The Santa Cruz, Calif., City Council passed a resolution Tuesday to give the town the label of "pro-choice," the Santa Cruz Sentinel reported.
The resolution, which passed 5-2, authorizes the city to join the Pro-Choice City Campaign -- described as a network of cities dedicated to advocating for "reproductive health choices" -- which always translates as abortion.
Councilman Ryan Coonerty, who voted in favor of the resolution, said the issue had to be addressed.
"I'd be happy if the council didn't have to take these positions," he said. "But the right to choose is being challenged in the U.S. Supreme Court, and it's a politicized issue."
Councilwoman Lynn Robinson voted against the measure.
"For me, it was the wrong direction," she said. "When there's so much city business to attend to, this is not what I want to be doing as a council member."
Gera Schmidt, a 22-year resident, also spoke against the resolution.
"Declaring Santa Cruz as a pro-choice city is a murder mentality," she said. "We believe the unborn would ask the council, 'Please don't promote and encourage the Santa Cruz mommy's womb to be a tomb.' "
