On Tuesday, the Brentwood City council opted not to move forward in displaying “In God We Trust” in the council chambers deeming the motto to be too divisive.
The item died after a 2-2 split vote with Councilmembers Tony Oerlemans and Pa’Tanisha Pierson in support of having further discussion, while Mayor Susannah Meyer and Councilmember Jovita Mendoza voting against. Councilmember Faye Maloney abstained.
Councilmember Oerlemans made the future agenda item request that would display the national motto, “In God We Trust,” in the City Council Chambers. Had it been approved, it would directed staff to return at a future meeting with additional information, options, and any identified fiscal, operational, legal, or environmental considerations.
Councilmember Tony Oerlemans presented the item after a group of citizens brought the idea to him.
“After looking at it, I thought it was a good idea so I am moving it forward,” said Oerlemans who said the motto was passed by Congress in 1956. “It’s been our national motto, in god we trust, ever since.”
He cited the city of Oakley displayed the motto while 149 cities and counties across California display the motto along with 764 nationwide. He also cited the City of Clovis who most recently approved the display after a survey of residents showed 68% support.
“Displaying the motto would be a meaningful way to honor America’s 250th anniversary this year,” said Oerlemans.
In response, Councilmember Jovita Mendoza said she didn’t see the correlation with the motto and the 250th anniversary. She said the motto isn’t 250 years old and if there was a motto that is 250 years old.
Mayor Susannah Meyer said she had strong feelings on the request saying there are no cities in Contra Costa County who are currently displaying this in their council chambers – citing there is 1 in Alameda County but very few in the San Francisco Bay Area.
She referred to a group online that was started by a councilmember out of Bakersfield who called this a “Charlie Kirk movement” while stating it’s a very small group of cities in California who have adopted this.
“I do agree that this does not feel inclusive to me, this feels more divisive. We have a lot of religions who do not worship a god or who worship god by a different name. This is something we have been trying to work on as a council to be inclusive,” explained Meyer. “I feel like as a city, we are focused on local control, this feels like something not aligned with local control. It feels like something else encroaching on our rights to represent all of our residents. I don’t see that there is a problem to fix so I am not sure what we are trying to fix here.”
She also said the 10 comments they received in email were a form letter, not individual comments mostly from residents in Brentwood. She also took issue with the group supporting this.
“As you can probably tell, I am not in support of this,” said Meyer. “I feel like it is divisive instead of inclusive. I don’t see what we are trying to fix, we already have the flag proudly displayed. We already do the Pledge of Allegiance and I know we actually have residents who are not comfortable with the Pledge of Allegiance and sometimes will sit it out and not stand and join us. In trying to respect beliefs, I do not think this is a good idea to move forward.”
Vice Mayor Pa’Tanisha Pierson proclaimed “In God I do Trust” said she would support the future agenda item request and was about inclusivity and equity – however, she would support the motion.
“Last week when I brought up Christmas was associated with Christianity and I felt like we needed to be inclusive for supporting organizations in giving money for Santa in The Park, because Santa is connected to Christmas and Christmas is connected to Christianity, there was push back that other cities do this. And I said if we set this precedent to start saying other cities do something I am going to being to say, we can’t choose when we support that other cities do things and then we don’t,” explained Pierson. “I felt like putting a lot of money towards Santa in the Park vs. the Winter Festival or those things that make our residents feel more inclusive there was pushback.”
She said since they made that vote, she would support brining this back citing the council needed to be consistent in their actions. She admitted it would make some people not feel comfortable but they set a precedent.
Oerlemans shot back on a set of words being divisive – a national motto being displayed in the city council chambers.
“Its kinda hurts a little bit in the sense of what I have done my entire life in protecting the country. And there are people who don’t like that American Flag, but we still fly it. You said there are people who don’t like us saying the pledge of allegiance, but we still do it,” said Oerlemans.
He also took issue with the mayors claim stating they do things to “fix it” when they really just do things because they want to do it and it represents what the council believes. He also again said he brought it forward because he was asked and it was the national motto and just as he respects the flag, and respects the Pledge of Allegiance while wearing the uniforms over the last 40-years to present all of the things.
“It’s not to divide our country, its not to divide our citizens,” said Oerlemans who added, “flying flags out in front of city hall could be divisive to someway to our community.”
Councilmember Faye Maloney called it a difficult topic for her given her childhood and being abducted to the Middle East saying her whole life was ruined over religion.
“I believe in freedom of religion but would not push it on anybody. This is a welcoming place for everybody and this is very triggering,” said Maloney who said she would not participate in any vote and would abstain.
Mendoza said religion was so important to her she sent her kids to Catholic School but called this item divisive.
“There are a lot of us who might not use the word God in the Pledge of Allegiance because it was not there originally. I do believe in a separation because I always want to be welcoming to everyone who is not Christian,” said Mendoza.
She continued, stating “it feels icky” and just 2.4% of cities in the country are doing this while calling it a “narrative” people are using to honor 250 years as a sales pitch – but there is no correlation between the motto and 250 years.
“Also, I don’t know who sent the email, is it a Christian cult, is it someone extreme, I don’t know who sent it, it just feels weird,” said Mendoza. “I don’t want to support something that might be sinister.”
She agreed it was divisive and they all didn’t have to agree, but said the “Muslim population is one of the fastest growing populations that we have in the city of Brentwood and it would break my heart to hurt any single one of them and that is what it feels like it is doing,” said Mendoza.
Maloney added it wasn’t just Muslim population, but many other different religions and it was important to separate church and state. Saying in American there is freedom to be whoever you want and practice whatever religion one wants.
Oerlemans agreed 100% while stating he still doesn’t know how “In God We Trust” would change that. He then motioned to bring this back.
Item died in a 2-2 vote with Maloney abstaining.
To watch the council meeting, click here