Unanimous selectmen vote pushes measure to Town Meeting
Crowd inside Town Hall; inset top, Fred McKenna; bottom, Deborah Goldsmith. / Photos: Glenn Koenig (crowd); Marjorie Howard (insets)
UPDATED, March 1: Following a steady parade of heart-felt speakers — the large majority of whom supported making Arlington a sanctuary town — the Board of Selectmen unanimously voted Monday, Feb. 27, to recommend a resolution about the measure to Town Meeting this spring.
An estimated 400 people crowded Town Hall at the height of the attendance heard 47 of 72 scheduled speakers — 39 deemed to be favor and five clearly opposed to the symbolic step aimed at protecting immigrants. Before the meeting, an estimated 75 stood in front of Town Hall with signs. About 20 appeared to be opposed.
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The Town Hall turnout came a day after the Human Rights Commission held a question-and-answer session attended by an estimated 100 people.
3-minute speaker limit
At the Feb. 27 meeting, Chairman Diane Mahon outlined a three-minute time limit for speakers. In considering the Human Rights Commission resolution, she said, town officials are “trying to do a good things for good people …. not trying to create a law that allows unlawful acts …. Just embracing of pretty much what we have been doing” regarding immigrants.
At issue is Article 59, expressed in greater detail with this Trust Act resolution >> Vice chairman Dan Dunn said that the hearing is about what the selectmen should recommend to Town Meeting, where final action will take place under a system that could include amendments.
“We are all neighbors tonight, and will be tomorrow,” Dunn said. “We need all to remember that.”
Overall, many speakers, on both sides, responded with deep feeling, some of it personal.
“This is not the country I signed up for when I was 17,” said Fred McKenna, a World War II veteran. Suggesting that America has been on a “slippery slope” since the 1973 Rowe v Wade decision, he said to loud cheers: “We don’t value life any more.”
Drawing similar applause was David Tresner-Kirsch, among the proponents, who reshaped a famed quote from pastor Martin Niemoller, who opposed the Nazis: “First, they came for the immigrants, and we said hell no.”
Practical questions
Outside Town Hall, signs of support for sanctuary resolution. / Marjorie Howard photo
Some doubting the wisdom of the resolution raised practical objections.
Eric Glaas wanted to know how the town will proceed should it lose its federal block grant. If that happens, he said, the town will need to curtail services, raise taxes or both. Absent that information, voters are being asked to shoulder the potential risk of adopting sanctuary status without clear articulation of the benefits of doing so.
He was referring to the $6.3 million in federal funding Arlington received last year. President Trump has warned that communities that don’t follow federal immigration rules could lose such funding.
Before speakers began, Town Counsel Doug Heim had anticipated this concern. Saying specific federal funds are tied to targeted programs, he called the risk of liability “real but low.” Read his memo on this and other articles here >>
Later, Laura Rótolo, ACLU of Mass., a lawyer and advocate, focusing on immigrant rights, commended town residents. “You are not alone,” she said, adding that she doubted funding would be lost in the light of numerous court cases that could be used as precedents.
Picking, choosing laws?
Another recurring theme was the issue of whether town police and officials were choosing which laws to follow. Among them was Christine French, whose views were published in the The Globe: “As a mother of two young children, I am extremely concerned about the message this decision would be sending. We do not get to pick the laws we want to obey.”
A Eustis Street mother disagreed. She said that she wants her two young children to understand that they can challenge deportation laws.
Aram Hollman recalled Bostonians in 1850 refused to follow the Fugitive Slave Act. “When laws and justice conflict,” he said, “Americans choose justice, tempered with mercy. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
He leavened his opinions with humor. As to feeling safe in town, he said the biggest risk comes from drivers using cellphones.
To loud cheers, a Bartlett Avenue resident was blunt: “We must fight against taking away funding.”
As to assuring safety, Brooks Harrelson, a member of the Vision 2020 diversity task group, said data reported recently by The Washington Post indicate cities taking a sanctuary stance are safer than those that don’t.
Jordan Weinstein of Precinct 21 advanced the notion of using data: “We are in era that reflects a concern about ignoring data.” He used those opposing the resolution to take a look at the evidence.
Deborah Goldsmith, a licensed social worker who lives on Devereux Street, said she sees children in her practice who are terrified, and for safety’s sake, she counter herself as a supporter of the measure.
Two speakers thought the word “sanctuary” too charged and asked for another word but made no specific suggestions.
What is right?
Before voting, Selectman Kevin Greeley asked: “We have to fight — “whether it be for an override …. We have to fight to keep town funds.”
“What is the right thing to do?” He asked and then paused and said, “To continue to be sanctuary for all.”
Following applause, Selectman Steve Byrne said the resolution would provide a sense of safety, “making clear the kind of community we are.”
Selectman Joseph Curro Jr. tried to sum up the evening’s comments by touch on key themes: “We have been sworn to uphold law … but there is a difference between upholding the law and disagreeing with federal officials.”
From a local legal conundrum, he veered to his view of kind of town Arlington is, referring to new owners of the Classic Cafe who had been approved that night. He cited Greeley’s repeated welcome to any new owner: “Thank you for choosing Arlington.”
And then steered back to the fear many feel since Trumps’ inauguration.
“I never thought my government would be facing us with a threat …. This is an early declaration of war ….
“The purest form of public approval is to stand up and express [our] opinion in support of our police department, and I enthusiastically support them ….
“I wonder about Sons of Liberty buried near us ….”
That drew applause, as did the 5-0 vote for the resolution at 10:07 p.m.
Feb. 26, 2017, draft: Human Rights Commission Trust Act resolution
Opinion: These residents oppose sanctuary resolution
Opinion: These residents support sanctuary resolution
Jan. 25, 2017: SANCTUARY STATUS: Selectmen move town discussion forward
This news summary was published Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017, and updated March 1, to correct a title and add a quote from Greeley.
