What’s in a boycott?
Several cities have implemented or are considering boycotts against Arizona in response to the state’s new immigration law. American City & County asked the readers of its weekly e-mail newsletter if Arizona should consider amending or eliminating its new immigration law. Below are some of the responses.
“The failure to enforce already existing laws has exacerbated the problem with illegals, and creating a new law [that] is rife with racial overtones [is] not going to solve them.”
— Wayne Christensen, recreational facility maintenance and operations supervisor, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho
“Better be careful with your boycotts, California, as you may end up being the ultimate ‘boycottee.'”
— Mike Cummins, finance director, Wellington, Colo.
“No city should boycott another. The end result will be more discord and hate between cities [and] states.”
— Ron Grosjean, vice president of sales, Flooring Resource Group, Pleasanton, Calif.
“California should enforce federal law ([as] Arizona is) as it pertains to illegal immigrants.”
— Candace Grubbs, clerk-recorder, Butte County, Calif.
“Cities, counties and states placing boycotts on Arizona [are unwilling to face] a problem that has crippled parts of the southwestern United States.”
— Jack Johnson, development coordinator, Priest River, Idaho
“This law was passed to protect residents of Arizona, a job the federal government has so far refused to do.”
— George Jones, city manager, Drumright, Okla.
“Cities and states should respect the will of the people of Arizona and not succumb to ‘political correctness’ in any of its forms.”
— Skip Kirkwood, chief, Wake County, N.C., Department of Emergency Medical Services
“What we have with the Arizona illegal immigrant law boycotters is an example of little fish wanting to play in a big pond.”
— Jan Memmott, associate dean of academic affairs, ITT Technical Institute, Redlands, Calif.
“Boycotts of state and local government tax coffers are only one way of causing some reflection of recent actions taken.”
— Ray Villanueva, Glendale, Ariz., Water and Wastewater Facilities
“The cities and states that boycott Arizona are dead wrong. The cities and states that continue business with Arizona are dead right.”
— Bradford Whitty, utilities analyst, Santa Maria, Calif., Utilities Department
