Tucson and Flagstaff Vote to Sue State of Arizona

In a move that demonstrates that not all residents of Arizona are anti-Hispanic bigots, the city councils of the cities of Tucson and Flagstaff have voted to sue the State of Arizona to block the new draconian immigration law. The cities fear both the costs involved in compliance with the law and also that it will harm their tourist based economies. These cities obviously recognize that bigotry can carry a price (something still lost on Republicans in the Arizona statehouse and the Republican Party of Virginia). The vote in Flagstaff was unanimous while there was one lone nay vote in Tucson. The new law is an abomination that literally makes anyone who looks Hispanic at risk of arrest if they fail to have proof of citizenship on them at all times. Here are some highlights from Huffington Post on these cities' actions:
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The Tucson and Flagstaff city councils voted Tuesday to sue Arizona over its tough new immigration law, citing concerns about enforcement costs and negative effects on the state's tourism industry. They are the first municipalities in Arizona to approve legal challenges to the law.
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The Flagstaff City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution that says it's an unfunded mandate to carry out the responsibilities of the federal government. Its Tuesday night meeting drew a crowd that initially numbered in the hundreds but dwindled significantly as the night wore on.
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The council will retain legal counsel and could either pursue its own lawsuit or join Tuscon or other cities in efforts to fight the immigration bill. It also is considering setting up a legal defense fund to which many in the audience said they would contribute. "This new bill has the power to make a criminal out of me for helping my family and friends," said Flagstaff resident Loretta Velasco. "I will not turn my back on them, so whatever I can do, I will do."
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Earlier Tuesday, the Tucson City Council approved a resolution to sue the state, with Councilman Steve Kozachik casting the lone no vote, The Arizona Daily Star newspaper reported. Kozachik said he agrees the law is flawed but thinks Arizona needs to "de-escalate the conversation" and filing a lawsuit is not the way.
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Other council members argued the cost to enforce the new immigration law will be overly excessive. Mayor Bob Walkup said the law is based on a misguided notion that illegal immigrants are bad for the area's quality of life and economy. He said much of Tucson's economy is derived from Mexican tourists who come to vacation and shop, the Star reported.
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Four lawsuits challenging the law were filed last week by the National Coalition of Latino Clergy and Christian Leaders, a Washington-based researcher who plans to visit Arizona and two police officers, one from Phoenix and the other from Tucson. The officers filed the lawsuit as individuals and weren't challenging the law on behalf of their employers.