Panel recommends Olympia repeal Nuclear Free Zone law

BY MATT BATCHELDOR | The Olympian • Published August 27, 2008

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An Olympia City Council committee voted 3-0 this afternoon to recommend repealing the city's Nuclear Free Zone ordinance.

The matter now goes to the full council.

The law, adopted in 2005, bans nuclear weapons and bars the city from doing business with companies associated with them, with some exceptions.

It requires the mayor to write to representatives of nuclear-armed countries and other entities each year and tell them of the city's nuclear-free status.

Councilman Jeff Kingsbury proposed the repeal, saying the law is a "showpiece" that doesn't accomplish anything, and a number of people have called or wrote that were critical of it.

Proponents of the law say it sends a valuable message and has much community support.