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Antonovich in a May 26, 2010 appearance (via LA County/Antonovich's website)
Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich has offered his two cents on the movement in California and within his own board to engage in a financial boycott of Arizona, and he thinks the idea is "stupid," according to a press release issued today.Antonovich says that it's not a prudent use of local officials' energy to cut financial ties to Arizona as a result of their passage of the SB 1070 state immigration law. He calls the movement a "knee jerk reaction to support law breakers at the expense of law-abiding legal immigrants and other residents," and hails the effort as "irresponsible."
But it's not just foolish, according to Antonovich, it's also kind of phony.
"A divestment and a boycott is a disingenuous show of perceived political correctness that will only backfire and will shoot us in the heart -- not in the foot," he says, predicting harmful consequences for the national economy and employment levels.
Instead of boycotting, offers Antonovich, the LA County Board of Supervisors "should hold our federal representatives accountable for their failure to act on immigration reform but also for their failure to reimburse costs incurred by local governments."
