I'm not sure what good a "feel-good" boycott of Arizona over SB 1070 does, and that seems to be the kind of boycott the Los Angeles City Council wants.
Back in May, during a peak of national outrage over Arizona's new "papers, please" immigration law, L.A. city council members voted to ban future contracts with Arizona companies, exempting L.A.'s $58 million in current contracts with Grand Canyon State businesses, natch.
They also voted to ban most city travel to Sand Land. I'm surprised they didn't qualify it for "during the summer months."
The LA Weekly is reporting that at the request of the city's Public Safety Committee, the L.A. city council has now exempted its contract with Scottsdale-based American Traffic Solutions, which runs L.A.'s 32 red light photo enforcement units.
The contract was set to run out June 30, and it was estimated that it would cost taxpayers $1.5 million to find another operator/supplier.
Herein lies the problem with boycotts: They cost both sides moolah. It's one thing to thump your chest and decry SB 1070, it's quite another to put your scrilla on the line.
Which is why it would be better for those on the L.A. city council to just keep their yaps shut, if they're not willing to follow through on their threat.
Do they plan to keep making exceptions every time one of those $58 million in current contracts runs out? If so, give it up, dudes.
Denouncing Cactus Country over SB 1070 may make you feel all tingly, but making exceptions to spare your collective wallet just makes you look like a bunch of freaking hypocrites.
