Money over morals
The Seattle City Council’s boycott of Arizona is both wrong and hypocritical [“Who are we to judge Arizona?” Danny Westneat column, NWWednesday, May 19].
The Seattle Municipal Code states the city will not discriminate in employment because of political ideology, yet it does just that with its boycott of Arizona. By leaving room to renew the city’s traffic camera contract with American Traffic Solutions, the City Council proved that money is more important than whatever morals the council members might have.
The Seattle resolution is that immigration reform is best handled at the federal level, though nothing in the Constitution prohibits state enforcement. This is odd, after the city defied both state law and the Bill of Rights by banning guns on city property, infringing on a right that is found in the state constitution and the U.S. Constitution.
Perhaps the council should consider a boycott of California as well, since it has had similar laws for many years.
I had hoped the City Council would have better things to do with taxpayer money than such childish gestures. I will be spending my money elsewhere —someday in Arizona.
— John O’Brien, DuPont
Boycott in lunacy
Why are some people up in arms about asking suspected undocumented immigrants for identification? I have no problem with it.
Every time we board an airplane, not only are we asked for government-issued identification but we are scanned and searched.
California and Washington boycotting Arizona is lunacy.
— Jorge del Campo, Camano Island
City Council’s decision ignores public opinion
An unofficial poll conducted by Q13 FOX shows 88 percent of Washingtonians surveyed agree with Arizona. The latest Gallup Poll shows nearly 70 percent of all Americans agree with Arizona. I count myself among the majority.
Everyone has their panties in a wad over what could happen —racial profiling —while ignoring the fact that illegal immigration is happening.
I wonder if anyone actually read the new Arizona law. It specifically prohibits racial profiling.
— Larry Brown, Seattle
Virtue and character needed for diversity
I was dismayed to learn the Seattle City Council voted to boycott Arizona.
This does not help bring us together —it divides us. Most of us agree diversity is positive, but it also requires virtue and character. Skin color or national origin alone mean nothing without virtue and character.
It is not the color of a person’s skin that has added to America’s greatness. It is the content of their character that adds to America’s greatness. I cannot walk in the shoes of Arizonans and endure what they endure, and I do not think our City Council could either. It has better things to do.
— John Payseno, Seattle