City Council Meeting – Council Member Items Report
To: City Council
From: Pat Burns, Mayor Pro Tem
Date: June 4, 2024
Subject: AFFIRMATION OF THE HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY COUNCIL’S
COMMITMENT TO THE UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND SPECIAL RECOGNITION THAT HUNTINGTON BEACH IS A 1ST AND 2ND
AMENDMENT FRIENDLY CITY
2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 | www.huntingtonbeachca.gov
ISSUE STATEMENT
This affirmation of the City of Huntington Beach City Council is to show our commitment and respect for the Constitution of the United States of America. The Constitution and its Amendments are the foundation of our Republic securing each person the rights to live and work freely without government overreach or unreasonable restriction from any entity.
These freedoms have rarely been challenged in our county as they have been recently and called into question. From a presidential candidate defending himself from unreasonable charges in court to a city council candidate being attacked by an incumbent through “lawfare” for speaking out. Then there is the constant attack on our 2nd Amendment by our state that ignores our federal laws and claims to be a “sanctuary state”. This weakens local control.
Laws are being made to weaken the laws that protect those of law-abiding citizens and businesses (2nd Amendment laws or Covid 19 restrictions) while other laws are either being ignored by prosecutors or weakened on behalf of enabling criminals to be even more brazen or violent. With open borders enabled by our federal government or illegal immigration encouraged by our Governor at the taxpayers’ expense, the laws are not being enforced by our government equally or rationally - all the while those that speak out often get attacked for or suppressed from speaking out freely. This is barely scratching the surface of the infringements being committed against the citizens of our state and country. This is a warning of a gross deterioration of our Republic and of our beloved freedoms.
The Constitution and Amendments are the foundation of our Republic securing each person the rights to live and work freely without government overreach or unreasonable restriction from any entity. we all should cherish our freedom to speak our views, especially to our government, and we should be empowered to defend ourselves from attacks on our granted freedoms.
RECOMMENDED ACTION
The City of Huntington Beach City Council affirms and communicates our commitment and respect for the Constitution of the United States of America, and with special recognition that Huntington Beach is a 1st and 2nd Amendment friendly city.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS
2000 Main Street, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 | www.huntingtonbeachca.gov
This action is not subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapters, because it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly.
STRATEGIC PLAN GOAL
Non Applicable - Administrative Item