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  1. #1
    Senior Member concernedmother's Avatar
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    Escondido City Council Approves Ban on Renting to Illegals

    http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006..._0010_4_06.txt

    Escondido council approves illegal immigrant rental ban

    By: NOELLE IBRAHIM - Staff Writer

    ESCONDIDO ---- Throngs of supporters and opponents of a proposed anti-illegal immigrant rental ordinance chipped in their two cents in a public hearing Wednesday night before the City Council was scheduled to vote on the matter.
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    Shortly after 10 p.m., the council voted in favor of the ordinance 3-2, with Councilmen Sam Abed and Ed Gallo and Councilwoman Marie Waldron voting yes. Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler and Councilman Ron Newman voted against the proposal.


    A packed room of more than 200 local residents, landlords and human rights activists engaged in public comment before the vote. Each speaker initially was granted two minutes to voice an opinion, either supporting or denouncing the rental ban, then the speaking time was cut to one minute each to accommodate more than 50 eager speakers.

    The session opened with an emotional Pledge of Allegiance, which some audience members ended with "liberty and justice for all Americans."

    "We do want to hear from everyone who wishes to speak," said Escondido Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler, who directed the discussion, cutting off people who went over their allotted time.

    Estela De Los Rios, director of human rights at the Center for Social Advocacy, began her speech by trying to differentiate between the terms "illegal aliens" and "undocumented workers."

    "Aliens are from outer space," she said, as a dozen local media stations present pointed their cameras in her direction. Police were positioned on the opposite side of the room as a safety precaution.

    De Los Rios opposed the ordinance, saying that it could lead to racial profiling.

    "I'm brown, so racially I'm going to be profiled from this day on," she said. "Immigration is a humane issue that should be left up to the federal government to define and fix."

    Shortly after De Los Rios exited the podium, the audience broke into a boisterous round of applause, which Pfeiler made clear she would not tolerate.

    "If anything like that happens again, we'll clear the room and start again," she warned the audience.

    Jim Brabant, a long-time Escondido resident and landlord, said he would be pleased to abide by the terms of the ordinance if passed.

    "I want to thank the council for having the guts to bring this issue to the forefront," he said. "It's time for the game-playing in this country to come to an end."

    Some speakers, like Roy Garrett, urged the council to take more time to consider, consult and confer on the issue, growing more passionate with every word he spoke.

    "We're supposed to be one nation," said Garrett, citing the Pledge of Allegiance. "If you can't make us one, get out of the chair."

    Garrett continued to speak after his time was up, causing some audience members to boo him off stage.

    Penny Magnotto said the problem of illegal immigration stems from Mexico's inability to run their own country or rule their own people.

    "Stop leeching off the American people," she said, bringing her speech to a close.

    Some ordinance supporters held up flyers with a picture of Councilman Sam Abed's face when speakers praised him for supporting the rental ban. The script read, "We love you Sam."

    A council majority has regularly voiced support for the rental ban, which was first proposed by Councilwoman Waldron.

    Under the conditions of the ban, the city would only take action after a complaint is filed with the city's business license division by a resident, official or business owner. The complaints would have to describe the alleged violators. However any complaint based primarily on a person's race, ethnicity or national origin would be discarded.

    Complaints deemed valid would be investigated by the city, and landlords would be required to submit identification documents for the tenants in question. The city would verify the documents with federal immigration agencies.

    If the renters are found to be in the country illegally, landlords would be required to remove the tenants within five days, or have their business license suspended, meaning they could not legally collect rent or lease their property. Landlords who repeatedly violate the ban would face misdemeanor charges, which carry penalties of up to $1,000 and/or six months in jail.

    The ordinance is almost certain to face legal challenges. Civil rights groups including the American Civil Liberties Union and Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund have promised to take the city to court to prevent the ban from taking effect.

    The council was also scheduled Wednesday to consider whether it should implement a system to track the costs of enforcing ordinance, including employee training and legal battles.

    -- Staff writer David Fried contributed to this report. Contact staff writer Noelle Ibrahim at (760) 761-4404 or nibrahim@nctimes.com.
    <div>"True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else."
    - Clarence Darrow</div>

  2. #2
    Senior Member concernedmother's Avatar
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    http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/n...1n5immig1.html

    Escondido council OKs immigration ordinance
    By J. Harry Jones
    UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER

    10:49 p.m. October 4, 2006

    ESCONDIDO – The national immigration debate rocked Escondido on Wednesday night when the City Council passed a highly divisive ordinance that would prohibit landlords from renting to illegal immigrants.
    Every chair in the 350-seat council chambers was filled and the meeting was broadcast live at a park next door where hundreds more watched the council debate the measure.
    It was approved by a 3-2 vote and will be the first of its kind in the state. It will not become law until a second reading in two weeks, followed by a 30-day waiting period.

    Speaker after speaker decried the law as racist and inhumane, only to be followed by speakers praising the council for standing up for Escondido and America.

    Police lined the walls of the meeting room, and everyone who entered had to pass through metal detectors. Outside, officers formed a line to keep the two sides separated. City officials had about 200 officers from several jurisdictions in the county on hand.

    The Escondido vote comes at a time when illegal immigration is one of the polarizing topics locally and nationwide.

    It is estimated that more than 11 million undocumented immigrants live in the United States. Some advocate deporting all of them because they entered the country illegally and are taking jobs from U.S. citizens. Others want to offer the undocumented immigrants a path to citizenship, saying they are vital to the nation's economy and are only trying to better their lives.

    Some in the crowd Wednesday night gave council members Marie Waldron, Sam Abed and Ed Gallo a standing ovation as they walked in. Three hours later, they voted for the ordinance.

    When Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler and Councilman Ron Newman, opponents of the law, entered the chambers, they were met with rousing applause and some boos.

    Several times, Pfeiler threatened to end the meeting because of unruly behavior.
    More than 75 people spoke during the meeting. Attorney Roy Garrett reminded the council of the Pledge of Allegiance, which includes the words “one nation under God.”

    “No God says let them do your work then sleep in the canyon! Nobody's God!” Garrett said.

    Jim Brabant, an Escondido resident and landlord, said he supports and will abide by the law if passed.

    “Thank you for not giving in to the baseless charges of racism. There are a lot of good people in this city who heartily support what you are doing. The chaos of the border may be the purview of the federal government, but its effect is on our cities.”

    Others begged Waldron, Abed and Gallo to change their minds or at least delay a decision.

    Under the ordinance, residents, businesses and city officials can file written complaints with the city if they suspect a landlord is renting to illegal immigrants. Complaints based “solely or primarily on the basis of national origin, ethnicity, or race shall be deemed invalid,” the ordinance says.

    After complaints are filed, landlords would have to provide documentation to the city of their tenants' immigration status. The city would then ask the federal government to verify the documents.

    If tenants are found to be illegal immigrants, landlords would be given 10 days to evict them or face suspension of their business licenses. Repeat offenders could face misdemeanor charges and fines.

    Exactly what percentage of Escondido's 140,000 residents are here illegally is difficult to determine.

    Latinos make up about 42 percent of the city's population, according to the San Diego Association of Governments. Many are longtime residents who are citizens or are living here legally. A significant number, however, are undocumented immigrants, though the government has no official way to determine that figure.

    About 90 minutes before the council meeting started at 7 p.m., people began gathering. Each side shouted at the other, but no serious incidents or arrests occurred.

    More than 100 Minutemen supporters, some waving American flags or holding placards, turned out to support the ordinance, said Jeff Schwilk, founder of the San Diego Minutemen chapter.

    On the other side of the police line, Escondido activist Danny Perez spoke to hundreds who turned out to oppose the measure. “We're families, we're not animals,” he said.

    Perez said the crowd, overwhelmingly of Mexican descent, represents the city's diversity.

    At one point, the opponents, standing behind a Mexican flag, chanted “USA! USA! USA!” From the other side, people shouted, “Liars! Liars! Liars!”

    After the council meeting began, the Latino crowd moved to Grape Day Park next to City Hall and watched the proceedings on TV.

    As Congress and President Bush haggle over competing bills on illegal immigration, some cities have tried to address aspects of the issue.

    In Vista, an ordinance passed in June requiring employers to register with the city before hiring day laborers off the street.

    Last week, National City Mayor Nick Inzunza declared his city an immigrant sanctuary in a proclamation he presented to immigrant-rights activists. In a sanctuary city, municipal funds cannot be used to enforce federal immigration laws, which was already the case in National City under existing city policies.

    City Attorney Jeffrey Epp said Escondido's ordinance is consistent with federal law and is similar to the housing portion of an ordinance in Hazleton, Pa., which the American Civil Liberties Union and others are challenging in federal court.

    In July, Hazleton, with a population of 31,000, became the first city in the nation to pass such a law, and other cities throughout the country are considering similar ordinances. Escondido is the largest city to pass one.
    <div>"True patriotism hates injustice in its own land more than anywhere else."
    - Clarence Darrow</div>

  3. #3
    Senior Member CCUSA's Avatar
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    Horray!!!

    Another town brings law and order back to America!!!!!
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

  4. #4
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    Yeah!!!

  5. #5
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    Estela De Los Rios, director of human rights at the Center for Social Advocacy, began her speech by trying to differentiate between the terms "illegal aliens" and "undocumented workers."

    "Aliens are from outer space," she said, as a dozen local media stations present pointed their cameras in her direction. Police were positioned on the opposite side of the room as a safety precaution.

    De Los Rios opposed the ordinance, saying that it could lead to racial profiling.

    "I'm brown, so racially I'm going to be profiled from this day on," she said. "Immigration is a humane issue that should be left up to the federal government to define and fix."
    First.......YIPPEEEE

    2nd....I keep wondering just WHO and WHEN was Immigration defined as a HUMANE ISSUE??
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

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