City tables sanctuary for unborn proposal

By Melissa McCaghren

Slatonite GM

The City of Slaton Commissioners tabled documentation to declare Slaton a sanctuary city for the unborn during its monthly meeting Monday (July 12) in City Hall.

Chelon Goodley read a statement talking about how the sanctuary city was important for the unborn, especially after Lubbock passed its ordinance. She added that Planned Parenthood has not done an abortion since May 31 when the ordinance went into effect.

So far 33 cities across the United States have passed this sanctuary ordinance.

“We’re happy about that. We’re saving the babies right now and that’s very important for us to do,” she said, adding she wanted the ordinance passed through the City Council instead of having to get signatures to have it go to a vote.

“I’d like us to be proactive in this,” said Goodley.

Jim Baxa, president of West Texas for Life, said that when Lubbock passed the ban on abortion, Planned Parenthood sued, and it was thrown out due to the organziation not being able to sue as enforcement is done by private citizens. He added that any legal representation of cities who passed this declaration would have rpresentation by Jonathan Mitchell, one of the top lawyers in the state of Texas, at no cost.

He added of the 33 cities that have passed an oridinance, only one – Lubbock, was not done though the leadership of the city. “They would not listen to this ordinance, they would not pass it. So we the people had to rise up and gather signatures,” he said. “We do not want to do that here. We want this to be done by a representative government, it’s supposed to be done, so we expect you all to be the ones to pick this up and pass it on first reading today, and second meeting next month when (Valarie) Johnson is back to join the vote.

“This is really important to do becasue we know Planned Parenthood’s looking, I don’t know if theyre looking at slightly further showllater, but htey’re looking elsewhere.”

Interim City Administrator Mike Lamberson said he understood what they were trying to do but that they needed to unerstand the city is governmed by the law. “We follow our charter to a T. Before such ordinance or resolution may be submitted to the commission for adoption or repeal it, it shall be necessary for petition to be not less than 25 percent of the qualified voters within the city of Slaton as determined by the voting of the regular last municipal election,” he said.

For more information, please read the Thursday edition of The Slatonite.