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WEBVTT ID NOT INTRUDEON TODAY'S PUBLIC COMMENTOPPORTUNITY.FROM THE START TODAY, MAYOR JOHNCRANLEY SAW AND HEARD A SUPERHEATED SANCTUARY STORYLINE>> THERE WILL BE NO SANCTUARYFOR TRAITORS IN THE UNITEDSTATES OF AMERICA.JOHN: THE BACK AND FORTH WASIMPASSIONED AND A LIVING,BREATHING EXAMPLE OF FREE PUBLICSPEECH WITHIN A TWO-MINUTE TIMELIMIT. >> I DON'T HONESTLY KNOW IF THEYCAME HERE LEGALLY OR NOTI WOULD HOPE THAT WE CONTINUE TOWELCOME ALL IN THIS CITY.JOHN: IT'S WORTH NOTING, AMIDTHE OVER MY DEAD BODY STATEMENTOF OHIO'S TREASURER AND THE MANYPROTESTS SPAWNED BY PRESIDENTTRUMP'S IMMIGRATION REFORM, THEMAYOR'S CALL FOR A SANCTUARYCITY IS JUST THAIT CARRIES NO OFFICIAL FORCE OFLAW.THAT IS SOMETHING STILL BEINGCOBBLED TOGETHER FOR A FUTUREPROPOSED ORDINANCE BY COUNCILMEMBERS SIMPSON, SEELBACH, ANDYOUNG.BUT IN THE EDGY ATMOSPHERE OFTODAY'S POLITICS, THAT GETS LOSTIN THE SHUFFLE.>> WE HAVE AND WE WILL FOLLOWALL FEDERAL LAWS.WE WILL NOT VIOLATE ANY FEDERALLAWS>> FOLLOWING FEDERAL LAW MEATHIS IS NOT A SANCTUARY CITY.>> THAT'S JUST NOT TRUJOHN: THE SPECTER OFJEOPARDIZING FEDERAL FUNDING FORMAJOR PROJECTS, LIKE THE BRENTSPENCE BRIDGE REPLACEMENT, HUNGIN FEBRUARY'S AIR.AS DID THE TRUMP EFFECT, WHICHWAS REGARDLESS OF POLITICALAFFILIATION VERY MUCH PRESENT INCOUNCIL CHAMBERS.>> THE MAN SAYS WHAT HE MEANS,HE MEANS WHAT HE SAYS.JOHN: CITY LAWMAKERS WEREATTENTIVE TO THE WORDS, SPOKENAND OTHERWISE.♪ >> FOR PURPLE MOUNTAIN'SMAJESTY, ABOVE THE FRUITED PLAIN. ♪JOHN: MAYOR CRANLEY SAID THEREIS NOTHING THAT PUTS FEDERALMONEY AT RISK.HE STRESSED THE CONDITIONS FOR

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Cincinnati leaders, as expected, went on record Wednesday declaring Cincinnati a sanctuary city. The vote was 6-2 and it came after a fiery public comment period that showcased the deeply-held convictions on both sides of the contentious issue. Some of the words flowed with stinging criticism of Mayor John Cranley, who announced his intentions about it at the start of the week. “You are obviously thumbing your nose at our president and you made all of us look bad,” said one critic. “There will be no sanctuary for traitors in the United States of America,” said Robert Ransdell, of Northern Kentucky. The back-and-forth was impassioned and a living, breathing example of free public speech within a two-minute time limit. Melissa Strothers said this about her Over-the-Rhine neighbors. “I don’t honestly know if they came here legally or not. I hope that we continue to welcome all in this city,” Strothers said. The mayor’s call for a sanctuary city carries no official force of law. That is something still being developed for a future proposed ordinance by Council members Yvette Simpson, Chris Seelbach and Wendell Young. But, in the edgy atmosphere of today’s superheated politics, that gets lost in the shuffle. When Mayor Cranley declared,“We will not violate any federal laws,” his critics in the crowd hooted. Brian Smith told Cranley “Following federal law means this is not a sanctuary city,” Cranley responded. “That’s just not true.” There was emphasis once again on putting infrastructure desires like a new Brent Spence Bridge at risk with a sanctuary designation. But, the mayor made it clear there is no wording in President Donald Trump’s executive order that jeopardizes federal dollars, the conditions set out in that order do not apply. “We have not and will not violate federal law,” said Cranley again. Republicans Charlie Winburn and Amy Murray were the dissenting votes. Councilman Christopher Smitherman was absent from today’s session. The vote puts the city on record as standing with immigrants, but makes nothing legally official. “Police will not single out immigrants,” said Democrat Wendell Young, who authored the resolution. “Immigrants will get the same treatment as anybody else if they commit a crime.” Young once enforced the law as a police officer. He mentioned the moral duty human beings have to oppose unjust laws. “If people had simply obeyed the law,” he stated in reference to slavery. “I wouldn’t be sitting here today.”