LB Council Avoids Civic War Over Requested Report On Iraq War's Potential Negative Impacts Locally:
(March 5, 2003) -- At its March 4 meeting, the LB City Council avoided a LB civic war over a U.S. war with Iraq...defusing a potentially explosive item by 1st district Councilwoman Bonnie Lowenthal that had asked the City Manager to "investigate...the potential negative impacts to the City of Long Beach should the United States go to war."
Councilwoman Lowenthal accepted a verbal report on the spot (adding she'd like to receive additional figures later) and the Council then voted unanimously to "receive and file" (take no further action on now).
This didn't deter a stream of public speakers -- all opposed to U.S. military action in Iraq -- who used the Council podium to blast U.S. policy, President Bush and U.S. military action in Iraq.
And ELB Councilwoman Jackie Kell drew nearly a minute of sustained applause from the crowd when she concluded a lengthy statement by declaring, "I don't think that we should put our men and women on the line, their lives on the line, because George Bush wants to get Saddam."
We post transcript excerpts below.
In introducing her agenda item, Councilwoman Lowenthal said, "[W]hile tonight I don't expect a report back from the City Manager, I know it's going to take time to compile...I do feel it's a report that we need to have in the future, so we can better understand the impact of the budget," adding "It was not my intention this evening to sponsor a resolution in any way that was intended to be 'peace resolution.'"
Councilwoman Lowenthal moved to "request the City Manager to give a report."
Which he did (details below).
And delivering the report verbally opened the door to avoiding a high visibility Council fight over whether to seek such a report at all.
Acting City Manager Miller said the "two specific questions which are embedded in the request, I think, we could respond to tonight or in two weeks, it really is up to the Council as to your interest." Mr. Miller then proceeded to present a report on the spot. He indicated City Hall had 45 Reservists who are employees; 23 work for LBPD [caveat, see Chief Batts statement below], 5 work for LBFD. Mr. Miller indicated City Hall has received about $10.4 million for homeland security funding, comprised of roughly $4.3 million for the Port, $4.4 million for the Airport, $340,000 for the LBPD, over $200,000 for LBFD, and about $1.1 million for the LB Dept. of Health. Beyond that, requests are being made for additional homeland security funding to meet additional needs (total Port, Airport, LB Energy, LBFD, LBPD) totaling another $26 million. LBPD Chief Batts later indicated that LBPD has 27 reservists when recruits are included...and 11 LBPD reservists have already been called to active duty. Chief Batts also said: "The other issue that comes along with war is what is going to be the impact on the city the day that we declare war? We have about 70 critical facilities that are in the city and it becomes incumbent upon us to make sure that we have security of those facilities...I am secure that we would be able to respond...Currently we're in contact with Terrorism Early Warning Group which is running out of the Sheriff's Dept. and also the Joint Terrorism Task Force which is run by the FBI. I have a weekly, or if not a daily, update on information coming in..." LBFD Chief Harbour indicated calling 5 LBFD reservists to active duty wouldn't have an impact on the Dept...and from a terrorist standpoint, LBFD would respond and is prepared. A hearing city management's report, 9th district Councilman Val Lerch indicated he'd favor having the verbal report be the end of it. "Rather than bringing this back...I would just like to have it done tonight and be done with it," Lerch said. That struck a responsive note with the Mayor...who promptly asked Councilwoman Lowenthal if a verbal management report, including one from LBPD Chief Batts and LBFD Chief Harbour would suffice. "I trust that's all that we can get in terms of budget impact this evening, and if you find that there are other figures that you could put together for the public as well as the Council, I would appreciate your providing that later on," Councilwoman Lowenthal said. As if to underscore that would be it, the Mayor said (apparently to Lerch), "It won't come back unless there are additional figures..." But that didn't prevent a stream of public speakers -- all opposed to U.S. military action in Iraq -- from blasting U.S. policy, President Bush and U.S. military action in Iraq. No individual or group spoke in support of White House policy. If any Councilmembers supported the administration's actions, they held their tongues. The crowd attending the Council meeting was so overwhelmingly supportive of Councilwoman Lowenthal's motion that Mayor Beverly O'Neill limited public comment to two minutes (instead of the usual three). The audience cheered wildly after 5th district Councilwoman Jackie Kell delivered the following remarks strongly opposing U.S. military action in Iraq. Reading from what appeared to be a prepared statement or notes, Councilwoman Kell declared: I just wanted to respond to all of you out there who made signs and came down here to display them. We're very much aware of your feelings and I wanted to address what you've done here. Kell's remarks drew nearly a minute of sustained applause. The best one of the two Republicans on the Council, 8th district Councilman Rob Webb, could muster in response was that "Whatever side of the equation you have on this, my belief is, and I would suggest to everybody that we should pray hard for our Commander In Chief and our President of the United States, whether you're for war or against war..." Webb's remark prompted audible audience displeasure. The Council's other Republican, Vice Mayor Frank Colonna, said nothing at all...and no other Councilmembers spoke in support of current U.S. policy. Several public speakers chided the Council for not passing a resolution opposing U.S. military action in Iraq (about 100 cities have done this, including L.A.). Allison Shaw: "Education is our hope for the future. It is now held hostage by distorted priorities. We are never told there is not enough money to bomb people, yet as a part time instructor I am always being told there is not enough money for scholarships, support and supplies. [applause]...At Long Beach City College, student reservists are called up and must reluctantly withdraw from their classes. Isn't it our job as citizens of a democracy to support troops by making sure that their dreams and their lives are not sacrificed for an immoral and illegal war?... The Mayor then asked Councilwoman Lowenthal for her motion (although Lowenthal had already moved to "request the City Manager to give a report.") Councilwoman Lowenthal said, "I expect to get more of that information about the impact, particularly on the police department, if reservists are called up"...and moved to receive and file city management's report. The Council voted 9-0 to receive and file city management's verbal report. |