SEEKING SANCTUARY
City Council tables resolution following lively community debate
TROY, N.Y. >> Following another evening of lively debate and discussion from residents, the Troy City Council ultimately tabled a sanctuary city resolution, 6-1.
“It’s the coward’s way out OK. Over four hours of listening to debate and because they’re covering their political behinds, they took the cowards way out and tabled it OK, because half of them knew either way that they were going to pay at the polls,” council member Mark McGrath, the lone vote against tabling the resolution, said.
“So, if these people are such activists and you believe in that so badly, you can’t do that, alright, you’re an elected official you have to do what’s right, what you feel is right. To table it, it’s the coward’s way out my friend,” he added.
Troy City Council President Carmella Mantello called the tabling of the resolution a “win by the people of Troy” and viewed it as an opportunity to allow more voices to be heard.
“I’ll sit here despite a couple of members grunting, I’ll sit here 15 hours if we have to. I really felt we got this resolution about a week and a half ago and from day one I was really taken off guard when we received it,” Mantello said of the rushed process.
“I did my homework. Saying that, given the public safety meeting Tuesday
“I’ll sit here despite a couple of members grunting, I’ll sit here 15 hours if wehave to. I really felt we got this resolution about a week and a half ago and from day one I was really taken off guard when we received it.” — Troy City Council President Carmella Mantello
night, I actually learned some things by listening to a lot of folks, I’ve gone out there and talked to so many folks and you know I was just going to let it go and see if the council member who was on the fence, council member [ TJ] Kennedy and six, I was just going to let the vote go and then you know what some people aren’t able to come down to city hall, let’s get more public input,” Mantello added of tabling the motion to gain further input.
“Hopefully more public input will convince my colleagues who support this that this resolution is not necessary, we don’t need it in Troy, our police treat everyone equally, I think it’s one of the most divisive pieces of legislation. I was on the council in the 90s, came back, now that I’m on it again I’ve never seen a more divisive piece of legislation, we are a welcoming city, we are inclusive, we don’t need to be a sanctuary city to show that,” Mantello noted of the resolution and the ensuing reactions from both sides.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the city of Troy has officially entered the twilight zone. We are only missing flying saucers and Rod Ser-
ling,” Troy PBA President Nicholas Laviano said at the meeting in his opposition to the resolution.
To that end, ongoing talks with the Troy Police Department and Troy Mayor Patrick Madden’s administration and its opposition to the resolution in its present form appeared to factor into the tabling of the resolution as well.
“In terms of the tabling of the resolution that was something to ensure we could get broader community input as well as seek the input of local law enforcement and the administration. We had a meeting with the mayor this morning, it was a productive meeting and I look forward to having more of that dialogue in the future,” council member David Bissember said of making sure all stakeholders involved would be able to “get it done right.”
On the whole council members seemed pleased with the passionate public input from all sides and looked forward to bringing more people into the fold.
“I think we saw for a second night this week a tremendous outpouring of support from the neighbors from the community for the work that we’re doing here and the work that we’re making sure the City of Troy can do going for- ward,” council member Anasha Cummings noted of the turnout.
“What transpired this evening was, one, a tremendous showing once again of love and support for our community at large. I think that there was some differing ideas on how we do that but what was clear was that Troy residents are very passionate and interested about this issue moving forward,” Bissember said, echoing the sentiments of Cummings.
“Stay tuned for more public hearings but I want these public meetings to be out I the neighborhoods, I don’t want them here in city hall, I want to go to South Troy, the east side and the ‘ burgh and we’ll bring government to them, hopefully, my colleagues will support that,” Mantello added of wanting to increase interaction between the City Council and community members at large.