Brentwood's City Council will give staff direction on Tuesday, Oct. 27, on whether and how to display "In God We Trust" in the council chambers, Contra Costa News reported. The item is on the council's 7 p.m. agenda.
Why it matters: The motto has split the council, and the cost could range from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands if the city surveys residents first.
How it got here
Councilmember Tony Oerlemans asked for the item. On Aug. 11, Oerlemans and Councilmember Pa'Tanisha Pierson voted yes, Mayor Susannah Meyer and Councilmember Jovita Mendoza voted no, and Councilmember Faye Maloney abstained.
Contra Costa News first reported in August that the item died on the split. Its latest report says the vote counts as a 3-2 affirmative result under city code, which brought the item back.
Costs and options
- A display could cost from about $500 for a plaque to $5,000 or more.
- A representative resident survey could cost about $20,000.
The arguments
Oerlemans said in August that about 150 California cities and counties display the motto, including Oakley, and pointed to Clovis, where a survey showed 68% support. Mendoza said she didn't see a link between the motto and America's 250th anniversary. Contra Costa News reported in August that opponents saw the motto as too divisive.