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Patriot Act gets OK from City Council
In close vote, council rejects 'human rights' resolution that would refute
national legislation.
By Gary Moskowitz
News-Press
October 30, 2003
GLENDALE CITY HALL - Glendale City Council members debated the meaning
of the USA Patriot Act, but could not agree Tuesday on a resolution
that would have sent a message to the nation's capital - that the
city of Glendale condemns the act.
Councilman Rafi Manoukian requested information on the legislation
after the council's Aug. 26 meeting. The council heard the report
Tuesday and was asked to decide whether to adopt a resolution to
"uphold the human rights and civil liberties" of Glendale residents.
The USA Patriot Act - which stands for United and Strengthening
America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Interpret and
Obstruct Terrorism - introduces a long list of legislative changes
that significantly increase the surveillance and investigative powers
of law-enforcement agencies in the United States.
Manoukian and Mayor Frank Quintero voted in favor of the resolution,
but councilmen Gus Gomez, Bob Yousefian and Dave Weaver voted
against it.
"I thought it was important for Glendale to take a position,"
Manoukian said Wednesday. "When I was out of the country recently,
I was concerned about law enforcement, the principles they worked
under and the lack thereof, and I was concerned about my safety. But
here in my country, there are certain rights and liberties that make
us feel safe, and [the Patriot Act] has chipped away at some of those."
Council members reviewed similar resolutions adopted recently by
city councils in Claremont, Oakland and South Pasadena. Other cities
with resolutions include Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis,
Philadelphia and San Francisco.
Weaver spoke adamantly against the resolution, saying the terrorist
attacks of Sept. 11 have created "a new playing field" for national
security. Weaver said he is willing to have someone check his library
records or search his home if necessary to maintain the safety of
the community.
"This is a new day," Weaver said at Tuesday's meeting. "If you think
any terrorist will play by the rules, they won't. This does not seem
to be an issue the city of Glendale needs to get involved in."
"I don't think we should be telling the federal government what to
do. I am philosophically opposed to that," Weaver added Wednesday.
Nancy Kent, a Glendale resident and member of a local Bill of Rights
Defense Committee, was one of several individuals who spoke out
against the act.
"I feel that we were one vote short of getting a Glendale City Council
resolution to support civil liberties," Kent said Wednesday. "If
[human rights and civil liberties] are being eroded, everyone in
America needs to work together to reverse the current course."
In close vote, council rejects 'human rights' resolution that would refute
national legislation.
By Gary Moskowitz
News-Press
October 30, 2003
GLENDALE CITY HALL - Glendale City Council members debated the meaning
of the USA Patriot Act, but could not agree Tuesday on a resolution
that would have sent a message to the nation's capital - that the
city of Glendale condemns the act.
Councilman Rafi Manoukian requested information on the legislation
after the council's Aug. 26 meeting. The council heard the report
Tuesday and was asked to decide whether to adopt a resolution to
"uphold the human rights and civil liberties" of Glendale residents.
The USA Patriot Act - which stands for United and Strengthening
America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Interpret and
Obstruct Terrorism - introduces a long list of legislative changes
that significantly increase the surveillance and investigative powers
of law-enforcement agencies in the United States.
Manoukian and Mayor Frank Quintero voted in favor of the resolution,
but councilmen Gus Gomez, Bob Yousefian and Dave Weaver voted
against it.
"I thought it was important for Glendale to take a position,"
Manoukian said Wednesday. "When I was out of the country recently,
I was concerned about law enforcement, the principles they worked
under and the lack thereof, and I was concerned about my safety. But
here in my country, there are certain rights and liberties that make
us feel safe, and [the Patriot Act] has chipped away at some of those."
Council members reviewed similar resolutions adopted recently by
city councils in Claremont, Oakland and South Pasadena. Other cities
with resolutions include Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis,
Philadelphia and San Francisco.
Weaver spoke adamantly against the resolution, saying the terrorist
attacks of Sept. 11 have created "a new playing field" for national
security. Weaver said he is willing to have someone check his library
records or search his home if necessary to maintain the safety of
the community.
"This is a new day," Weaver said at Tuesday's meeting. "If you think
any terrorist will play by the rules, they won't. This does not seem
to be an issue the city of Glendale needs to get involved in."
"I don't think we should be telling the federal government what to
do. I am philosophically opposed to that," Weaver added Wednesday.
Nancy Kent, a Glendale resident and member of a local Bill of Rights
Defense Committee, was one of several individuals who spoke out
against the act.
"I feel that we were one vote short of getting a Glendale City Council
resolution to support civil liberties," Kent said Wednesday. "If
[human rights and civil liberties] are being eroded, everyone in
America needs to work together to reverse the current course."
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