L.A. County boycott of Arizona approved by divided Board of Supervisors

After heated debate, Los Angeles County supervisors voted 3 to 2 today to boycott Arizona in response to the passage of its controversial illegal immigration law.

“This law simply goes too far,” said Gloria Molina, the boycott’s primary sponsor. “A lot of people have pointed out that I am sworn as an L.A. County supervisor to uphold the Constitution. All I can say is that I believe that Arizona’s law is unconstitutional.”

Molina’s boycott was supported by Supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky and Mark Ridley-Thomas and opposed by Supervisors Mike Antonovich and Don Knabe.

“We need solutions, not boycotts,” Antonovich said.

Ridley-Thomas was the last to announce his position and was the focus of much of the public comment, drawing dozens of people on both sides of the issue.

Among the speakers against the boycott were the family members of Jamiel Shaw II, a football player who was recruited by Stanford and Rutgers before he was gunned down in 2008, allegedly by Pedro Espinoza. A member of the 18th Street gang in the U.S. illegally, prosecutors say, Espinoza had been released from jail a day before the shooting after serving time for an earlier offense.

Molina first proposed suspending county-funded travel to Arizona unless the county’s chief executive determines it would seriously harm county interests.

The boycott also calls for a divestiture of Arizona’s state and municipal bonds by the county’s pension fund. The county’s auditor-controller estimated that the county has spent about $122 million over the past five years on Arizona goods and services.  Treasurer-Tax Collector Mark Saladino said the county had no commercial paper or investments that would be affected by the boycott.

The Arizona law requires police to determine the immigration status of anyone they stop and suspect is in the country illegally. It also makes it a state crime to lack proper immigration papers. Top U.S. Justice Department officials have drafted a legal challenge asserting that Arizona's law is unconstitutional because it impinges on the federal government's authority to police the nation's borders.

-- Garrett Therolf at the L.A. County Hall of Administration

Photo: Immigration protesters after a May Day march in downtown L.A. Times file

Comments

[AZTLAN]

TRUTH-American history classes teach kiddies that César Chávez and his United Farm Workers brought justice to farmworkers through boycotts and strikes in California's Central Valley during the 1960s. What the history books rarely mention is that Chávez and his Mexican followers first earned national prominence by joining an already existing grape huelga started by Filipino laborers. And what the history books never mention is that many of those pioneer Filipinos joined the UFW but eventually left due to perceived discrimination at the hands of the union's Mexican-majority leadership and members. One of those Filipinos, former UFW vice-president Philip Vera Cruz, described in his 1992 memoir how the union became "very ethnocentric. When [UFW Mexican members] called out "Viva la Raza" or "Viva César Chávez," they didn't realize that all these "Vivas" did not include the Filipinos.

[TAM]

All of these people are just grandstanding for PR, and getting reading to run for another office when their terms are up. Mark, is my stupid visor and will not get my vote anymore. I voted for him because he was the lesser of the two evils, and the other was Parks. These grandstanders need to take care of our business instead of illegals.

[TAM]

RECALL the Pint Size Mayor, and the city council puppets.

[Bomb Chem]

This, along with the Lakers beating the Suns makes me proudly say: I LOVE LA!!!

[TheBigPicture]

I believe Molina is paid to uphold the California Constitution...

Voter her out...

[nosanctuary]

To all Arizonans reading this board:

The locals here are on your side, even by a slanted LA Times poll that included illegal aliens. Don't worry, the country is behind you 70-80% and these Americans will be going out of their way to visit the great Arizona Republic and buying from your businesses.

Conversely, we will be boycotting LA City, LA County, SF and San Diego. I live in Pasadena and feel fortunate the City Council here passed a meaningless pc resolution, not a boycott when our one MEChA, AZTLAN supporting council clown started his whining. Would have been quite an imposition to drive out of LA County for groceries.

Hang in! Seventeen other independent States are following your lead!

[anony moose]

The way I see it is this:

1. We have major problems in LA County that needs to be taken care of first before we discuss this nonsense.

2 Boycotting only hurts the people of Arizona and not the law.

3. Everyone needs to take a wait and see approach.

4. If you don't like Arizona laws, there are 49 other states to live in.

[Darkstar]

"There are situations in life that cause our leaders
to either look the other way or have the courage
to stand and defend the Constitution...
when the dust is settled on this matter...we will and
history will prove Supervisors MOLINA , YAROSALVSKY,
and RIDLEY-THOMAS stood as armor protecting the
Constitution...
our state and country needs more leaders like them...thank you."

Posted by: 3825You | June 01, 2010 at 09:50 PM

Exactly!

Oh wait... you have that 100% backwards.

MOLINA , YAROSALVSKY and RIDLEY-THOMAS will likely stand as jokes who opposed the Constitution (specifically Dean Milk v. Madison, 340 U.S. 349 and the Dormant Commerce Clause) and ignored Federal Law in their attempts to further their agendas.

JAN BREWER will likely be the one praised for initiating a policy already sweeping the states (19 others developing SB1070 type bills already) which embraced the Constitution (Apparently people still havent read it; or they have and just want to whine because it is 100% constitutional!), supported poorly enforced and neglected Federal Laws (which the Government barley addresses) and worked in the best interest of the "the People of the United States" (which, believe it or not, does NOT include those in the Country illegally.)

The only thing going on that is unconstitutional is the boycotting of Arizona.

P.S. - The courts have already decided all the stuff people are whinning about (that being the asking for identification aspect which has everyone in an uproar) During a lawful stop, an officer is allowed to ask someone about his or her immigration status, regardless of whether the officer possesses a "reasonable suspicion" that the individual is unlawfully in the country. Muehler v. Mena. 544 U.S. 93, 100-01 (2004). However, an officer's ability to ask questions unrelated to the lawful stop does not mean that the officer can "measurably extend the duration of the stop" absent reasonable suspicion. Arizona v. Johnson, 129 S. Ct. 781,788 (2009). Therefore, if an officer wants to verify the immigration status of an individual that he believes might be in the country unlawfully, and such verification would unreasonably or measurably prolong the length of the stop, the officer must have a "reasonable suspicion" to believe that the person is in the country unlawfully. United States v. Aispuro-Medina, 256 Fed. Appx. 215, 219-220 (10th Cir. 2007).

But how about we do this - how about we address the white elephant in the room real fast?

If people want this bill to go away then they need just come into the country LEGALLY!

Apparently this is difficult for people to understand though, so I will go slower...

Illegally = Not ok!
Legally = Perfect!

How is this so difficult to understand?

[St. George]

The reality is, they are all scared-scared of the numbers against them. They're "political bullies" only safe in numbers. They only say they haven't read the Az. law or they dispute it for racial profiling as a distractor. They know that it cannot be challenged in the court, the author is a genius-he has one up and they know it. He has won 11 or so court cases-won them all! If our politicans don't know what the constitution means then they need to step away from their oaths and leave office. Even Washington is losing its battle-everything is under a microscope-they are petrified that the States know they can take control and that is what is spreading-and happening.

[ECELIA]

THANK YOUK!
MR.RIDLEY-THOMAS.
FOR YOU SUPPORT TO BOYCOTT ARIZONA
ALL THOSE WHOM DON`T AGREE.
TOO BAD

[ASimpleDad]

Cross L.A. off my list of summer destinations, and by extension all of southern California. And my family is big on tradition, so breaking this one will mean more than a loss this summer. L.A. you started the fire, but you might not be able to control it. Boycott L.A.!

[JS]

I was planning to go to LA this month. I guess I'll pay another visit to the Grand Canyon instead.

[Brentlee]

AS usual and typical of moronic elected officials of CA who can't even read their own state laws but yet want to criticize AZ actually having the balls to pass a bill that reflects Federal law as well as commifornia's own.

I pray that CA's citizens gain some brains and vote this idiots out.

[impoundguy, Los Angeles, Ca.]

“This law simply goes too far,” said Gloria Molina

With a last name of Molina....does that surprise anyone? Any other opinion would have her tagged as a racist against her OWN people and an end to her political career.

[Irieiz]

Maybe these idiot's should read California's Penal code before they boycott arizona... Time to vote these idiot's out of office... wake up America!!!

California penal code 834b. (a) Every law enforcement agency in California shall fully cooperate with the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service regarding any person who is arrested if he or she is suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws.

(b) With respect to any such person who is arrested, and suspected of being present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws, every law enforcement agency shall do the following:

(1) Attempt to verify the legal status of such person as a citizen of the United States, an alien lawfully admitted as a permanent resident, an alien lawfully admitted for a temporary period of time or as an alien who is present in the United States in violation of immigration laws. The verification process may include, but shall not be limited to, questioning the person regarding his or her date and place of birth, and entry into the United States, and demanding documentation to indicate his or her legal status.

(2) Notify the person of his or her apparent status as an alien who is present in the United States in violation of federal immigration laws and inform him or her that, apart from any criminal justice proceedings, he or she must either obtain legal status or leave the United States.

(3) Notify the Attorney General of California and the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service of the apparent illegal status and provide any additional information that may be requested by any other public entity.

(c) Any legislative, administrative, or other action by a city, county, or other legally authorized local governmental entity with jurisdictional boundaries, or by a law enforcement agency, to prevent or limit the cooperation required by subdivision (a) is expressly prohibited.

[Nelson]

Most republicans are racist and ignorants no doubt about it.

[Ertdfg]

Yes, quit enforcing laws and trying to catch criminals. Trying to stop crime is unConstitutional and wrong.

You need to embrace lawbreakers and encourage criminals, only then can you be properly accepted by L.A.

L.A. where anything goes and nothing is illegal; just ask their city council how they feel about enforcing laws... kidnapping, murder, theft; we need these crimes, and if Americans won't do enough of them we should allow criminals from other countries.

How else did Phoenix become the kidnap capital of the nation? Illegals, doing the kidnappings, murder, cop-killing, and theft that Americans just won't do. So quit attacking them, unless you think more murder and kidnapping are a bad thing.

[Bill Young]

How is a law in Arizona unconstitutional in Los Angles, exactly what is Mrs Molina's jurisdiction in Arizona? Maybe she should be more concerned about protecting the lives of the people of Los Angles instead of trying to score political points. How exactly is banning the use of the best tool LA has to protect us from reckless driver going to aid the people of LA? This is total Bunk, do your job Mrs Molina and don't put our lives in danger to help you get elected!

[kristin]

It's times like this I'm so proud to be an Angeleno. I'm so grateful for the leadership and actions of supes MRT, Molina and Yaroslavsky. This is what makes LA amazing - standing up for justice, recognizing that immigrants are an essential piece of our country, and condoning racism. But it's comments like many of y'alls that make me embarrassed to be an American. There's a reason other countries scorn us. And for those of y'all planning to boycott LA - PLEASE DO. I'd really enjoy the opportunity to never meet you.

[Jeff]

An open letter to Mark, Gloria, and Zev:

You've just come down squarely on the side of the human smugglers, drug cartels, and child sex traffickers attempting to overrun Arizona. You are each a disgrace to humanity, and should resign from office immediately. You were elected to represent the people of the County of Los Angeles...you've just abandoned them, and you don't deserve your position. You don't deserve to manage a McDonalds. You DON'T represent me, and you don't represent the majority of the people who put you into office. I will be proudly buying and patronizing AZ businesses, and so will hundreds of thousands of other people in this county. You are the worst possible examples of elected officials. MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS, MORONS.

Jeff
LA Resident

[Ray F]

unfortunately, the law is constitutional - check Judge Rehnquist's desicion in 2005 Mena...http://www.oyez.org/cases/2000-2009/2004/2004_03_1423

I found him to be a great mind, but I do not agree with this and boycotting Arizona fuels the fire.

[james reeves]

I am sure that Molina, Yaroslavsky and Ridley-Thomas feel much better by passing this silly resolution. Actually, there are many others that also agree with them, including Hamas, Al Qaeda, Hezbollah and Fatah Al Islam, which our own CIA now admits are crossing our borders.
Now, don't you feel so much safer? I can't imagine living in a City that not only doesn't want to protect their citizens, but also disarms them so that they can't defend themselves.
Best of luck!

James Reeves (LAPD Retired... and living elsewhere)

[swf]

Dear Ms. Molina. The Constitution does not mention racial profiling and neither does the Arizona law, if you read it. But this country does operate under the rule of law. Illegal is illegal, and to stand up for these law breakers (who can't even re-elect you) under any circumstance is against the Constitution and is un-American. When the Fed passes on fighting the Arizona law, it will make you an accessory to a crime, and show that the Council are hysterical idiots.

[Sam Urr]

This boycott is useless- why try to hurt the businesses of Arizona? They didn't pass the law did they? The boycotts don't hurt the people that caused the laws, but only end up hurting the people of Arizona more. It seems counterproductive to try and boycott Arizona's businesses.

[Mary Long]

You know what...I hope these illegal aliens remember the names and find the neighborhoods of those in support of their illegal status..then move into their neighborhoods and we'll see how well they like it then. Maybe when some of these higher up people start to personally get affected they'll do something.

I say..throw them out..we don't want or need them here. All they do is put a financial strain on all communities in various ways.