A new Salinas councilman tries making a statement on immigration.

In San Francisco, Mayor Ed Lee declared the city’s policy of providing sanctuary for undocumented immigrants will remain in effect, despite a threat from that Cheeto-hued vulgarian in the White House to cut off federal funding to cities where such policies remain in place. He took it one step further Jan. 31, filing a lawsuit against the president.

On the Central Coast, as the thinking world collectively lost its mind over Trump’s quick and dirty Jan. 27 order barring refugees and immigrants – including those who have green cards – from certain Muslim-majority countries, Congressman Jimmy Panetta dispatched a statement calling it “disgraceful” and based on “intolerance, racism and fear.”

And in Salinas, neophyte Councilman Scott Davis is learning a quick and dirty lesson on politics as the art of compromise, as a resolution he’s trying to float before the City Council declaring that people be treated with dignity and respect regardless of national origin or immigration status is being met with a bit of fear at City Hall. With more than $20 million in federal grants beefing up the city’s coffers, some feel the city can’t afford to take much of a stand.

By any measure, Davis’ draft resolution, a copy of which was obtained by the Weekly, is mild. Given Davis’ background (Monterey County sheriff’s deputy swept into office on the dime of heavy-duty Republican business interests) he’s about the last councilman I expected to take a pro-immigrant stand at all.

But Davis, the son of a Japanese immigrant mother with Okie refugees on his father’s side, leads an East Salinas district that is overwhelmingly Latino and immigrant. Some of those immigrants are undocumented and a lot of them are living in fear of the federal government (and, by extension, the local government too).

“I understand the concerns of the immigrant community. But this is my first act as District 1 representative and I hope it sets the tone,” Davis says. “There’s been reservation about me given my professional background, but I hope this is a good benchmark that I am here for them.”

Davis’ draft resolution states municipalities don’t have an obligation to enforce federal immigration policy and asks that the resources of the city – including human resources, technology, facilities, equipment and funds – not be used in assisting the enforcement of federal immigration law, with a few exceptions, including deporting undocumented immigrants convicted of serious or violent felonies.

A rewrite of Davis’ draft from City Attorney Chris Callihan, also obtained by the Weekly, acknowledges the city won’t take action against anyone solely because of immigration status. But it adds the city will “take all actions necessary” to protect federal funding, if the feds decide to withhold cash.

In other words, Salinas won’t overtly turn you over, undocumented immigrants, as long as Trump keeps the federal dollars flowing. Callihan tells me the city simply doesn’t have the resources of a city like San Francisco to take on the federal government, but like many others, he’s also not sure if what Trump did on Jan. 27 is even constitutional.

Davis, though, says the city needs to look to alternative funding rather than fold under the pressure of an oppressive regime.

“What I would like to see is if the federal government is going to pull in purse strings and try to manipulate local communities, we don’t rely on federal grants,” he says. “How plausible that is remains to be seen.”

It’s expected a version of Davis’ resolution will make it to the council Feb. 7. Mayor Joe Gunter also plans on sending a letter to Congress requesting comprehensive immigration reform be enacted soon, but the way things are going, he shouldn’t hold his breath.

Immigration is on everyone’s minds. Monterey County Board of Supervisors, voted 4-0 to pass a resolution Jan. 31 condemning Trump’s order on immigration, calling it discriminatory and detrimental to the business and educational interests of Monterey County.

The county’s declaration may have less meaning than a gutted version of Davis’ resolution – it says nothing about protecting immigrants, offering sanctuary or telling Donald where to shove his grants. But at least they’re saying something, and something is better than nothing.

MARY DUAN writes The Local Spin for the Weekly. Reach her at mary@mcweekly.com