Opponents of the proposed resolution like South Sacramento resident Dean Dalben chided city council members for even thinking about such a thing.
“The city has a $43 million deficit. I strongly object to the city taking any time whatsoever to develop a position on actions taken in another state such as this concerning this legislation.”
But Councilman Rob Fong compared the Arizona law to “Separate but Equal” segregation laws that impacted African Americans prior to the mid 1950s. And he argued that it is appropriate for the city to look at a boycott when it comes to civil rights.
“When I hear the criticism – ‘why should the city of Sacramento with its budget deficit spend any time weighing in on this issue?’ – my answer is, is because I am unwilling to wait decades for wrongs to be addressed through the court system.”
The council didn’t actually take a vote last night. That’s expected to happen next month after city staff draft a boycott resolution.