Petition – Stop the City of Arlington from Endorsing and Proclaiming Social Issues

In 2021 after Arlington citizens discovered that proclamations which were being presented by the City of Arlington (prior to Mayor Ross' first term) were being issued without the city council's approval (even though their names were on the proclamations). Citizens met with Mayor Ross asking that the policy be changed giving the council members the right to vote on all city proclamations. Mayor Ross agreed but the following year (2022) when a majority of the city council members voted NOT to approve the proclamation which stated that June be proclaimed as "Gay Pride Month", Mayor Ross changed the policy giving the Mayor sole authority to issue proclamations, taking the voice away from the council members, and the people, and went forward with issuing the gay proclamation anyway, knowing that the majority of his own council disagreed.

*"By signing this petition, I am asking that the city council members approve a policy that states that the city and any of it's partners that also represent and advertise for the city (Arlington Convention and Visitors Bureau) NOT be allowed to endorse, promote, issue proclamations, or sponsor any groups, issues or events that are based on social issues or personal ideologies. I also ask that all future proclamations be voted on by the city council, with the majority rule deciding to approve or disapprove. I do not want the voice of our elected city council members taken away and put into the hands of one elected official."*