Do you want to be ruled by criminals, folks who have violated our immigration laws—folks who, if Biden enforced our laws, would be deported? The people of Watsonville will vote on breaking Federal law. I am surprised no one has sued to stop this vote.
“If Measures V and W are passed in November, Watsonville’s city charter will be updated to eliminate gendered references and other outdated language, and residents who aren’t U.S. citizens will be able to serve on city boards and commissions.
Two city charter changes will be on the ballot this November in Watsonville. Measure V would change eligibility requirements to allow residents to serve on city boards and commissions regardless of immigration status. Measure W would update gendered and other outdated language in the charter, including duties and requirements for roles such as city manager.
How legal are the rules and decisions made by felons? This is how a totalitarian nation operates..laws mean nothing and law breakers are in charge.
Watsonville asks voters to allow service on city boards regardless of immigration status
by Tania Ortiz, Lookout, 10/1/24 https://lookout.co/watsonville-ballot-measures-ask-voters-to-allow-service-on-city-boards-regardless-of-immigration-status/
Quick Take
If Measures V and W are passed in November, Watsonville’s city charter will be updated to eliminate gendered references and other outdated language, and residents who aren’t U.S. citizens will be able to serve on city boards and commissions.
Two city charter changes will be on the ballot this November in Watsonville. Measure V would change eligibility requirements to allow residents to serve on city boards and commissions regardless of immigration status. Measure W would update gendered and other outdated language in the charter, including duties and requirements for roles such as city manager.
“There are many residents of Watsonville, for many different reasons, they may not be registered voters, but these people are taxpayers,” District 4 Councilmember Kristal Salcido said about her support for Measure V. “They are business owners. They own property in Watsonville, and we want them to be fully included in the decision-making of their community.”
The change would open the door for legal non-U.S. citizen residents to serve on a committee. Residency can be confirmed in ways other than voter registration, Salcido said, including a driver’s license or utility bill.
District 5 Councilmember Casey Clark, an opponent of Measure V, said there’s no way for the city to really track who lives in Watsonville and is an actual resident. The process of confirming residency isn’t as straightforward as supporters of Measure V make it out to be, said Clark.
“You can’t prove somebody lives in an address just because of the utility bill,” he said. “Also, the city clerk does not have access to the DMV to check licenses.”
The basic process of selecting and appointing residents to an advisory board or committee would remain the same if Measure V passes, Salcido said. Each councilmember still gets to appoint one person from their respective districts to serve on one of four committees: library, personnel, parks and planning.
“This measure moves Watsonville forward,” Maria Cadenas, executive director of local nonprofit Ventures, said. “It really builds a stronger, more united Watsonville. It will strengthen civic engagement, build community trust.”
The state of California and the county and the city of Santa Cruz have already adopted this practice, and adopting this measure will align Watsonville with other local governments, said Cadenas. The measure is really about ensuring informed policy design and work through the advisory bodies, she said, so elected officials can make their choices.
