Dallas City Council must focus on the priorities of Dallas. That is what the voters put us here to do and what I intend to do.
Dallas Mayor Leppert Opposed To City Protesting Arizona Immigration Law
Steve Thompson
The Dallas Morning News
May 18, 2010
Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert said Tuesday that he doesn't think the city should get involved in protesting Arizona's controversial new immigration law.
"Through most of its recent history, the Dallas City Council has chosen not to get into divisive debates or take positions on issues that do not directly involve the city of Dallas," the mayor said Tuesday in an e-mailed statement. "I believe that is a wise course to follow."
On Monday, council members Delia Jasso and Steve Salazar said they wanted the city to issue an official statement protesting Arizona's new law, which authorizes police to question the immigration status of anyone they suspect of being in the country illegally.
Jasso stopped short of saying she would call for a city boycott of Arizona, as some other cities across the country have done. But Salazar said he would support a boycott.
Leppert said the council should focus on key city issues such as bringing new business to Dallas, improving public safety and tackling budget problems.
"That is what Dallas voters put us here to do, and I believe that is where our council's energy should be focused," the mayor said.
Council member Dave Neumann agreed.
Protesting the Arizona law is not "within the prerogative and the purview of the city of Dallas," he said.
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