Thread: TX: Two New Mayors Plan Alliance on Illegal Immigration

KERA
Two New Mayors Plan Alliance on Illegal Immigration
BJ Austin

DALLAS, TX (2008-05-21) Ron Branson says when Farmers Branch cracked down on illegal immigrants with a couple of rental ordinances, Carrollton - next door - became the default sanctuary city. And he says a lot of people he talked to on the campaign trail didn't like that.

Branson: "I very much admired the steps that Farmers Branch was doing to protect their citizens. They were really on the cutting edge, courageous with what they were doing."

Branson says he will LEARN from Farmers Branch.

Branson: "We're gonna take what they did. And what Irving's done, and what legal tools that we have here. And I'm going to put together a committee, a cross section of our community, and we're going to evaluate our ordinances: what needs to be strengthen, what needs to be changed, what needs to be added."

Branson promises some action on illegal immigration, but he says he's not interested in overlaying what Farmers Branch has done. He says he wants an illegal immigration plan that will suit Carrollton's needs.

http://publicbroadcasting.net/kera/news ... ectionID=1

KERA
Illegal Immigration Foe Becomes Mayor
Shelley Kofler

DALLAS, TX (2008-05-21) With his hand on a Bible, attorney Tim O'Hare, promised to uphold the laws of the land.

As a councilmember O'Hare sought to drive illegal immigrants from Farmers Branch with ordinances that would require tenants to prove their citizenship. As mayor he says he'll continue that fight in court.

O'Hare: "The cost of illegal immigration is very real you see it in the schools you see it in the hospitals it affects neighborhoods it affects property values and anyone who claims it doesn't affect those things is not being honest"

O'Hare takes the reins from Mayor Bob Phelps who was feted by citizens for his 21 years on the council working for no pay. He called the last year of immigration debate the toughest, and said he's especially proud of the tax rebates given when revenues were good.

Phelps: "We were the first city in the country to pay a dividend to every citizen, business and residential and we did that two years in a row."

Phelps says he's leaving the city nearly debt free, but the cost of immigration lawsuits is around a million dollars and climbing.

http://publicbroadcasting.net/kera/news ... ectionID=1

I certainly congratulate Phelps on his acomplishments but i absolutly
disagree on his opinion on our ordinance and look forward to new leadership in our city .