City of Sacramento Takes Sides in Prop. 8 Battle, Urges Court to Overturn It

Sacramento, CA – Despite hundreds of thousands of ‘yes’ votes from local residents in favor of traditional marriage, the Sacramento City Council voted 8-1 yesterday to add the city’s name to a legal brief urging the California Supreme Court to overturn Prop. 8.

“It’s astounding,” commented PJI Staff Attorney Matthew McReynolds, who addressed the Council at yesterday’s meeting. “There is zero legal authority for a City Council to denounce the votes of its own people. Sacramento leaders clearly felt that they could ignore their constituents without any consequences.” McReynolds reminded the Council that, in Sacramento County, more than 289,000 residents – a solid majority – voted in favor of Prop. 8.

Brad Dacus, president of Pacific Justice Institute, noted, “We are at a point where the law seems to mean nothing to some of our elected officials. When local leaders declare a city officially opposed to a measure
adopted directly by the people, our democracy is in jeopardy.”

Due to late notice and a hearing in the middle of the afternoon, few people were able to attend yesterday’s City Council meeting. However, concerned citizens can contact Sacramento City Council members who voted for the resolution as follows: Mayor Kevin Johnson, (916) 808-5300; District 1 Councilman/Vice Mayor Ray Tretheway, (916) 808-7001, District 2 Councilwoman Sandy Sheedy, (916) 808-7002; District 3 Councilman Steve Cohn, (916) 808-7003; District 4 Councilman Robert King Fong, (916) 808-7004; District 5 Councilwoman Lauren Hammond, (916) 808-7005; District 6 Councilman Kevin McCarty (who introduced the resolution), (916) 808-7006; and District 8 Councilwoman Bonnie Pannell, (916) 808-7008. Only District 7 Councilman Robbie Waters voted against the resolution; his phone number is (916) 808-7007.

PJI expects that many other cities and counties in California will consider following the lead of Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento in condemning Prop. 8. PJI urges citizens to contact local leaders to ensure that their tax dollars are not spent to undermine Prop. 8. If this issue arises in your community, please contact PJI.