HUNTINGTON BEACH CITY HALL (Tribune photo).

The ideological split among members of the Huntington Beach City Council continued this week as a controversial program of “historic heritage” programs was approved on a 4-3 vote on Tuesday.

In favor were Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark, Mayor Pro Tem Pat Burns and Councilmembers Casey McKeon and Tony Strickland. Opposed were Councilmembers Rhonda Bolton, Dan Kalmick, and Natalie Moser.

As proposed, “each month will be dedicated to a specific theme highlighting significant events landmarks and influential figures that have shaped the history of our nation, state and city.”

Critics on the council and elsewhere raised objections over a program that – to some – reflected a conservative historical agenda with a specific ban on “identity politics.”

Removed from the schedule were Black History Month (January) and Women’s History Month (March). Included was “Black Gold Jubilee – Honoring the Discovery of Oil” (November).

The final vote did involve placing a Holocaust observance in January. City staff was directed to return within 60 days “with a process for individual day and week programs.”

Tuesday’s meeting of the council was the last of 2023. The first meeting of the new year will be on Tuesday, Jan. 16.