The Ventura City Council heard impassioned testimony on June 26 concerning three hot-button issues: LGBTQ+ rights, abortion and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Councilmembers Liz Campos and Ryyn Schumacher introduced the Community Autonomy Rights and Equality Policy, also known as the CARE Policy, “establishing the city of San Buenaventura as a safe community for immigrant and LGBTQ+ residents and individuals seeking reproductive health care.”
More than 100 people signed up to speak about the only item on the special meeting agenda, which was approved on a 6-1 vote after just over four hours of debate. Many showed up at city hall before the meeting started to support or protest the CARE Policy. Due to the large number of speakers, time was limited to one minute. In an unusual departure from most government meetings, officials used numbers instead of names to call people up to speak, apparently due to the sensitive or controversial nature of the topics.
Schumacher explained why he and Campos introduced the policy.
“We have a president that doesn’t listen to the Supreme Court and does not abide by any laws because chaos is his weapon so he can stay relevant. We have a federal administration that doesn’t understand how to lead,” Schumacher said. “We are demonstrating moral leadership in a climate of fear. With rising anti-immigrant rhetoric and the threat of federal crackdowns, it is critical that Ventura publicly affirms our stance. What we’re doing tonight tells our residents and the rest of the country that Ventura will not be complicit in unjust deportations and will stand on the right side of history.”
‘All-out assault on human dignity’
One of the first public speakers was Ventura County Assemblymember Steve Bennett.
“Since the dawn of our country, immigration has been one of America’s most complicated and challenging issues. Ironically, although we’re a nation of immigrants, we swing through regular cycles of great uncertainty about our immigration policy,” said Bennett, who accused President Donald Trump of using “immigrant-bashing” to sow fear, division and hatred for political gain.
“That’s why it’s right for this council and our community to support this carefully crafted policy. It’s a good-faith effort to tap into the better angels of our nature. It attempts, in the place of fear, to build security and confidence. In the place of division, to forge unity and community. In the face of authoritarianism, to grow respect for human rights,” the Democratic lawmaker said. “I applaud those who support this effort and believe you will look back upon this moment with genuine pride.”
Deborah Baber, a Republican who lost a bid to unseat Bennett last November, also spoke at the meeting and drew boos from the audience when she announced an ICE hotline telephone number to report on immigrants.
“I’m here tonight to tell you that if you aid and abet criminals, you are yourself committing a crime. It is against the law to aid and abet criminals. You could be eligible or found guilty and face serious time in jail and serious financial peril,” Baber told the council, while also urging people in the audience to call an FBI hotline to report “sexual mutilation of children masquerading as gender affirming care.”
Another speaker identified himself as a Ventura High School student who “refuses to stay silent.”
“The fascist Trump regime is waging an all-out assault on human dignity, blocking emergency abortion care, shutting down gender-affirming clinics for trans youth and tearing apart immigrant families…treating human lives like political pawns,” he said. “These are our neighbors, our children, our friends. And Ventura has made it clear. We will not be complicit.”
Funding questions and a lone no vote
Councilmember Jim Duran asked if there had been a comprehensive risk assessment to determine how the policy could impact the city’s eligibility for federal funding, especially for water and wastewater infrastructure.
City Manager Bill Ayub said he had heard many threats of federal funding being withdrawn or withheld, noting there is “in excess of $100 million” of federal funding in the balance. “And so that’s a real concern. We just simply don’t know what the exposure is. We just know that there’s been threats to remove that funding and block the opportunity for future funding,” Ayub said.
Duran was the only councilmember to vote no on the CARE Policy, calling it “unnecessary, politically driven and potentially harmful to our community.”
“Every protection listed in this resolution already exists in California law. Restating them at the city level adds nothing legally enforceable, only symbolic messaging. The language regarding non-cooperation with federal immigration enforcement could conflict with federal law and jeopardize millions in federal funding,” Duran said. “By bundling unrelated and controversial issues, immigration, gender identity and abortion, it divides our community rather than unites it.”