City Council work session
Most Council work sessions are boring and tedious affairs for which, if you ask me, Council members are severely underpaid to attend. Not today.
Following the dustup Monday night which resulted from the Thomas Stith "illegal immigrant" robo-call of last week, several immigrant rights groups (El Centro Hispano and Durham CAN among them) promised to bring numbers to this afternoon's session.
I'm stuck at work in Hillsborough (you guys don't think this blogger thing actually pays money, do you?) so if anyone who attends the session wants to let us know how it's going, feel free to post in the comments.
UPDATE: See what a full time reporter can do?
Thank you Matt Dees at the N&O for the timely report.
UPDATE II: Nicky in Durham has a first person account in the comments. Thanks for filling us in.
Following the dustup Monday night which resulted from the Thomas Stith "illegal immigrant" robo-call of last week, several immigrant rights groups (El Centro Hispano and Durham CAN among them) promised to bring numbers to this afternoon's session.
I'm stuck at work in Hillsborough (you guys don't think this blogger thing actually pays money, do you?) so if anyone who attends the session wants to let us know how it's going, feel free to post in the comments.
UPDATE: See what a full time reporter can do?
City Council members won't change a policy that says police cannot inquire about people's immigration status unless they are under arrest.
Police Chief Jose Lopez Sr. told the council today that the police department's practice is consistent with the current policy. He did not recommend amending the policy, as was proposed by Councilman Thomas Stith III.
That view contradicted a memo to Stith from Deputy Chief Ron Hodge earlier in the week. Hodge's memo called for repealing the policy and said it could hamper law enforcement abilities.
But Lopez said his reading shows no conflict between policy and practice.
"We treat everyone equally," Lopez said. When people are witnesses or victims of crime, "it's not our issue their legality here in the country," he said. But "it's a different story" for people who break the law, he said.
"We will not be an arm" of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, Lopez said.
Thank you Matt Dees at the N&O for the timely report.
UPDATE II: Nicky in Durham has a first person account in the comments. Thanks for filling us in.
Labels: 27701, Durham, local politics
Since 1949, Durhamites have slept soundly, secure in the knowledge that, in our town, erection can be depended upon. Now, thanks to the power of the internets, we can spread that security all over the world.
5 Comments:
I just got back from the work session.
I was 10 minutes late.
When I arrived I found at least 6 camera crews lined up and a gallery full of people.
I walked in the almost a dozen El Centro folks.
Stith was the only council person missing when I arrived. He came in during the second agenda item.
After 30 minutes of other business they started with the presentation by Chief Lopez.
This is the first time I have set eyes on our new police chief. I was not sure what to expect from his comments.
Lopez proceeded to gave his take on the 2003 resolution. He affrimed that the resolution is
"in line" with present police procedures.
He also stated even if the resolution was rescinded the police would continue to follow the present policy.
This is where Stith started to squirm. He covered his eyes and scratched his brow as he questioned the Chief.
Stith argued that the police requested the claification . Stith was almost whinning about how in 24 hours Chief Lopez now had a clear understanding of the resolution.
The Chief played it expertly. He claimed responsibility for the councils confusion about the polices' understanding.
At some point the audience applauded the Chief's defense of the resolution.
Bell did his best to wrangle the meeting back on track and move to the next agenda item. Bell stated the obvious that no change needed to be made to the resolution text.
Stith requested support from the council to change the resolution language. The chief jumped in and said it was not neccesary on his account and the to do so was a waste of time. At this point Lopez turned the sanctuary city moniker from a leftist negative connotation to a "forward thinking" positive badge of honor for Durham. He also praised the council for being "forward thinking" and offered that as a reason that Durham might be a target for criticism by "some."
Bell and Stith had a few words as they wrapped up the item.
Bell said he understood how confusion might happen. It would be much like Stith's confusion about how the item would be "brought up on Thursday at a worksession and not Monday at a council meeting."
Overall, IMHO, this was a non-event for Durham.
It was very uncomfortable for Stith.
I will add, for me, this was a good introduction of Chief Lopez.
At one point the council and he joked about never a dull moment as Police Cheif in Durham.
Chief Lopez said he was feeling the warmth of Durham and he wasn't talking about the weather. He could indeed "feel the love". This drew a laugh from the audience. Stith then stated that he too must be much loved.
If I think of other things I'll post again.
By
nicky in durham, at 3:09 PM
Thanks for that objective report.
By
Anonymous, at 3:52 PM
Gods -- that sounds like something which, with a little work, could be on Dave Chapelle's show.
By
Joseph H. Vilas, at 4:00 PM
Objective reports can be found here.
This blog is all about ignorant and unsupported opinion.
Welcome aboard.
By
Barry, at 4:49 PM
"This blog is all about ignorant and unsupported opinion."
So in other words, it adheres to the same standards as the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal. :-)
By
Anonymous, at 9:30 AM
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