FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions for Boycott Sacramento

What is BoycottSacramento.com?

BoycottSacramento.com is a website (and General Purpose Recipient Committee) opposed to the Sacramento City Council's recent decision to boycott businesses in the State of Arizona. We believe that state and local governments should not initiate economic sanctions against other state and local governments or businesses within their jurisdictions. It is our intention to demonstrate the impact of such decisions to the meddling politicians in Sacramento City Hall by initiating our own economic sanctions against the City of Sacramento. To do this, we intend to conduct a public relations campaign designed to reduce tax revenue to the city. Our initial activity is to encourage both residents and non-residents of the city to boycott businesses located within the city boundaries.

Why boycott city businesses?

The City of Sacramento gets a portion of all State sales tax collected within the city boundaries. If you don't live in the city, there's very little you can do to affect city politics, just like there is very little the city council could have done to affect Arizona politics. Since the city council has decided to attempt affecting Arizona politics by initiating economic sanctions against Arizona, we have decided to initiate our own economic sanctions against the City of Sacramento.

Isn't that going to hurt innocent Sacramento businesses?

It's not our goal to hurt Sacramento businesses, we are simply reacting to the actions of the city council. The Sacramento City Council could have done as the San Diego City Council did and pass a resolution opposing the Arizona law (SB1070), but they didn't do that. They also could have filed an amicus brief with the federal court, but they didn't do that either.  Instead, they chose to initiate economic sanctions against our fellow Americans. So the members of Boycott Sacramento didn't chose this battle, or this weapon, the Sacramento City Council did. We are simply expanding the battlefield. When the City Council stands down, so will we.

It is our sincere hope that businesses in Sacramento band together in a class action lawsuit against the city and personally against those members who voted for the economic sanctions.  The damage from a boycott was not only forseeable, it was predicted by the Metro Chamber of Commerce who warned the mayor in a letter on June 1, 2010 that the City Council's actions would have unintended consequences, including boycotts.  Not only would the businesses have evidence from this letter that the City Council wantonly harmed them, but there is a reasonable argument that their passing economic sanctions against a state is an unconstitutional violation of the interstate commerce clause, thus negating councilmembers' claims of qualified immunity.

Does boycotting mean to not go into the City at all?

Some people might choose to avoid going to the city, although BoycottSacramento.com simply recommends minimizing the amount of your money that goes into Sacramento city coffers. Primarily that means not purchasing taxable items within city boundaries. Many people have chosen to stay in hotels outside of city limits to avoid paying the occupancy tax. Some people are going so far as to avoid city parking lots.

How can I get involved?

The first thing to do is decide what actions you will take to keep your money out of city coffers. If you choose to boycott a business, make sure you tell them about it. You could e-mail them, or call them on the phone, or even leave a copy of the BoycottSacramento.com Press Release with the manager. Personally, I'll be leaving this page with the note and my signature at the bottom. (You're welcome to use it too!)

• Invite your friends to help
• Sign up for the e-mail list
• Put up a yard sign
• Join us for picketing events
• Put a bumper sticker on your car
• Send postcards to merchants, friends and politicians
  
• Donate, donate, donate

I don't live near Sacramento, can I still get involved?

Absolutely! We can always use donations for the advertising and operations fund. Just use the button on the Home page to donate through PayPal. But there are many other things you can do as well.

• Talk about the issue with your friends
• Notify your local media
• Participate in the Facebook page
• Post a link to the BoycottSacramento.com website
• Post a creative video about the subject on YouTube
• Mention BoycottSacramento.com on your favorite talk radio program
  
• Start or participate in a similar effort in another of the offending communities that's closer to home:

  Berkeley CA, Bloomington IN, Boston MA, Boulder CO, Columbus OH, Coachella CA, Cook County Ill, Chicago Ill, El Paso TX , Fulton County GA, Hartford Conn, Highland Park Ill, Los Angeles CA, Minneapolis/St Paul MN, Oakland CA, Pasadena CA, Richmond CA, San Pablo CA, Santa Ana CA, San Jose CA, Santa Monica CA, San Francisco CA, Seattle WA, Tacoma WA, West Hollywood CA

Is the California State Fair located in Sacramento?

Yes. The California Exposition and Fairgrounds (Cal Expo) is located within the City of Sacramento Council District 3. This means that nearly one percent of all taxable sales at the California State Fair will go to the City of Sacramento coffers. To prevent this revenue stream, many people have decided to Boycott the State Fair.

Doesn't California have a law similar to Arizona SB1070?

Yes. California voters passed a similar law with Proposition 187. However, a federal judge issued an injunction and the law is not enforced to this day.

So is Arizona's law unconstitutional?

The Supreme Court has never ruled on either the California law or the Arizona law. As is the case with all legislation lawfully passed, the Arizona law is legal and is enforceable until such time as it is enjoined by a court. Arizona's law has not been enjoined by a federal court. California's law was enjoined by a lower court, but not overturned by the Supreme Court, that's why CA penal code section 834b remains on the books, even though it is not currently being enforced. Anyone who tells you that the Arizona law is unconstitutional is giving you their own opinion; it is my opinion, as well as the opinion of a majority of Arizonans, that the law is perfectly constitutional.  We won't know how the Supreme Court will see it until such time as the law is tested in court.

As an aside, I wonder if back in 1994, the Sacramento City Council would have supported having 49 other states boycott California because they didn't like the law (Proposition 187/PC 834b) that voters legally enacted. I wonder what other illegal activity the City Council is ready to condone?  I wonder what city, county or state the Sacramento City Council will decide to boycott next because they don't like the law the other jurisdiction passes. 

Is the Sacramento City Council's action unconstitutional?

There is certainly a reasonable argument to be made that the Sacramento City Council's action is an unconstitutional violation of the interstate commerce clause.