At last night’s Council meeting after the Mayor’s State of the City address an historical and democratic action was enacted.  The chamber had emptied of all the hangers-on and was littered with paper indicating this seat for the Perez family.  Only the serious and dedicated remained to hear the Consent and Action calendar.   Clarke King, the president of my union AFSCME 1716, was present along with gadflys’ Alyssa Petersen and Nick Carbone.  No one from the mainstream media was present; only Hartford Cable Access was there filming.  There was no public portion.

Council went through the agenda, voting on several, amending some and sending others to committee.  The last item was #39, the anti war resolution.  Council persons Deutsch and Cotto presented the resolution and debate was engaged.  Council person Segarra began with an affirmative support for the resolution as written citing the loss of life and economic cost to the city. Council persons Boucher and Ritter also responded with support saying the war had damaged lives on both sides.  Council person Deutsch informed the chamber that five GI’s had died that very day in Iraq.  Council person Kennedy, while supporting the thrust of the resolution, stated that City Council had no business interfering in national foreign policy.  Council person Cotto said to the contrary that as we bleed and die for that foreign policy, we have every right and responsibility to act.  Part of the resolution calls for a monthly reading of the casualty figures and honoring the dead and wounded.  Council person Cotto said while that may be depressing perhaps we should be depressed once a month.  In the course of living our lives and enjoying events and activities we need to remember what is happening to those of us caught up in war.  Council person Airey-Wilson said nothing.

The final vote was six in favor and two abstentions.  Segarra, Torres, Boucher,Ritter,Cotto,Deutsch voted aye.  Kennedy and Airey-Wilson abstained.

Report by Dave Ionno
Veteran for Peace

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