Although the issue proved to be divisive, the Bakersfield City Council voted to approve adding “In God We Trust” decals to city police and fire vehicles at a meeting Wednesday evening.
The issue was debated for about two hours in the City Council Chambers, with 30 public speakers making comments. A total of 19 of those speakers were against adding the decals to city vehicles while 11 were in favor.
Councilmembers Willie Rivera and Andrae Gonzales were the only two “no” votes on the issue, and Councilmember Bruce Freeman was absent.
Both Rivera and Gonzales said they wanted to frame the issue as a debate over city policy not over religion.
“I think it’s clear this decision doesn’t represent everybody in this community and I think this is a problem,” Rivera said, explaining his dissent.
Gonzales said he was a Christian, but still did not support the decals.
Local pastor and Bakersfield Police Department chaplain Angelo Frazier made the initial request to the council to add the nation’s motto to city police and fire vehicles, following in the city of Delano’s footsteps.
Private businesses have offered to pay for adding the decals to city vehicles, making the cost to the taxpayer likely nothing, although the details have yet to be worked out.
Full story at bakersfield.com.
Did the city just buy a lawsuit which they might lose? As a point of factual information, has any other larger California city done this? Not to be too cynical, I suggest the city collect the pledges before ordering the decals. Pledges often goo ‘poof’
Mike m,
I don’t doubt that we’ve had philosophical dunces for judges. Notwithstanding this, the truth is that God can be deduced philosophically without doctrinal modifiers and without divine revelation. As such, the mere mention of the word “God” does not, of itself, involve religion or the establishment of religion.
Good for the City of Bakersfield!
For those who do not believe in God, one must ask from where the Universe came?
They will soon be forced to replace the “In God We Trust” stickers with rainbow flag pride stickers.
Wish the “lost” city of San Francisco would do likewise! LOVE those decals! Would LOVE to see them on SF police and fire vehicles! They were badly needed also, during the recent terrible fires in Paradise and Santa Rosa!