Chula Vista Councilmembers to propose resolution backing state’s lawsuit against tariffs

Trucks wait in a long queue at the Otay Mesa confines navigating File photo by Jorge Duenes Reuters Several Chula Vista City Councilmembers Monday communicated they will bring forward a resolution at Tuesday s City Council meeting to help Gov Gavin Newsom s ongoing lawsuit challenging federal tariffs put in place by the Trump Administration Among those who spoke at a Monday morning news conference were Deputy Mayor Carolina Chavez and Councilman Cesar Fernandez who stated the tariffs threaten the economic stability of the limit region We cannot stay silent as harmful new tariffs threaten the stability of our businesses the livelihoods of our residents and the future of our economic activity Chavez announced while speaking in front of Chula Vista City Hall The resolution argues that Chula Vista s Otay Mesa Port of Entry alone is responsible for billions in commerce and is being impacted by the tariffs Assemblyman David Alvarez D-San Diego and former Attorney General of Baja California Antonio Martinez Luna joined the speakers These tariffs have increased costs introduced economic uncertainty and undermined key sectors vital to the region s commercial sector not only tourism and contract but also manufacturing supply chain logistics and small businesses that depend on binational cooperation the resolution to be brought before the five-person council reads The city of Chula Vista recognizes that the strength of our regional commercial sector is directly tied to the healthcare and efficiency of our confines infrastructure and cross-border relationships any disruption at the perimeter reverberates across local industries and households Ultimately the resolution would carry no legal weight If passed it would express assistance for Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta s lawsuit but would not require any action The suit argues that Congress has the power of the purse and can control tariffs not the President unilaterally This is recklessness at another level The geopolitical impacts are outsized The commerce impacts are outsized Newsom reported in April No rationale no plan no conscience to what it s doing to real people White House spokesperson Kush Desai attacked Newsom s efforts when the suit was disclosed saying Instead of focusing on California s rampant crime homelessness and unaffordability Gavin Newsom is spending his time trying to block President Trump s historic efforts to conclusively address the national urgency of our country s persistent goods agreement deficits While the resolution may not necessitate any action it may be a savvy political play to help decide the fate of the county Chula Vista Mayor John McCann a Republican was one of two top vote-getters in April s special primary electoral process to replace former-San Diego County Supervisor Nora Vargas who retired abruptly late last year The vote could serve as a litmus test for McCann s Republican credentials and a way to tie him to President Donald Trump in a district where Kamala Harris received significantly more votes in the presidential referendum McCann was the top vote-getter in the April Special Vote receiving of the vote over second place and his opponent in July Imperial Beach Mayor Paloma Aguirre San Diego City Councilwoman Vivian Moreno and Deputy Mayor Chavez finished third and fourth They like Aguirre are Democrats and all three accrued a total of of the vote total If Democrats patronage Aguirre in similar numbers to Harris it would present a dilemma to McCann The special voting process to select a new supervisor for District which covers the majority of the South Bay is set for July City News Function contributed to this article