Resolution For Public Disclosure Of Meeting Documents Using The Internet
(“Web Agendas”)
WHEREAS: The Ralph M. Brown Act, enacted in 1953 by the California State Legislature in an effort to safeguard the public's right to access and participate in government meetings within the State, has proven to be an important foundation to facilitate citizens' involvement in government.
WHEREAS: The Brown Act was enacted long before the advent of the Internet and the availability of web-based access to documents, video recordings, and other media, and has not been updated to embrace these new technologies; the availability of storage for documents is essentially free and unlimited, and videos of proceedings can be streamed live and archived for later viewing.
AND WHEREAS: Government bodies frequently use the outdated Brown Act provisions to obfuscate their meeting information, providing only titles of agenda items and no resolutions or ordinances on their web site, thereby forcing citizens to request (and pay for) photocopies; those bodies routinely consolidate nearly all agenda items into a single massive consent calendar, thereby not discussing the items or even reading the titles during the meetings; they routinely approve skipping the required readings of ordinances, ordinances that are not available online and therefore get little if any public scrutiny.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the Democratic Party of the State of California hereby asserts that to more fully involve the public in governmental proceedings, complete agendas and meeting minutes, including full texts of resolutions, ordinances, acts, findings, and decisions, should be available on the publicly available web sites for all state and local bodies that also comply with the Ralph M. Brown Act.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Ralph M. Brown Act shall be reviewed with an eye toward embracing the Internet and the Worldwide Web, with a set of voluntary guidelines for all bodies that would otherwise be obligated to comply with the Act, such that those bodies can more easily evaluate their compliance with modern standards of disclosure, and include the use of Web Sites, E-Mail distribution, video and audio streaming and archival.
Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee on 6.12.07
Resolution To Oppose Blackwater West
WHEREAS: Blackwater USA is a North Carolina-based private security firm that is under contract to the Pentagon and supplies armed personnel for duties in the Iraq War.
WHEREAS: Blackwater USA proposes to build a large mercenary training compound called Blackwater West near Potrero, in San Diego County, on an 824-acre parcel that borders proposed wilderness lands in the Cleveland National Forest that Senator Barbara Boxer's California Wild Heritage Act of 2007 seeks to protect, and is both an important watershed and an environmentally sensitive habitat for eagles and other wildlife.
WHEREAS: The Blackwater West project will include numerous weapon firing ranges, an 18,000 square foot armory for storing weapons and ammunition, a helicopter pad, a gasoline storage tank, and a two-mile tactical driving track for high-speed driving classes, all on land currently designated as an agricultural preserve.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the San Diego County Central Democratic Committee opposes the Blackwater West project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the San Diego County Central Democratic Committee calls upon the California Democratic Party, meeting in convention in San Diego, April 27-29, 2007, to oppose the Blackwater West project.
Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee on 4.10.07
Resolution Affirming "Network Neutrality
WHEREAS: “Network Neutrality” is the delivery over broadband, or high speed internet access, of any content or use of any service in a neutral fashion without a preferential structure favoring some providers of content or services to the detriment of other providers, thereby ensuring the free flow of information and political and religious speech that makes for a strong and vibrant democracy; furthermore, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has outlined network neutrality principles including the right of consumers to have access to the lawful Internet content of their choice; to run applications and use services of their choice; to connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network; and to have competition among network providers, application and services providers, and content providers.
WHEREAS: The telecom and cable communication sectors have been adopting more strategies towards vertical integration of networks and services, and the consolidation and diversification of broadband providers into content providers has the potential to lead to such discriminatory behaviors as the control of access to and pricing of broadband facilities, and the favoring of network-owned content, thereby placing unaffiliated content providers at a competitive disadvantage.
WHEREAS: The Supreme Court of the United States [Reno v. ACLU, 521 U.S. 844 (1997)] has held that four freedoms of the Internet are: 1) The Internet presents very low barriers to entry; 2) These barriers to entry are identical for both speakers and listeners; 3) As a result of these low barriers, astoundingly diverse content is available on the Internet; 4) The Internet provides significant access to all who wish to speak in the medium, and even creates a relative parity among speakers.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the California Democratic Party affirms the right of all Internet users to enjoy equal and equitable Internet access free from commercial bias, known as network neutrality, and will work to prevent the Internet from becoming a multi-tiered system favoring large established businesses or those with ties to broadband network providers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the California Democratic Party adopt a position in favor of effective and enforceable network neutrality legislation at the state and federal levels such as the “Internet Freedom Preservation Act” (S.215).
Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee on 4.10.07
Opposition to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's Fee Hikes
WHEREAS: Governor Schwarzenegger has included fee increases of 7% at University of California campuses and 10% at California State Universities, plus the elimination of all academic preparation funding, totaling a $19.3 million in cuts in his 2007-2008 budget.
WHEREAS: Under the governor's plan, undergraduate UC student fees for state residents would rise about $495 to about $7,347 next year, including some individual campus costs but not including housing, books and other expenses. Cal State students would see such basic fees go up $252 to $3,451.
WHEREAS: Budget cuts in academic preparation funding hurt the state’s most disadvantaged and low-performing schools, while fee increases decrease affordability and accessibility for all students.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the San Diego Democratic Party opposes actions which would decrease affordable higher education and academic preparation.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the San Diego Party strongly urges the Governor, Legislature, and the California Democratic Party, by open letters and official communications, to take necessary action to stop these proposed fee hikes and academic preparation cuts.
Submitted by Alan Wong, a second-year University of California, San Diego student and member of the San Diego and California Democratic Central Committees. Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee on 3.13.07
All District Strategy for Funding California Legislative Races
WHEREAS: The recent Democratic takeover of Congress has proven the effectiveness of Howard Dean’s 50 state strategy for funding the Democratic Party in every state regardless of the voter registration advantage to the other side or the history of Republican voting patterns and resulted in election victories and Democratic Party advances and
WHEREAS: The California Democratic Party’s recent election funding decision resulted in only modest advances and victories not on the scale of results nationally, and
WHEREAS: Providing resources for candidates in each legislative district will build the Party’s identity in every geographical area, develop a deep reserve of competitive Democratic candidates and encourage volunteer loyalty,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the California Democratic Party shall adopt at it’s 2007 Convention to allocate at least $4 million to be spent in all Assembly and State Senate districts that are open seats or in which there is a Democratic challenger to a Republican incumbent, to assure that every endorsed Democratic candidate for the state legislature gets at least some funding for the general election, enabling candidates to mount a viable campaign, then
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That for the general election, each party-endorsed Democratic challenger or party-endorsed Democratic candidate for an open legislative seat shall receive at least $50,000 in seed money, and that candidates who raise $50,000, produce a field plan, and sign up 50 volunteers or more shall received at least $50,000 in additional matching funds. The money shall be spent to implement a grassroots organizing and GOTV effort by the candidate. Evidence of volunteer sincerity will be a five dollar check to the candidate.
This policy will spread the Democratic message to voters in every part of California, thus helping to grow the Party and get out the vote even in conservative regions. This strategy will improve the chances of victory not only for those legislative seats funded, but for all Democratic candidates in California - including “down-ticket” candidates for local offices as well as candidates running for statewide and national offices.
Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee on 3.13.07
Resolution to Support the California Universal Healthcare Act
WHEREAS: The number of Californians without health insurance has risen to more than six million people while the cost of healthcare for those who are insured has spiraled out of control; and
WHEREAS: The platform of the California Democratic Party affirms that healthcare is a fundamental right and calls for transitioning to a single-payer public healthcare system; and
WHEREAS: The California Health Insurance Reliability Act, which was passed by the state Legislature in 2006 but vetoed by the Governor, would reduce costs by establishing a nonprofit system to fully insure all California residents;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the San Diego County Democratic Party supports the California Universal Healthcare Act and urges the Legislature and Governor to enact the legislation in 2007; and
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the San Diego County Democratic Party, as a member of the Alliance for a Better San Diego, will conduct education, advocacy, and grassroots organizing to build public support for California Health Insurance Reliability Act and work toward a health-focused vision of universal coverage.
Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee on 3.13.07
Oppose the City of Escondido Ordinance 2006-38:
RENTING OF DWELLING UNITS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS
WHEREAS the San Diego County Democratic Party supports effective and improved border security as an integral part of an immigration system that is safe, legal, and consistent with the American values of freedom, opportunity, fairplay, and family unification; and
WHEREAS the City Council of Escondido will exceed its authority if it passes an ordinance requiring landlords to obtain immigration documentation from tenants, and as a direct result will tarnish the image of the city of Escondido, create a climate of fear and suspicion based solely on national origin, invade the privacy of the legal residents, cause racial injustice to be visited on minority populations, and increase the number of homeless families in Escondido; and
WHEREAS the economic impact of passing such an ordinance will be sorely felt, by the citizens of Escondido who will pay higher taxes to fund the city’s answer to legal challenges, by the municipal government that will collect reduced sales tax revenues because of the diminished purchasing power of the community, by the merchants and small businesses who will suffer because of the hostile business environment such an ordinance will create, by the schools that will receive reduced federal funding as the student population decreases, and by the landlords themselves who will be forced to lower rents because of excess capacity;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the San Diego County Democratic Party calls upon itself, as well as the State and National Democratic Parties — and Democratic elected officials and candidates — to challenge the validity of this ordinance and prevent its enactment through legislation, media attention, litigation, and political action; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the San Diego County Democratic Party take immediate actions to defeat the author of this ordinance, incumbent Escondido City Councilwoman Marie Waldron, by targeting her race and providing available resources to the endorsed Democratic candidates for Escondido City Council.
Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee on 10.10.06
Resolution Urging Members of Congress to Co-Sponsor
the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1059)
WHEREAS: Lesbian, gay and bisexual Americans have served and continue to serve honorably in the United States Armed Forces throughout the world including the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan and
WHEREAS: The California Democratic Platform affirms the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to serve in the armed forces without restriction and affirms their right to open and equal access to all benefits accorded that service and
WHEREAS: In 2005, the Military Readiness Enhancement Act (HR 1059) was introduced to repeal the ban on gays, lesbians and bisexuals serving in the Armed Forces, which is the only federal employment law to mandate firing those believed to be gay, lesbian or bisexual and which has led to the discharge of over 10,000 servicemembers at a cost of over $300 million,
THERFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Democratic Party calls upon all members of the House and Senate to co-sponsor HR 1059 to end the last federal employment law to allow discrimination based upon sexual orientation and to commend the courageous service of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender servicemembers and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Chairman of the Democratic Party transmit copies of this resolution to each Democratic Member of the California Delegation to the House and Senate of the United States.
Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee on 3.14.06
Resolution Against Border Vigilante Groups
WHEREAS any civilian border group—such as the Minutemen Project, Friends of the Border Patrol, or the United States Border Patrol Auxiliary—who takes the law into its own hands is recognized as a vigilante group by many human rights organizations and by President Bush.
WHEREAS these civilian border vigilante groups have been called a “nuisance” by various Border Patrol officials and have been known to carry armed weapons, thus creating the potential for tragedy, and have detained persons against their will, which is a violation of international human rights norms.
WHEREAS the existence of civilian border vigilante groups is detrimental to our current law enforcement, by participating in work that is intended for trained and professional federal officers, and not untrained, reactionary vigilantes whose feelings toward immigrants have the potential to escalate to violence and death.
BE IT RESOLVED that the San Diego County Democratic Party stands firmly against these civilian border vigilante groups, and urges public officials, the California Democratic Party, and the National Democratic Party do the same.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the San Diego County Democratic Party encourages and will participate in community forums throughout the County to bring awareness to the issue of these vigilante groups violating human rights, interfering with legitimate law enforcement, and inciting dangerous racial unrest.
Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee on 7.12.05
Resolution Calling for Impeachment of President Bush, Vice President Cheney,
and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld for High Crimes and Misdemeanors
WHEREAS the Downing Street Memo (official minutes of a 2002 meeting between British Prime Minister Tony Blair, members of British intelligence MI-6 and members of the Bush administration) reveals that Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld began planning and executing war on Iraq before seeking Congressional and UN approval, and
WHEREAS those minutes reveal that “intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy” with full knowledge that no evidence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq had been found, and given that President Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld lied to Congress and the American people to create false justification to launch war in Iraq, costing thousands of lives and harming America's reputation, and
WHEREAS new leaks of British documents provide further mounting evidence that the Administration lied or misled about “mushroom clouds”, “connections to 9/11,” and “war as a last resort,” as they sought United Nations, Congressional, and public approvals,
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the San Diego Democratic Central Committee asks Congress to immediately begin impeachment proceedings against President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the San Diego Democratic Central Committee calls on the California Democratic Central Committee to adopt this resolution and urge Congress to impeach President Bush, Vice President Cheney, and Defense Secretary Rumsfeld for high crimes and misdemeanors.
Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee on 7.12.05
Resolution Concerning Reversal Of Proposition 209
WHEREAS, California’s public universities and the California Legislature sought to remedy the harmful, unjust effects of racial and gender discrimination by adopting statewide policies and laws affording affirmative action in public education, employment, and contracting;
WHEREAS, in 1996, 54.6% of California voters passed the California Civil Rights Initiative, also known as Proposition 209, amending the California Constitution to render affirmative action unlawful;
WHEREAS, Proposition 209 was not based on empirical data demonstrating the negative impact of affirmative action; went into effect without significant empirical research of its social and economic consequences and; in its ten years, has undermined equal opportunity in public higher education, employment and contracting, and hindered advancement of public policies that address the special needs of underrepresented cultural groups;
WHEREAS, fair and rigorous competition for public contracts is in the economic interest of all Californians, and without race and gender-conscious outreach, hiring, and contracts awards, people of color and women are underrepresented in California’s multi-billion dollar public sector procurement market;
Whereas the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark June 2003 ruling in Grutter v. Bollinger declared that affirmative action can be used in higher education nationwide and that educational diversity is a compelling state interest;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the San Diego County Democratic Party supports diversity, equal opportunity, equal access to public education, and economic and social prosperity for all Californians, and advocates the reversal of Proposition 209 and restoration of affirmative action in California;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the San Diego County Democratic Party urges the California Democratic Party to stand firmly in favor of a California Constitution that is reflective of and responsive to our State’s cultural, racial, economic, and social diversity, and to reverse Proposition 209 because it undermines this fundamental Democratic value.
Sponsor, We, The People Democratic Club
Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee on 5.14.05
Supporting the City Attorney's office
WHEREAS, in 1931, the citizens of San Diego amended the City Charter to mandate that the City Attorney be an independently elected official whose duties, as set forth in Charter Section 40.1, include the prosecution of misdemeanor offenses occurring in the City of San Diego; and
WHEREAS, City Attorney Mike Aguirre has used his Section 40.1 powers to lead the office's widely respected Criminal Division in investigating the causes of San Diego’s financial crisis, which has brought the City to the brink of bankruptcy, impeded its ability to issue public works bonds, and endangered the livelihood of numerous City employees and retirees; and
WHEREAS, on April 5, 2005, San Diego County District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis, without notice either to the public or to the City Attorney, presented the San Diego City Council with her plan for divesting the City Attorney’s Office of its jurisdiction over misdemeanor prosecutions and thereby decimating its Criminal Division;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of San Diego County register its support not only of City Attorney Aguirre's financial investigations but also of the office's Criminal Division attorneys, who, pursuant to Charter Section 40.1, protect San Diegans by prosecuting the misdemeanor offenses that would not receive priority vis-a-vis the District Attorney's mandate to prosecute felony offenses.
Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee on 4.12.05
Supporting Civil Marriage and Religious Freedom
WHEREAS, civil marriage is a legal institution recognized by the state in order to promote stable relationships and to protect individuals who are in those relationships; to provide important protections for the families of those who are married; but the gender-specific definition of marriage that the Legislature previously adopted specifically discriminates in favor of different-sex couples and, consequently, discriminates against same-sex couples.
WHEREAS, the California Democratic Party has an interest in encouraging stable relationships regardless of the gender or sexual orientation of the partners; our party must recognize that benefits that accrue to marriage accrue regardless of the gender or sexual orientation of the partners; and our party must support efforts to end the pernicious practice of marriage discrimination in California while upholding guarantees of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and of Section 4 of Article I of the California Constitution to free exercise of religion and enjoyment of religion without discrimination or preference.
WHEREAS, throughout American history, California Democrats have been early at the lead against discrimination and for the protection of the rights and liberties of the American people, and our state democratic party most recently took a strong position against amending the Constitution of the United States to single out groups of Americans for discrimination.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the California Democratic Party stands against discrimination in any form and in support of equal rights for gays and lesbians and their families;
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the California Democratic Party meeting in convention in Los Angeles, April 15-17, 2005 supports public policy guaranteeing civil marriage equality for all people who choose to make a marriage commitment as a couple with full rights, responsibilities, privileges and protections that are conveyed by full legal marital status within the marriage license requirements.
Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee on 4.12.05
Concerning the need for a Safe, Accurate and Verifiable Election
WHEREAS, it is the policy of the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee (SDCDCC) to honor each citizen’s right to participate in fair, open and honest elections; to encourage safe, accurate, and verifiable elections; and to encourage legislation whose purpose it is to achieve fair, open and honest elections;
WHEREAS, S. 1980 (Graham), S. 2045 (Boxer), and HR 2239 (Holt) provide for voter verifiable paper ballots to be used with electronic voting machines throughout the United States during the November 2; 2004 General Election;
WHEREAS, S. 2313, (Graham, Boxer, Clinton) and S. 1986 (Clinton) allow states to apply for a waiver to be exempted from the requirement to use voter verifiable paper ballots with the use of electronic voting machines throughout the United States during the November 2, 2004 General Election;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the San Diego County Democratic Central Committee supports the passage of S. 1980, S. 2045, and HR 2239.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the SDCDCC supports the passage of S. 2313 and S. 1986 contingent upon removal of the opportunity for each state to apply for a waiver and opt out of the legislation denying American citizens the right to a safe, accurate and verifiable election.
Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee on 5.11.04
Opposing the Information Ban
WHEREAS, the State of California is the most diverse state in the country and Californians value equal opportunity for all its residents, and California has been a national model for public policy trends; and the Racial Privacy Initiative, also known as Classification by Race, Ethnicity, or National Origin (CRENO) and the Information Ban, will be on the March 2004 California Primary Election Ballot;
WHEREAS, the collection of demographic information would be drastically affected in the areas of health, education, law enforcement and public contracting; Whereas, the Information Ban would prohibit the equitable distribution of services including, but not limited to, healthcare, education, law enforcement and public contracting; and this initiative would inhibit the ability to track unfair and unjust procedures and practices within public entities;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of San Diego County strongly opposes the Information Ban.
Drafted submitted by, Asian Pacific Islander Democrats of San Diego County, Cesar E. Chavez Democratic Club and the Martin Luther King Club of San Diego County. Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee on 3.11.03
Principles for a Balanced Solution to the State Budget Crisis
WHEREAS, for generations, California's state and local governments have helped hard working people build better lives for themselves and their children. We believe that all Californians should still have that opportunity to achieve their dream of a better future. That means having access to health care, safe homes and neighborhoods. It means that all children deserve quality public schools, community colleges, and universities, and that seniors can live and age with dignity.
WHEREAS, we believe that current efforts to address the state's $34.8 billion deficit with deep cuts to services will cause great harm to all Californians.
WHEREAS, we believe these cuts would reverse the significant progress we have made in California to improve our schools, provide health care to more people, and to begin to shape an effective system of long-term care on which all of us can depend.
WHEREAS, we believe that cuts to important state and local services harm the basic infrastructure of our state and are not good for business.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of San Diego County supports a balanced solution for a just budget that fairly spreads the burden of cuts and increased revenues. A balanced solution includes a dollar in new tax revenues for every dollar in cuts to services.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of San Diego County rejects the "realignment" of high-growth health and human services including long-term care. The state would cause permanent damage to these essential services by shifting fiscal responsibility to the counties. Counties do not have the ability to raise the revenues needed to keep up with the growing demand for these essential services over time.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of San Diego County is opposed to any new spending caps that permanently ratchet down funding for education, health care, and other important public services and never allow them to recover when times are good. Spending caps will lock us into a permanent budget crisis and condemn all Californians to a dismal future.
Submitted by Brian Polejes. Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee on 3.11.03
To provide support for Congress to complete action on H.R. 491 and S.B. 1042
to address the restitution of veterans benefits to World War II Filipino veterans
and to honor all veterans with their deserved benefits regardless of race, sex,
class, geography, national origin, and religion.
WHEREAS, approximately 200,000 Filipino soldiers, called by their patriotic duty and sense of loyalty to the United States as U.S. nationals, defended the freedom and liberty of the United States against the Japanese invasion of the Philippine Islands, which at that time was a U.S. territory; and
WHEREAS, a majority of the United States forces that delayed the Japanese domination of the Pacific were Filipino Soldiers who sacrificed their lives and played a significant role in the Pacific Theater of operations under the command of the U.S. Armed Forces of the Far East; and
WHEREAS, after World War II the United States Congress passed the Rescission Act of 1946 on February 18 which unilaterally denied Filipino soldiers their rights to the GI Bill, military and veterans pension and medical benefits, and since that date Filipino Veterans have been fighting for their deserved recognition, respect and equity in benefits as honored to all U.S. veterans;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of San Diego County requests that the 2003 California Democratic Convention call on all members of Congress to pass H.R. 491 and S.B. 1042, which would address the restitution of veterans benefits to Filipino Veterans denied by the Rescission Act of 1946; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Democratic Party of San Diego County requests that the 2003 California Democratic Convention additionally call on Congress to confer all deserved military benefits to all veterans regardless of race, sex, class, geography, national origin, and religion.
Submitted and Drafted by, Asian Pacific Islander Democrats of San Diego County. Adopted by the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee on 3.11.03
Encouraging city councils to oppose a preemptive US military attack
Be it resolved that the San Diego County Democratic Party encourages members of the City Councils of San Diego and other local municipalities to support a resolution opposing any preemptive U.S. military attack on Iraq.
Adopted by the San Diego Democratic Central Committee on 2.11.03
Concerning the Mass Detention of Middle Eastern Immigrants
WHEREAS, hundreds of Middle Eastern immigrants were detained by the Immigration and Naturalization Service, most of whom had come forward to comply with new INS alien registration requirements for men from a list of Middle Eastern countries.
WHEREAS, the INS staff was inadequate to verify compliance with the law and, rather than simply release the immigrants, they locked them up.
WHEREAS, many individuals were detained because of the failure of the INS to process their adjustment of visa status in a timely fashion.
WHEREAS, detainees who were denied bond by the deportation officers may not be heard by immigration judges until at least three weeks after the detentions occurred.
WHEREAS, the INS has targeted people for differential treatment, including incarceration, based solely on their ethnicity and national origin.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the San Diego County Democratic Party hereby INS special registration program in that it targets persons based solely on their ethnicity and national origin; and strongly condemns the arbitrary and unlawful detention of Middle Eastern and Muslim men and boys who present themselves to the INS in compliance with the Special Registration program.
Adopted by the San Diego Democratic Central Committee on 14 January 2003
WHEREAS, the Bush administration has presented no credible evidence that Iraq has intentions of harming the citizens of this country or that Iraq presents a threat to the United States, and
WHEREAS, the Bush administration is seeking any pretext to overthrow the government of a sovereign nation, in violation of international law, and
WHEREAS, a war with Iraq would require the re-direction of vital resources and funds to a destructive, senseless, and illegal goal while further strengthening an administration that has restricted the civil liberties of its citizens, and
WHEREAS, this administration is using the so-called “War on Terrorism” to distract the American people from the vital issues they confront,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the San Diego County Democratic Party goes on record as strenuously opposing the Bush administration’s march toward war with Iraq,
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the San Diego County Democratic Party urges its members and affiliates to get involved with organizations working toward stopping the Bush administration’s march toward war with Iraq.
Adopted by the San Diego Democratic Central Committee on 8 October 2002
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