Sonoma City Council confirms commitment to diversity

In case there was any doubt: the City of Sonoma “rejects bigotry in all of its forms… does not tolerate discrimination… and will proactively work to ensure the rights and privileges of everyone in Sonoma.”

That was at the heart of the resolution passed unanimously by the Sonoma City Council last Monday, adding Sonoma to the list of North Bay municipalities publicly declaring a commitment to diversity in the wake of recent threats of a federal crackdown on undocumented immigrants.

The resolution also points out that local law enforcement officials do not have the authority to – and thus will not – enforce federal immigration law.

Included in the package, though approved unanimously as a separate resolution, was a $10,000 grant from the City to La Luz center to assist in its education and support of the immigrant community.

Mayor Rachel Hundley, who assembled the resolution as part of a two-person committee with Councilmember David Cook, said they were trying to “capture the spirit” the city has toward its support for diversity.

While some attendees to the April 17 meeting were pleased with the resolution – resident Fred Allebach said it “sat well” with him – the majority of those commenting felt it was a muted response to what former city councilmember Larry Barnett described as a “real atmosphere of fear and cruelty” in the local immigrant community in the wake of foreboding deportation threats from the White House.

Or, as resident Stephanie Hiller put it: “A reign of terror seems to be coming toward us.”

Sonoma resident Celeste Winders said the language should be stronger to reflect the City’s stature as a civic body.

“When you (the City) use your privilege it should be strong,” said Winders, “for those people who don’t have that privilege. Use strong language; set a strong example.”

Resident Michelle Richey called for a stronger resolution, as well, and suggested the Council reject this draft, rework it and bring it back for another vote.

Another commenter, named Sandra, said the lack of strong language may reflect that the Council is not taking the deportation threats from Washington, D.C., seriously.

“How much do you believe something may be imminent?” she asked the Council, adding that Councilmember Amy Harrington seemed to have expressed doubts about immigration raids in a prior conversation. “Maybe you don’t believe this is imminent.”

Several commenters were disappointed the resolution didn’t describe Sonoma as a “sanctuary city” – an unofficial term, yet one that has come to symbolize a municipality’s staunch opposition to assisting in immigration deportations, save for those involving violent felons. The Trump administration has threatened to withhold federal grant funds from so-called sanctuary cities, though how it would legally do so is unclear.

Aside from ostensible immigration crackdowns, residents and city officials hope an official declaration of support would make the immigrant community more comfortable alerting local law enforcement and emergency responders about crimes or potential threats to health and safety.

Mario Castillo, who runs the Family Resource Center at El Verano Elementary School, said that he’d posted to 1,500 Latino followers on Facebook about the City’s proposed resolution and that the majority of the responses asked if Sonoma would be a “sanctuary city.”

“To me, that’s key,” said Castillo. “They want to know if they can feel safe or not.”

Castillo scoffed at concerns over using the term. “Let’s get the name – and then find out what if means to be a sanctuary city,” he said.

Santa Rosa resident, and local churchgoer, Dave Ransom said that, from what he’s heard from friends in the Latino community, it all comes down to “trusting the Anglos.”

“Giving money to La Luz – who can complain?” said Ransom. “But it doesn’t do anything… we need more than that. We can’t sweet talk them” into trusting us.

Prior to the meeting Ransom circulated a letter on behalf of the Sonoma Valley Housing Group calling for council members to reject the resolution and “instead send it back to the committee to put some teeth in it.”

Following the public-comment period, Councilmember Amy Harrington said she supported the resolution, but agreed it was a “broad statement.”

“We could go through and parse this and parse that,” said Harrington. “Could it have different words? Yeah, it could.”

Harrington said it will “require an ongoing dialogue.”

Councilmember Gary Edwards noted the millions of undocumented immigrants who had been deported during the Obama and Bush administrations, as well, and the idea that the City is finally taking a “first step, I think it’s great.”

Councilmember Madoline Agrimonti said she’s “not satisfied” with the resolution, but was willing to support it nonetheless.

“This is a document that’s going to evolve,” said Agrimonti, though no mention was made from the Council about a timeline for further evaluation of the resolution.

Email Jason at jason.walsh@sonomanews.com.