The following announcement was provided by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment:
The Peace and Security Working Group of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment took the first step last week in preparing to petition the town to pass a nuclear disarmament resolution.
On February 21 the group held an online presentation and discussion entitled “Let’s Pass a Back from the Brink Resolution in Watertown!” The speakers were local leaders from such organizations as International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, and Pax Christi Massachusetts. All have succeeded in persuading their city or town elected boards to pass resolutions intended to reduce the risk of nuclear conflict. Each resolution is based on five points from the organization Prevent Nuclear War (preventnuclearwar.org), which include pursuing agreements, ending the sole authority of any U.S. president to launch an attack, and taking U.S. nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert.
Lillian Koizumi, who organized the event, says she believes the same thinking that justifies the possession of nuclear weapons justifies war and violence. “I hope that by advancing the cause of nuclear abolition here in Watertown, we can create a ripple effect which will influence our state and our nation.”
Besides municipalities, the resolution has also been endorsed by multiple organizations, civic leaders, and elected officials, including Massachusetts Representatives Lynch, McGovern, Neal, and Pressley.
The next step is for the group to gather signatures of registered voters in Watertown and present their petition to the City Clerk and eventually the City Council, who will have 90 days to act. If successful, Watertown will join 70 other US cities and towns who have passed such resolutions, including 14 in Massachusetts.
About Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment
Founded in 1979 as Watertown Citizens for Environmental Safety (WCES), the group is a grassroots organization of over 600 members and supporters working to further social and environmental justice. They engage in educational events, peace vigils, and legislative initiatives. In 2011 they changed their name to Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice, and the Environment to better describe their expanded scope. For more information: watertowncitizens.org
This is arguably on its merits an admirable cause. Although I think it’s not realistic or practical.
But as a late Baby Boomer, I grew up with cloud the Cold War getting HOT from 1960 to 1989, just under half of my life.
That said; this issue does not fall under the jurisdiction of the Watertown City Council. The Council is not Congress, the Council is not the Security Council of the United Nation, it is a part time legislative body charged with giving policy direction to the City Manager, passing ordinances that deal directly with Municipal Business. Frankly, it is far beyond the pay grade of our elected City Councilors.
Our Nation is built on system of Federalism, whereby States (and other governments within each State) have Plenary Policing for those matters that the Constitution does NOT authorize Congress and Federal Government legislate on and or fund. Among the limited powers the Constitution gives exclusively to the Federal Government, are foreign policy and national defense.
So regardless of how well intentioned this resolution might be or might not be, it doesn’t belong before ANY City Council. The City Council is not a platform for special interest groups to push a political agenda that goes beyond the limits of the Council’s jurisdiction. Therefore is it an abuse of the taxpayers’ money to have Council spend a single minute debating such matters.
Municipal legislative bodies weigh in on a variety of issues beyond their core responsibilities. Nothing new here. They are the ones elected to decide how to proceed.