Correction appended
Evanston aldermen passed a resolution Monday night asking the U.S. government to not attack Iran.
The City Council voted 7-1 in favor of the resolution, “Calling for Opposition to U.S. Military Intervention or Use of Force in Iran.” Ald. Edmund Moran (6th) was alone in voting against the measure.
“We have to act now locally because local actions have global repercussions these days,” said Hamid Naficy, a Northwestern professor of communication. “The insane politics of escalation must cease.”
Naficy was one of 11 residents, including two NU professors, to speak in favor of the resolution. Many were members of the North Shore Coalition for Peace and Justice, which proposed the legislation.
“Yesterday was Mother’s Day,” said resident Marcia Bernsten. “I found myself thinking that when we’re raising our children and our kids get into scuffles, I hear parents say, ‘Use your words,’ and that is exactly what I would like to see us suggest that our current administration should be doing.”
The speakers also brought up economic reasons, seeking to bring the issue home by pointing out the costs of war. Evanston has lost about $200 million because of the Iraq war, said 28-year resident Dickelle Fonda.
But one resident spoke against the “unnecessary, ill-conceived” measure, urging the council not to make a sweeping judgment on behalf of the city.
“You were not elected to debate and pass resolutions bearing on future military options and strategies,” said Robert Atkins, a 44-year resident. “And you were certainly were not elected to debate and pass a resolution which officially puts our diverse community in a partisan political uniform many of us choose not to wear.”
In voicing his vote against the resolution, Moran echoed Atkins’ sentiments.
“This rather broad direction is not really something that is within the providence of the Evanston City Council,” Moran said. “I think we need to stick to our normal Evanston business.”
Still, the council ignored the opposing speakers, passing a non-binding resolution for the second time in two months.
On March 10, the council passed a resolution asking Congress to reform its immigration policy. Almost three years ago, the council voted 8-1 on a resolution calling for troop withdrawal from Iraq. Moran was alone in opposing the 2005 measure.
“I’m pleased that Evanston again showed itself as a city of peace,” Fonda said. “It’s certainly a strong majority of people who agree that this is a good action to take.”
The Chicago City Council is set to vote on a similar measure Wednesday.
Aldermen also received criticism for alleged violations of Robert’s Rules of Order at a special meeting of the Planning and Development Committee May 7. At the meeting, the committee decided to table discussion of the proposed tower at 708 Church St.
Moran’s motion to table the proposal was passed while the motion to reject the plan was still under consideration. That was illegal, Atkins wrote in a letter to city staff and aldermen. Resident Mimi Peterson read Atkins’ letter aloud Monday.
“Because the motion to table was not legally supportive, I ask you to take Tisdahl’s motion off the table so it can be voted on,” Peterson said.
Aldermen did not respond to Peterson’s request.
Monday’s meeting was also City Clerk Mary Morris’s last. Morris will officially leave office Thursday.
“I wanted to offer you my thanks for all your tremendously good work,” Ald. Melissa Wynne (3rd) said to Morris at the meeting. “Your professionalism and your thoroughness and your dedication to the position of city clerk has benefited everyone in Evanston.”
Elise Foley contributed to this report.
A previous version of this story said the City Council voted 8-1 to approve a resolution calling on the United States not to invade Iran. The vote was actually 7-1. The DAILY regrets the error.
