Campbell rejects Berkeley olive branch

Rep. John Campbell won’t rescind a bill that would cut nearly $2 million in earmarks to Berkeley, despite the City Council’s amending of a resolution that referred to a Marine Corps recruitment center in the city as “uninvited and unwelcome intruders.”

The original resolution encouraged “all people to avoid cooperation with the Marine Corps recruiting station,” and applauded those who “may volunteer to impede, passively or actively, by nonviolent means, the work of any military recruiting office located in the city of Berkeley.” The City Council members reaffirmed Tuesday night that they support American troops abroad and weren’t attempting to “ostracize” them, but instead sought to limit recruitment efforts on behalf of what they characterized as an “illegal” war.

Campbell had earlier acknowledged the possibility of the council altering its position, but declined to state whether he would withhold the bill he hoped would send a message to the people and elected officials of Berkeley.

“Basically what we’re saying here is, ‘OK, if this is what you are going to do, don’t ask taxpayers from all over the country to subsidize you,’” Campbell said at the time.

While Campbell was nursing a lost voice and unavailable for comment, his office released a statement condemning the 7-2 vote as insufficient.

“Last night, the Berkeley City Council met once again and decided to rescind the letter to the Marine Corps. This is an ineffective attempt at appeasing the situation and I have no intention of rescinding the Semper Fi Act (H.R. 5222). To say that the Marines are welcome, but they strongly object to the recruitment of young people into the Marine Corps is ridiculous.”

“Even with this toothless change, the Berkeley City Council continues to indicate that they have a disdain for and lack of appreciation for the Marine Corps, and the service they provide to the country.”

Attempts to contact members of the Berkeley City Council were not immediately successful.

CHRIS CAESAR may be reached at (714) 966-4626 or at [email protected].