One month ago, the Los Angeles City Council adopted a ban on city-related travel to Arizona. On Tuesday, the Council was scheduled to discuss a proposal to send four Los Angeles Police Department officials to a conference in Tucson, Ariz., despite the boycott.
However, the issue was postponed until Friday when some council members expressed opposition to the exemption, saying it would go against the council's wishes.
The officers are scheduled to attend the Airborne Law Enforcement Assn. Conference in Tucson, July 12 to July 17. The conference will be hosted by the U.S. Border Patrol.
Councilman Greig Smith requested the exception in a motion filed June 8. Last month, Smith voted against the city boycott, which is in response to Arizona's passage of its SB 1070 immigration law.
Councilman Richard Alarcon, one of 13 council members who OK'd the resolution, said he wants to make sure the training is essential. The conference includes classes on high-rise emergencies, aeronautical decision-making and helicopter patrol tactics.
"If we are going to carve out certain exceptions, we better set a high standard," he told the Los Angeles Times.
The resolution approved by LA's Council called for the city to "refrain from conducting business with the state of Arizona including participating in any conventions or other business that requires city resources, unless SB 1070 (Support Our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhood Acts) is repealed."
Travel to Arizona was suspended "unless special circumstances can be demonstrated to the Council that the failure to authorize such travel would seriously harm City interests..."
The Arizona law takes effect July 23.
