Thread: Costa Mesa merchants in immigration debate (pics)

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/ne ... 067231.php

Thursday, March 23, 2006
Costa Mesa merchants in immigration debate

Some businesses plan to protest the city's stand on proposed changes in enforcement.
By KIMBERLY EDDS
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

COSTA MESA – Every Thursday for the past few weeks, a group of hairdressers, auto mechanics and restaurant owners has quietly gathered to talk about lost dollars and customers. They say a move by Costa Mesa lawmakers to become the first city in the nation to allow local police to enforce federal immigration laws is to blame.

The group, which has swelled to 50 members, plans to take its meetings public this morning, to City Hall.

They say their customers - fearful of being questioned about their immigration status if they head for Costa Mesa shops - are spending their money in Santa Ana and Garden Grove. Some business owners report as much as a 40 percent drop in business after the City Council's vote to pursue the enforcement of immigration laws. Hispanics make up a third of Costa Mesa's population.

"It is very bad for our businesses," said Gustavo Venegas, who opened Venegas Auto Mechanic & Towing on West 19th Street 10 years ago. "You go to McDonald's - the people who work inside are Hispanic. The customers who go there are Hispanic."

Other businesses haven't seen a change.

"Every once in a while someone will bring it up," said Vincent Hicks, who runs Patrick's Pub on Harbor Boulevard. "I've heard both sides, but it hasn't impacted our business."

Following efforts by Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona, the city is seeking an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to train officers to investigate whether violent career felons are in the country illegally.

Business owners who cater to the region's Hispanic population say what the policy does or doesn't do isn't what is important. It's the perception of people that is costing them customers - and money.

Businesses have become the public flashpoint for an emotional debate that has expanded far beyond the city's borders.

A handful of protesters angry about the city's stance has made demonstrations in front of Councilman Gary Monahan's restaurant, Skosh Monahan's, a weekly ritual. The protesters insist the policy is just a first step in racial profiling. Monahan voted for it.

Across town, members of the Minuteman Project, who oppose illegal immigration, have paced the sidewalks outside El Chinaco Mexican restaurant the last two Fridays. They waved signs accusing owner Mirna Burciaga, an El Salvador native, of being a racist for speaking against the policy.

Mayor Allan Mansoor, who is leading the push for the policy, argues it is aimed at the worst of the worst. The city will be safer for it, he said.

Venegas said the debate over the immigration policy is costing him money. He doesn't want to move but if the rhetoric doesn't die down soon he might not have any choice.

Trying to address some of the concerns, city officials have been out in force, speaking to community groups, large and small.

"Some of that fear is going to be pervasive," City Manager Allan Roeder said. "No matter how many groups you speak to and how many times you try to explain it, it is a very difficult one to dispel."

CONTACT US: (714) 445-6689 or kedds@ocregister.com

http://media.putfile.com/Pot-Holes

http://media.putfile.com/Wacko14

http://media.putfile.com/brokebutt_border

http://media.putfile.com/Wackos_Disrespect_Americans

http://www.immigrationwatchdog.com/?page_id=531

OK...not meaning to sound harsh or dismissive here, but should we really care if business catering to illegal aliens are hurting? We have several places in our town that are prospering because they cater specifically to the community of illegal aliens in our town, and I would not be at all upset if they went out of business, and in fact I see them as a part of the problem. Such businesses encourage more of and unwanted group of people to settle in our area, and then the more that settle here, the more businesses that open their doors catering to these illegal, and one shop at a time the flavor of our town is being lost and replaced.

I put businesses catering to illegals right up there with absentee landlords who rent out tenements to 20 or 30 illegals. They destroy communities and bring in a criminal element I do not want to see in my town, and so them losing business because we are taking charge of the illegal alien problem and dealing with it in a responsible way is their problem, not ours. This community needs to stick to its guns, and take whatever steps are needed to protect those who are living there legally, rather than worrying about lose of revenue from illegal aliens afraid to come into town...let them move on down the road, or better yet return to their home countries.

Pinto Bean

Pinto Bean, I couldn't agree more. There's no tragedy here.

Let those businesses leave, go out of business, whatever. They will be replaced by businesses who cater to legal immigrants/citizens. If the immigration laws had been enforced like they should have, those businesses would not have ever existed in the first place, so better they are gone.

I'm a native-born American, I joined the U.S. Army in 1969 when the U.S. was at war with the North Vietnamese Communists and I pulled two tours in South Vietnam when many young Americans refused to serve at all, I am a licensed driver who's never had an accident, my old van is registered and insured (has been for many years) but I'm harassed when I drive down the roads and streets where I live.

One night I was returning from a visit and I just wanted to get back home and go to bed because I was tired. I don't smoke anything, drink booze, nor do illegal or prescription drugs. I spotted a road block up ahead at the 4-way stop light. I "hooked" a right at Cemetery Road before going down the hill which leads to my small town. I calmly drove parallel to the main road, crossed another major road, pulled up to my brother's house, and started to walk in the door. A state trooper’s patrol car rushed up with the lights on, he yelled at me that he wanted to speak to me, and I replied, "Sorry, but I'm home." I walked into my brother's house. The trooper turned on his siren. My brother wanted to know what was going on. I told him I had by-passed the road block by taking Cemetery Road. We sat there watching TV. Finally the policeman went away. I wasn't doing anything illegal at all, I just wanted to be left alone to carry on my little life in a small town.

Another time, I noticed one of my head lights was out. I didn't have two low-beams. I told myself I'd fix it soon. I went to bed and I got up before daylight. I drove over to the nearest large town, about 15 miles away, to shop at Wal-Mart and to buy a head light for my old pickup truck. I had some old computer monitors in the bed of my pickup. (Many years ago, I had a bad experience with a Louisville Police Department cop because I had an old cold-check charge that had been settled years before but was still on the computer. He threatened me for the better part of a half-hour or more. Two other patrol cars came and I begged to be arrested properly. Finally, after failing to push me into swinging on him, the damn cop took me to jail. That was what I had told him earlier: Get me into the system! I was out in about four hours and I took care of the computer glitch in court the following day.) Anyway, I passed a cop car near the town square. The cop followed. He turned on his lights. I continued at a normal speed to Wal-Mart and waved for him to follow. He rushed up and hand-cuffed me. I didn't care how rough he got because the incident was being recorded by Wal-Mart's security cameras. The cop searched my old pickup truck thoroughly. Another cop car arrived. I told the first policeman why I didn't pull over right away. I was given a ticket for no head light. Now, when I want to go to Wal-Mart and it‘s night, I avoid that town, preferring to go to another town which is 5 miles farther away because I know I won’t be bothered by the cops.

The illegal immigrants had better get used to not being free because they moved to a country that's a police state!

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intr. & tr.v. aid·ed, aid·ing, aids
To help or furnish with help, support, or relief. See Synonyms at help.
n.
1. The act or result of helping; assistance.
2.
a. An assistant or helper.
b. A device that assists: visual aids such as slides.
c. A hearing aid.
3. An aide or aide-de-camp.
4. A monetary payment to a feudal lord by a vassal in medieval England.

aider n.

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tr.v. a·bet·ted, a·bet·ting, a·bets
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2. To urge, encourage, or help (a person): abetted the thief in robbing the bank.

a·betment n.
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