It’s old news that Los Angeles politicians do not support Donald Trump’s immigration policies, but one City Council member is going the extra mile to show it — by extending the bad will to the president’s business partners, too.
Council member Gil Cedillo filed a motion Thursday that would require companies that want to work with the City of L.A. to disclose if they have contracts to work on Trump’s proposed border wall.
It’s already garnered the support of Mayor Eric Garcetti, who issued a statement saying, “Angelenos have a right to know who they’re in business with on important city contracts.”
Cedillo’s proposal piggybacks on a state bill that would prohibit California from doing business with any person or organization that helps the construction of the wall in any capacity, the Los Angeles Times reported. Cedillo’s bill does not explicitly ban the wall contractors from business with the city, but it demands transparency.
Opponents of the policies call them overreach on the part of the government.
Gary Toebben, president and CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, told the Times that he finds the proposal “inappropriate.”
“This precedent could lead to an endless number of litmus-test questions based on the personal preferences of City Council members,” Toebben said. “We strongly discourage the City Council from adding this precedent to the public bidding process.”
All but one of the L.A.’s 15 council members are registered Democrats. [LAT] — Cathaleen Chen