Thread: Boston Officials OK Resolution to Boycott Arizona

Boston officials OK resolution to boycott Arizona
May. 5, 2010 02:04 PM
Associated Press

BOSTON - The Boston City Council approved a resolution Wednesday that urges the city to curtail economic ties with Arizona by pulling investments, ending city contracts and halting purchasing agreements to protest the state's recently passed immigration law.

The resolution, passed by a voice vote, also asks city employees not to travel to Arizona for city business.


"We're asking that the people's money, the people of the city of Boston ... that their money (not) be used to support something like this," said Councilor Felix G. Arroyo, who co-wrote the resolution with City Council President Michael Ross.

Ross, the son of a Holocaust survivor from Poland, said he was compelled to act because he strongly disagreed with Arizona's law, which requires police to question people about their immigration status if there's reason to suspect they're in the country illegally. He said various Boston immigrant groups contacted him and asked if there was something they could do from Boston to fight that law.

"We have many issues before us now," said Ross. "But we have to take a moment to speak out against the erosion of basic and fundamental civil rights wherever it occurs."

Ross said once city officials find out what investments Boston has with Arizona and Arizona cities, he might ask for a city ordinance to outlaw those investments.

Councilors said they had received a slew of angry calls from people — many of them prompted by area talk radio hosts — who support Arizona's law.

Councilor Ayanna Pressley said some of those e-mails trying to persuade councilors to vote against the resolution were written in "the most harshest and offensive possible language."

"Wanting safe borders does not make you a bigot," Pressley said. "But telling Councilor Arroyo that he should go back to Mexico ... that makes you a bigot."

Arroyo, the son of Puerto Rican-born former City Councilor Felix Arroyo, was born in Boston. Pressley said she understood complaints that councilors had more important city business to tackle than this resolution. "But we do not live in a bubble," Pressley said. "And what happens in other cities and towns in Massachusetts and, yes, what happens across the country does reverberate in Boston."

Washington, D.C., New York and Los Angeles are considering similar measures.

Giovanna Negretti, executive director of Oiste?, a Massachusetts group that encourages Latinos to run for office, said city councilors in Springfield and Lawrence — two cities with large Latino populations — are preparing resolutions that mirror Boston's proposal.

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... ttott.html

City of Boston
Contact
Boston City Hall, One City Hall Square, Boston, MA 02201 City Hall Operator: (617) 635-4000

Individual email contact forms for the (Office of) Mayor and City Council Members:
http://www.cityofboston.gov/contact/

A quick look at the city governments that are calling for boycotts are enlightening.

The current mayor of Washington, D.C. is Adrian Fenty, a Democrat, who has served in the role since January 2, 2007.
LA - Villagaros - Democrat OBL
New York - Bloomberg - enough said.

The two city councilmembers that sponsored the boycott
Felix Arroyo

http://felixarroyo.com/?page_id=6
Exerpt - more at link.

Felix has been working professionally in public service and community organizing for over nine years. Felix is currently a Field Director at Northeast Action where he is coordinating a New England wide campaign to win national universal health care during the Obama Administration.

Prior to working at Northeast Action, Felix was the Political Director for SEIU Local 615 from September of 2004 to August of 2008. SEIU Local 615 represents over 16,000 janitors, security guards and other property service workers. At SEIU Local 615, Felix was responsible for coordinating the unions political organizing and ensuring that the membership of Local 615 was active and informed on political issues that affect their families and communities. Felix was also part of many organizing drives that lead to workers getting health care for the first time, pay raises, and respect and dignity at work.

Mike Ross
http://help.mikerossboston.com/?l=about

Excerpt - more at link.

Mike proudly endorsed Barack Obama on the first day he announced his candidacy. Mike earned a spot as a pledged delegate representing Boston for Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, and was heavily involved in the campaign. Mike volunteered as a voting rights attorney in Florida on Election Day.

Ms. Pressely
[quote]http://www.baystatebanner.com/local12-2009-10-22

A veteran campaigner, Pressley has worked for 16 years as an aide to former U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy and U.S. Sen. John Kerry, working her way up from constituent services to political director.

Pressley says she has had no trouble transitioning into the role of a candidate.

“I’ve been a silent partner behind the scenes for a long time,â€

I hope Arizona sues them all.

Newmexican wrote:

"Other cities mentioned
Springfield MA
Listed as one of the 10 fastest failing cities in the country.
http://rjjago.wordpress.com/2008/08/06/ ... democrats/
Mayor Domonic Sarno - Democrat

Lawrence, MA William Lantiqua - Democrat
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaki ... _more.html

Lawrence elects state's first Latino mayor "

Contact Mayor Lantigua:

Mayor William Lantigua
Address: City Hall
200 Common Street
Lawrence, Massachusetts 01840
Phone: 978-620-3010
Fax: 978-722-9200
wlantigua@cityoflawrence.com