The CARE policy is not symbolic. It is strategic.
While it may not create new institutions or funding streams, it has real legal, procedural, and political consequences. CARE is a non-cooperation policy—a legal firewall that says Ventura will not help enforce unconstitutional federal targeting based on gender identity, immigration status, or reproductive healthcare decisions.
What CARE Actually Does
CARE is designed to set boundaries, clearly and publicly, about what Ventura will—and will not—participate in. Specifically, it directs Ventura’s city departments, staff, and resources to:
- Refuse to assist in any federal or state action that targets individuals based on gender identity, immigration status, or reproductive choices
- Withhold city resources—such as staff time, data sharing, facilities, or equipment—from any identity-based enforcement action
- Instruct city officials to not comply with unconstitutional orders, especially those that conflict with California law or the U.S. Constitution
- Establish a position of record so that state and federal agencies are on notice: Ventura will not be complicit in targeting marginalized communities
It’s More Than a Message—It’s a Legal Line in the Sand
CARE puts Ventura’s policies in writing and into law, making it much harder for future administrations or outside agencies to exploit the city’s silence or ambiguity.
By passing CARE:
- Ventura creates a legal foundation for challenging future federal overreach
- It protects city staff by giving them lawful guidance on how to respond
- It provides transparency to the public about where the city stands
- It ensures that Ventura’s values are not just symbolic—they are enforceable
This isn’t just about feelings. It’s about legal clarity in a time of confusion and fear.
Without CARE, There’s a Vacuum
If Ventura doesn’t pass CARE—or passes only a watered-down version—the city risks:
- Having no policy to protect city workers who want to stand up
- Sending a message of compliance to state and federal agencies
- Leaving trans residents, immigrants, and others unprotected and unheard
CARE may not build a fortress, but it builds a boundary and we have to start somewhere.
Bottom Line
CARE is not just a statement of values—it’s a commitment to act on them.
It’s legal. It’s enforceable. And it’s one of the most meaningful things a city can do right now to protect the people who are most at risk.
Ventura has the chance to lead—not just with words, but with law.
CARE is how we start.