The council voted after hearing two-hours of public debate…mostly from boycott supporters who said the Arizona law amounts to racial profiling. The lone dissenting vote came from Councilman and former Sacramento County Sheriff Robbie Waters:

 

“We should be taking care of our business here at home first. And it’s been eluded to all night and I don’t think it’s fair – our officers do not racially profile. And that’s another reason that…(audience laughter)…that’s fine – 28 years in law enforcement, you cannot accuse our officers of racial profiling.”

 

But Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy said the Arizona law is about civil rights…and that makes it worthy of the council’s attention.

 

“We have choices. We can vote to support civil rights, we can vote to be indifferent to civil rights or we can just vote to be hostile to any rights but our own. For me it’s a very, very simple choice. I’m going to vote to support this boycott.”

 

Under the boycott, city employees will be barred from attending any conferences in Arizona and any contracts the city has with Arizona-based businesses will be canceled.