Thread: Arcadia mayor’s immigration proposals spur anger, confusion

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Published - Sunday, August 20, 2006


Latinos look for answers: Arcadia mayor’s immigration proposals spur anger, confusion

By Chris Hubbuch / Lee Newspapers

ARCADIA, Wis. — About 90 people gathered Saturday in a stuffy church basement to hear their mayor’s proposal to make English the official city language translated into Spanish.

Anger and confusion have gripped the Latino community in Arcadia since Mayor John Kimmel introduced his plan in an Aug. 10 column in the weekly News-Leader.

In addition to restricting all official communication to English, Kimmel proposed to require an American flag to fly alongside any other national flag; alert federal agents to residents’ complaints of undocumented workers; and to penalize businesses that employ undocumented workers and landlords who rent to them.

“They want to know what’s going on and find out what they can do,” said Joyce Stellick, an interpreter who led the meeting at Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

In recent years, mostly Mexican immigrants have flocked to this ethnically homogenous city of 2,402, drawn by jobs at local factories and nearby dairy farms.

The Rev. Michael Klos said he began offering a weekly Spanish-language Mass in May that usually draws 85 to 100 people. “We’re here to help them do what we’ve all had to do: integrate without losing our identity,” Klos said.

Klos opened the meeting by leading a prayer.

“It’s important to know the church stands behind you,” Klos told the group, as Stellick translated his words into Spanish. (Although he is able to memorize prayers and his homilies in Spanish, he does not speak the language.) “You are going through the same thing now that my great-great-grandparents went through 80 years ago.”

Attorneys and immigration specialists came from Madison and Milwaukee to offer support and information. A few local non-Latinos attended.

Most came to listen. Many said they feel Kimmel is targeting all Latinos because of a few who drive drunk or get into fights.

Veronica Cano, who manages a hair salon in Arcadia, said after the meeting that Latinos were angered by the suggestion that immigrants create a drain on public resources.

“We work. We pay taxes, too,” she said.

Emma Hanson, an interpreter who lives in nearby Blair, said the mayor’s words not only alienated the immigrant community, but also Ashley Furniture and Gold ‘N Plump chicken, the city’s two largest employers, which both have Latino workers.

Mateo Barrientos said he worked at Ashley for 10 years before moving to Arcadia in 2004 and opened San Juan Mini Market on Main Street.

Barrientos, originally from Mexico, thinks the Latino population in Arcadia and the surrounding area has grown three-fold in the two years he’s had his store. He estimates there are now about 300, although he does not know how many are in this country legally.

Barrientos said he knows Kimmel and believes he is a nice person. But he is troubled by the column.

“I can’t believe what he (wrote),” Barrientos said. “For me, it sounds racist.”

Kimmel did not attend the meeting Saturday. He said he plans to schedule a future meeting to hear the concerns of the Hispanic community.

Stellick said the next step for the Latino community is to write their thoughts and concerns so that their community leaders can share them with the mayor at the next meeting.

Klos assured the group that while they may feel threatened by local people with power, there are others working on their behalf. He said a short prayer, then offered some advice: “Let us remember what Jesus said: Love your enemies and pray for your persecutors.”

“We work. We pay taxes, too,” she said.

Really? I'd like to see proof of this.