After nearly five hours and nearly 90 speakers, the Westminster City Council voted Wednesday night to join with other Orange County cities in opposing Senate Bill 54.The vote was 3-1, with Councilman Sergio Contreras opposed and Councilwoman Kimberly Ho absent.
It was a meeting filled with emotion, anger and sometimes insults. The 75-seat council chamber overflowed and a large crowd waited outside as people waited for a chance to enter and express their opinions on what’s officially called the California Values Act.
What the council eventually decided was to file an “amicus curiae” brief along with other jurisdictions in support of U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions suit against California that challenges the bill – which limits some communications between local law enforcement and federal immigration officials – as unconstitutional.
A total of 88 people – including the author of the bill, State Sen. Kevin De Leon – spoke on the issue. Fifty-one spoke against opposing SB 54, with 37 were in favor.