EASTHAMPTON — During its Feb. 19 meeting the Easthampton City Council voted to endorse Mayor Nicole LaChapelle’s reaffirmation of the city’s Welcoming Trust Ordinance.
“As mayor, I reaffirm the city’s steadfast commitment to protecting the rights, safety and dignity of all Easthampton residents and employees, especially newcomers, immigrant families and unfairly targeted communities,” the mayor’s memorandum read. “Easthampton is a community that actively upholds the values of inclusion, diversity and the well-being of everyone who lives or works here.”
The memorandum reiterates that these values were codified in the City Ordinance Chapter 13, Article 1: Welcoming City Trust Ordinance passed in 2019. With the new presidential administration aggressively enforcing ICE detainments across the country, some communities like Easthampton have reiterated their position of protecting the rights of all.
“Under this ordinance, no part of our city government, including police, can be federalized. These commitments are embedded in city-wide policy and codes of conduct. The Easthampton Police Department Policy and Training Protocols, both attached to this memo, specifically address the non-federalization of local police,” LaChapelle noted. “Our city’s leadership continues to monitor state and federal developments. We are working closely with state agencies including the Governor’s and Attorney General’s offices and the Department of Secondary and Elementary Education to ensure our actions and policies reflect our legal obligations and core values.”
The ordinance follows a city history of inclusion, including but not limited to a resolution passed on Jan. 3, 2018, by the City Council which states in part, “ … that the city of Easthampton and its representatives shall not condone or tolerate any form of discrimination on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, familial status, national origin, immigration status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression … ”
The goal of the ordinance was to reaffirm the city is a welcoming city and seeks to ensure trust between employees, officials, representatives of the city, all residents and visitors of the city, and to facilitate dialogue as well as effective law enforcement and public safety.
“I would ask that we ponder on the matter. Think about it. These are important questions. We have an ordinance. We will follow it,” said Precinct 1 City Councilor JP Kwiecinski, who was acting City Council president and acting mayor for the council’s meeting with the absences of LaChapelle and new City Council President Salem Derby.
Public comment featured a mix of people for and against the reaffirmation. Residents against shared similar sentiments that if someone enters the country illegally, they are breaking the law. Others noted it was a civil offense, not a criminal one and that the city had a legal obligation to follow its current ordinance.
Update on vacant seat
With the resignation of former City Councilor Owen Zaret, the council hosted a special meeting on Feb. 26 to interview candidates and vote on someone to fill the vacancy.
