The scene was a typical one for Olympia — 25 or 30 people marching from Heritage Park at Capital Lake to City Hall, carrying signs denouncing nuclear proliferation. 

If you know Olympia, it was a familiar sight. While the subject of protestors’ ire may vary — from the war, to the possibility of building high rise, high end condos on the isthmus, to sweatshops in third world countries — you’ve got to give it to Olympia. The citizens are passionate and they’re never afraid to take that passion to the streets.

With the Olympia City Council scheduled to vote Tuesday night (Sept. 9) on the future of the city’s 3-year-old nuclear free ordinance, citizens not only took to the streets, but piled into City Hall afterward to let their voices be heard by the elected officials in charge of making the decision. 

Unfortunately for those folks, this time taking it to the streets and into City Council chambers didn’t seem to help. The Olympia City Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday to repeal the popular — albeit controversial — law, which bans nuclear weapons within Olympia and prohibits the city from contracting with companies that produce or help produce nuclear weapons or nuclear weapon components. With the exception of dealings with the U.S. Government and transportation on Interstate 5 and U.S. Highway 101, the Olympia law makes a firm, if not inconsequential, statement against nuclear weapons.

It must be noted that, during the lifespan of Olympia’s no nukes law, nuclear weapons have not ceased to be. However, in a town like Olympia, the law — which is far more bark than bite — does send a message on just where Washington’s capital city stands.

At least I thought it did.

When Olympia’s no nukes law was approved in 2005, it was highly supported by Olympia citizens. Three years later — as evident by this week’s march or the 40 people who signed up to speak in favor of the law at Tuesday’s Council meeting — the no nukes law still seems to have considerable support in Olympia. 

However, those in favor of repealing it, including the five City Council members who voted to do just that, see things differently. Again and again at Tuesday’s Council meeting they characterized the ordinance as poor public policy, and a possible deterrent for business. Pro Tem Mayor Jeff Kingsbury claimed to have heard from hundreds of Olympia residents who don’t support the law.

 

“Even I don’t know where the vast majority of Olympia stands on this issue. I don’t believe there is a vast majority. I think if it was put to a public vote the results would be surprisingly close,” says councilmember Joe Hyer — one of two members of Olympia’s City Council to vote against repealing the ordinance. 

“I still support the ordinance. It sends a message, and sometimes statements are important for a city like Olympia.” 

The move to repeal Olympia’s no nukes ordinance will now be schedule for a second reading.