A resolution reaffirming Los Gatos’s commitment to supporting community members regardless of their identity failed to receive the support it needed to be put on a future Town Council agenda during the Nov. 19 Los Gatos Town Council meeting.
Councilmember Rob Moore posted the resolution online in the days following the Nov. 5 presidential election, saying he wanted to do everything he could to “insulate Los Gatos from the negative consequences of this election and to protect the most vulnerable residents of our community.”
The San Jose Police Department and members of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors made similar statements in the days following the election, which Moore cited in his resolution.
Though Mayor Mary Badame would have been responsible for approving Moore’s request to put the item on the council’s agenda for discussion, she said at the meeting that she was putting the matter to the entire council in the interest of “good governance and being open and transparent,” though Moore’s motion failed without a second.
Among other things, the resolution stated that the town would commit to protect the rights of its residents, workers and visitors, and would not use its resources to assist in the deportation of residents of the town.
Some members of the public had expressed concern that the proposed resolution would have made Los Gatos a sanctuary city, but Moore said that wasn’t his intent.
“I found it to be a repetition of a prior resolution from 2017. I found it to be redundant and overreaching of Senate Bill 54. I felt there’s potential unenforceable provisions regarding scope and enforcement,” Badame said, referencing legislation passed by the state senate in 2017 that would stop local law enforcement agencies from aiding immigration enforcement activity.
“Insulating Los Gatos from consequences of an election is not within our role as council members,” Badame said.
Moore said he was disappointed by the outcome of the discussion.
“While this resolution didn’t pass, I think the issue is still very, very important,” he said.C
Community members who spoke at the meeting seemed to be split on the issue.
Some, like resident Jeff Suzuki, were supportive of agendizing the resolution, saying it was simply a “reaffirmation of our previous principals in a highly uncertain political environment.” But some, like resident Johanes Windburg called it “fearmongering,” saying the resolution was vague.
Windburg asked the council to focus on local matters. “Frankly, the federal law is not the town’s business,” he said.
Still others were supportive of agendizing the resolution for the sake of a fuller discussion on the issue.
“I would urge you to please place the item on a future agenda so it can be discussed. Obviously, there are a lot of strong feelings in both directions on this, and it deserves to have a broader understanding of the issues that are involved,” resident Lee Quintana said.
