Blogger 'Baffled' by Santee Mayor's Reaction to Suggested Immigration Reform Resolution

At the previous city council meeting a Santee resident suggested to councilmembers that they pass a resolution that would show the city's opposition to the immigration reform bill under consideration in the nation's legislature, and she didn't like the response she got.

Sylvia Sullivan, who describes herself as a concerned citizen and is President of the East County California Republican Assembly, published a blog after the meeting describing her "baffling account of what I encountered when I made a request of the Santee City Council."

Here's the gist of the blog:

The debate in the Senate on the proposed immigration reform bill revealed that it does not secure the borders nor enforce existing immigration laws. Then the San Diego City Council voted unanimously to support a resolution in favor of the bill. So I thought it would be good for those opposing this bill to be heard as well...

Then the Mayor Randy Voepel expressed strong support for the points made in the resolution. However, he said they have a policy not to take stands on issues not directly involving the city of Santee like potholes, etc...

However, then the Mayor went on to say to me "Now you can go home and watch TV."

Such a dismissive and disrespectful comment from Mayor Voepel is not only unbecoming of his position but does nothing to promote civil discourse in Santee.

For what it's worth, as someone who attends most of the council meetings, I have heard Mayor Randy Voepel use the "now you can go home and watch TV" line numerous times, and I don't think he meant disrespect. The Mayor has a certain brand of humor that brings a lightness that most city council meetings don't have, but it can turn on him. There was definitely an awkward moment after the Mayor replied to Sullivan's remarks.

Read the whole post and the suggested resolution at the Right4LifeNow blog

COMMENT: Do you think the Santee City Council should formally oppose the immigration reform bill? What do you think of the Mayor's attempts to inject humor into city affairs?