Eureka will discontinue prayer breakfasts as part of a settlement stemming from a 2013 lawsuit seeking the separation of church and local government.
The Times-Standard reports that, in addition to no longer sponsoring or endorsing the prayer breakfasts (which Mayor Frank Jager conducted specifically in his capacity as mayor), the city will pay $16,500 to cover legal costs incurred during the lawsuit.
When the lawsuit was filed, Jager told the Journal, “If they want to sue us, fine, we’ll take them on.”
Commenting on the settlement, Jager told the Times-Standard he would have preferred the city go to court over the lawsuit, but that “the council wanted to get it over with and not have this thing drag on.”
The lawsuit also sought to stop invocations before city council meetings (a practice that has been ruled constitutional by the Supreme Court) but was denied by a local judge. Attorney Peter Martin, who brought the lawsuit, says he will appeal that decision.
Related Stories
This article appears in Last Rites.
This is the guy that appointed Alex Stillman to the NCRA board, then had councilman Mike Newman unceremoniously boot her off.
The guy that cost Eureka hundreds of thousands of dollars to wrongfully terminate the police chief within a year of his contract anniversary date.
The guy that wants to raise sales taxes that disproportionately effect the poor.
The guy that failed to support a fair wage that would keep Eureka’s working families out of poverty.
Jager made a big point about having “no agenda” when he ran for office.
His agenda is both unethical and costly for this community.
Thank god!
I am Glad that the city is cutting its losses early. We are going to need the money to defend the city against the multi-million dollar lawsuit the murderers on the police force have gotten us into.
I think the courts have ruled that a human life in wrongful death cases is only worth the remainder of their earning potential at their job.
Vote “yes’ on Measure “R”.