Two local groups continue to protest the Sacramento City Council more than one month after the council decided to boycott Arizona companies. One of the groups, Boycott Sacramento, is intentionally avoiding local businesses in response to the council’s sanctions on Arizona businesses.  Another group, Recall Sacramento, is saying it will attempt to remove certain council members from office. However, Assistant City Clerk Stephanie Mizuno said the group has not yet officially started the recall process.  The groups formed after the City Council decided June 15 to dispute Arizona’s new immigration laws by boycotting that state’s companies.  The council passed the boycott in a 6-1 vote, wi

Immigration is obviously both a hot button topic and the hot potato of American politics.  It's also the focus of three short documentaries that play at the Crest Theatre on Tuesday evening on the fifth day (of ten) of the 11th Annual Sacramento Film & Music Festival.  Coincidentally, all three films were made by students at either Berkeley or Stanford and they complement each other to form a fascinating program. "Iraq in the US" has a unique Sacramento connection, focusing on the lives of Iraqi refugees who have been relocated here to build new lives.  "New American Soldier" tells the stories of several green card holders who joined the US military to become eligible for citizenship - co

Since the inception of the Arizona immigration bill, a great debate has taken place in California over immigration reform. In mid-June, the City Council even voted to take action against the bill by boycotting Arizona businesses. Sunday evening, author, journalist and former Sacramento Bee editor Peter Schrag took part in this debate as part of Midtown Monthly and Time Tested Book’s Living Library series. Schrag shared what he learned while writing his newly released book, Not Fit for our Society: Immigration and Nativism in America, with an audience of over 50 attendees, both young and old. Schrag began by talking about some of the propositions that have come into California in the past

Sacramento’s elected leaders agreed to boycott Arizona companies in protest of the state’s new immigration laws. The City Council passed the boycott Tuesday with a 6-1 vote. Mayor Kevin Johnson and council members Rob Fong, Bonnie Pannell, Ray Tretheway, Sandy Sheedy and Kevin McCarty voted to approve the boycott. Councilman Robbie Waters opposed the move. Council members Steve Cohn and Lauren Hammond were absent. Hammond was absent from the entire City Council meeting, but Cohn appeared at City Hall to discuss a separate issue after the hearing on the Arizona law. Arizona’s new law says that an individual’s immigration status should be addressed by police officers in certain circumst

The city of Sacramento should react to Arizona’s strict new immigration law by opposing and possibly boycotting Arizona businesses, the City Council decided Tuesday night. The elected officials asked city staff to prepare a resolution strongly opposing the Arizona law. The resolution will include language on economic boycotts the city could take against Arizona. In June, the City Council will make a decision on the resolution. City staffers have not yet presented information on all of the city’s existing business relationships with Arizona businesses. The City Council made its decision after hearing from about 70 people with strong views on the law. Most of the speakers opposed the law,

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson gave updates on several different issues in a press conference Tuesday. His stance on immigration was the focus of the discussion. The mayor said he anticipates an emotional city council meeting on Arizona's controversial immigration law, SB 1070. "We have to create the right forum," Johnson said. "We have to conduct ourselves respectfully." The mayor said while he personally supports a boycott on Arizona business, he understands "the city needs to talk. I'll talk to my colleagues and community members (before taking action)." Currently the mayor is meeting with other mayors and discussing options for city action. "I support comprehensive immigration reform