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L.A. Spends $56 Million with Arizona-Based Companies, Will They Cut Ties with them Today?
Photo by Shawn Nee/Discarted
Today the Los Angeles City Council will debate and vote on a resolution calling for the end of city business with the state of Arizona and companies headquartered there until the controversial immigration bill SB 1070 changes. In an analysis (.pdf) prepared for the discussion, $56.28 million has been identified in city contracts with Arizona-based companies.
The department with the most investment with Arizona is the L.A. Harbor, which spends $25.6 million, most all of it going towards Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's Clean Truck Incentive Program. “We don’t recommend rescinding the contracts due to adverse effects on the environment and public health," a port spokesman told the LA Times.
But the report from city analysts recommends a much more conservative ban, which may lead to many contracts staying put. Instead of a black-and-white ban, the report recommends refraining from doing business when it won't cost the city much money by going elsewhere and to also only terminate contracts when it fiscally makes sense and won't get the city into legal trouble. The ban on official travel is recommended "unless special circumstances can be demonstrated to the Council that the failure to authorize such travel would seriously harm City interests."
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