City council approves Iraq resolution

Residents gather to express opinions on troop withdrawal By: Lizeth Cazares Issue date: 1/12/06 Section: City News

Davis community members, military families and antiwar supporters filled the city's Community Chambers on Tuesday night to express opinions on a resolution asking President George Bush to bring our troops home from Iraq.

The resolution was brought to the city by the Davis Peace Coalition Military Families Speak Out with the support of councilmember Stephen Souza. The citizens are calling for Bush to return the troops home and are asking for an "orderly, rapid and comprehensive withdrawal from Iraq."

The city council was scheduled to vote on whether to support the resolution and the withdrawal of troops at the council meeting. Dozens crowded the room - some sitting on the ground - with many holding up signs reading "Bring Our Troops Home." They also held up peace signs while listening to the proceedings. Several individuals waited for over an hour for a turn to express their feelings on the resolution.

Bob Glynn, Davis resident, was upset because he said he felt the council was spending too much time catering to special interest groups instead of city issues.

"It's about public interest, not special interest groups," he said.

There were also a few who felt that this would show the troops that the city was against them and that the council was overstepping its boundaries by commenting on national issues.

"I don't believe I gave you my vote on national issues," said Davis resident Jim Mitchell.

Others supported this action and spoke about the impact the war was having on the community and its members.

Laurie and Russell Loving, co-founders of the capital region chapter of Military Families Speak Out, expressed their disappointment with the war and the importance for the city to show their position on this issue. They also presented the council with over 1,100 signatures in support of the resolution.

"We can do better, we should do better, we must do better, but we can't if we let Bush pour money in Iraq," she said.

Carly Sheehan, daughter of national activist Cindy Sheehan, was at the meeting showing her family's support for the city's resolution. She spoke about the impact of this action and disputed arguments that it would demoralize soldiers in Iraq.

"This negotiation should not be seen as demoralizing our troops, but instead support for the greatest soldiers the world has ever seen," she said.

The council was also split in opinion. Councilmember and Vietnam War veteran Ted Puntillo said he was opposed to the resolution, noting that he has spoken to many veterans and that they are either against or unaffected by the resolution. Councilmember Don Saylor abstained from voting and said he couldn't vote for or against since the community was so divided on this issue.

Mayor Ruth Asmundson held the vote that determined the outcome of the resolution. Asmundson noted that she was going to abstain, but later changed her mind and voted in favor of it.

"In the end I decided to vote for it," she said. "I felt it was going to pass and might as well vote for it because it was the right thing to do."

LIZETH CAZARES can be reached at city@californiaaggie.com.