The Public Safety & Transportation Committee met in special session on Wednesday, April 15. See the report and meeting video.
Held
- City’s response to ICE (#56-26) — 6-0 (Councilors Golden and Irish not voting). The committee held an extended public comment session with approximately 30 speakers on Newton’s Welcoming City Ordinance and the city’s posture toward federal immigration enforcement. Key themes raised included the need for clear written protocols for city employees and police, signage designating city buildings as off-limits to ICE without a judicial warrant, concerns about the definition of “terrorism” in the ordinance, and requests for stronger restrictions on information sharing and stronger surveillance protections. Councilors identified four major takeaways: welcoming city signage and designating public vs. non-public spaces; written policies for city employees, police, and schools; clarification of the “terrorism” exception in the Welcoming City Ordinance; and concerns about information sharing and digital surveillance.
Present: Councilors Lucas (Chair), Greenberg, Wright, Block, Irish, Roche, Golden, and Silber.
Also present: Councilors Krintzman, Albright, Oliver, Getz, Malakie, Leary, Charm, Kelley, Kalis, and Dahmubed.
City staff: Lieutenant Amanda Henrickson, Newton Police Department.
