Santa Cruz resolution denounces proposed attacks on Iraq

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) Upholding its famously liberal leanings, the Santa Cruz City Council has became one of the first municipal bodies in the nation to pass a resolution denouncing any pending military strike on Iraq led by U.S. forces.

Tuesday's 6-0 council vote even outpaced its liberal neighbor, Berkeley. Last year, Berkeley passed a resolution condemning the bombing of Afghanistan, but the city has yet to address the intensifying situation in Iraq.

With passage of the resolution, the city council authorized Mayor Christopher Krohn to send letters to President Bush and other national leaders relaying the council's sentiments.

``Locals brought this issue forward,'' Krohn said. ``Locals (would) fight this war. Some will not come back.''

Though local supporters presented a petition with hundreds of signatures backing the resolution, there were some voices of dissent. One resident, Bill Codiga, said at the meeting that such a resolution was inappropriate and a waste of city time and funds.

``The council doesn't have a right to use a city pulpit to speak for our citizens,'' Codiga said.

Codiga's comments drew hisses from the crowd, and when a peace activist in attendance asked for a show of hands from those supporting the anti-war resolution, many in the council chamber waved.

Mayor Krohn and the city council have made other headlines as of late, most recently for attending a marijuana giveaway in the courtyard of city hall in response to a federal agency raid on local medical marijuana farmers.

(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)