Oct. 29

The council will discuss a recent recommendation from its Human Relations Commission urging the city to take a stand on the poor human rights record of China, after growing complaints about the inclusion of a Beijing Olympics float in the parade.
“I'm going to get serious about reading the report,” Mayor Bill Bogaard said Friday afternoon. “It's a good report. Balanced and well stated.”
National and international human rights groups have sided with local residents and members of a spiritual tradition banned in China to decry the float as a propaganda tool for Beijing, which they feel would validate the Communist government’s human rights abuses.
Part of their criticism has focused on Bogaard, who helped bring the float to the parade and has avoided making any public criticism or acknowledgment of China’s rights abuses.
There will be international scrutiny of the council’s action, which itself has shown signs of division on the issue.
Some favor a critical review of Pasadena’s relationship with its sister city in Beijing, while others have suggested international matters should not be within the council’s purview.
Bogaard said Friday he wasn’t ready to comment on the particular elements of the report, but supported the current process as originally suggested by Councilman Chris Holden.
On previous external issues, such as the war in Iraq, Bogaard has opposed calls for the council to take a stand, but said Friday he “expressly and carefully reserved any position” on what action the council might take.
The council’s regular Oct. 29 meeting was going to be canceled, Kurtz said, creating the opportunity for a special meeting that night.

[TAG1]todd.ruiz@sgvn.com
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