The following comes from a Jan. 27 story in the Desert Sun.
Indio Mayor Lupe Ramos Watson has made the executive decision to not open council meetings with the traditional invocation, prompting at least one councilman to seek a legal opinion about the move.
Ramos Watson, a Republican who holds the top title under the city’s rotation, said she is forgoing an invocation because she does not believe that prayer-like practice is appropriate for a government meeting.
“Members of the community reached out to me and told me that they felt excluded during the invocation,” said Ramos Watson, who made a similar decision when she was mayor in 2011.
“In absence of a city law regarding the matter, I chose not to have it.”
The decision was made without the input of other council members.
Councilman Mike Wilson is adamantly opposed to removing the invocation, arguing that the vast majority of Indio residents “are of Judeo-Christian beliefs. ”
“I do not think it is being made in the best interest of the people,” Wilson said.
Ramos Watson and Wilson on Wednesday will meet with the city attorney to discuss the invocation.
Wilson, who has been discussing the issue on social media, said more than 50 residents have expressed their discontent with the decision….
Now God feels excluded.
The US SUPREME COURT has already ruled that prayers are permitted before Government/Council meetings.
” TOWN OF GREECE, NEW YORK v. GALLOWAY ET AL.” No. 12–696. Decided May 5, 2014.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/13pdf/12-696_bpm1.pdf
Ramos Watson needs to be educated. The Council should sue her – her private funds if she looses in Court, not taxpayer funds.
A government can not be run on “FEELINGS”, or nothing would get done.
At the next Indio election, voters should exclude Ramos Watson. Government bodies need to ask God’s guidance and blessing on their sessions because they enact laws that affect the lives of all their constituents. Only an atheist would oppose a non-denominational prayer before a meeting.
I wonder — who are those faceless people in the community who objected?
Weak leadership. She needs to go.