stop people from going there... Tucson tourism is a great revenue backed by mexican tourists...terrorists? weapons (70%) come form USA, and drug does no go there just for the sake of exporting, is because theres a market for it, stop blaming inmigrants,not all of them are sadistics murders, they are the people who maw your lawn cause you are too lazy to do it, the ones who pick your vegetables cause you cant take the heat in the fields, the ones who build your house cause you do not want to hurt your hand with a hammer, and you would never do by $4/hr. ...by the way, Arizona used to be an mexican state...i guess they are just getting back to home, arent they?
Sorry americans girls do not want more than 1 or 2 babies...inmigrants are baby factories...in the meantime, Arizona would gonna be flooded by inmigrants...all from inside...no need inmigration to rise the population of latinos...its gonna happen and its happening right now...

[Comminsense]

You will notice that the ONLY people boycotting and griping about all this is illegal immigrants and the Politicians, won't you?
Smells like fish! try asking the American PEOPLE! (The legal ones).