In a series of meetings that took nearly seven hours to conclude, the Long Beach City Council last night decided to back efforts against the passage of Proposition 8, support the city’s purchase of local wetlands and oppose regulation of lobbyists.
Following weeks of local protests and making good on its promise to oppose Proposition 8, the Council voted 7-0 to write a letter of support backing efforts to take the issue to the state Supreme Court. From the Press-Telegram‘s John Canalis:
Long Beach City Attorney Bob Shannon said council members agreed to file a so-called “friend of the court” document in support of the lawsuit filed by Los Angeles and San Francisco, which are urging the state Supreme Court to overrule Proposition 8.
“We’re submitting a letter supporting their position,” Shannon said.
Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties are also piggybacking on the lawsuit. The state’s high court has not yet decided whether it will hear the case. However, the same court legalized gay marriage earlier this year before voters overturned its ruling.
The Council also decided not to regulate Long Beach lobbyists by a vote of 7-2. Councilmembers Lowenthal and Schipske, both members of the Elections Oversight Committee that proposed the vote, dissented. Supporters argued that passage would increase transparency in city government dealings with lobbyists, while the majority argued that such steps were unneccessary.
The Council also decided to postpone a vote on the recent proposal to purchase 175 acres of the Los Cerritos Wetlands in exchange for 50 acres of land on the city’s westside. The vote will now take place on December 9.
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor