Thread: CA:Controversial Comment about Farm Workers Outrages Communi

Controversial Comment about Farm Workers Outrages Community

Posted: Feb 5, 2009 10:43 PM PST

Controversial Comment about Farm Workers Outrages Community

By Ashley Ritchie and Winston Whitehurst

Leon Borunda and his mom, Christine, were watching KMPH Wednesday night when they heard a comment that stopped them dead in their tracks.

"They're not even American citizens for starters. Do you think we should employ illegal aliens? What parent raises their child to be a farm worker? These kids are the least educated people in America or the southwest corner of this Valley. They turn to lives of crime. They go on welfare. They get into drug trafficking and they join gangs," Lloyd Carter said.

Carter, with the California Water Impact Network, was responding to our questions about the thousands of families that will be left jobless and destroyed if water from the Delta isn't allowed to be pumped to the Westside.

The statement sent shockwaves through the Valley.

"I just felt that he was totally, totally out of line," Christine Carrasco said.

"For him to say these things about these people, about them being gang members, being on welfare, living a life of crime, that's a stereotype and I don't think that should be tolerated," Leon Borunda said.

After the story aired, our newsroom was flooded with phone calls and emails expressing similar disgust.

Domingo Zapata wrote, "Mr. Carter's comments made me sick to my stomach. I am a Mexican American that lives in the Central Valley and I was offended and very upset with the stupidity of Mr. Carter's assumptions of all illegal aliens in the Central Valley."

Robert Solis said, "We are not drug dealers and not on welfare. We are Americans born here in the U.S.A."

"I hope he makes a sincere apology and I hope that you're sorry," Borunda said looking to Carter.

We contacted Carter, who refused to go on camera. But he did give us the following statement.

"I regret what I said and how I said it impugned the integrity of hard-working farm workers. I do stand by the remark that farm workers don't want their children to grow up to be farm workers. They want them to be nurses, doctors and lawyers.

I feel very badly. I don't have a racist bone in my body, but clearly there is a big social problem as a result of bringing in thousands of farm workers."

Leon and Christine agree that Carter's word choice could have been better, and now they've got some words of their own.

"Summer's coming, I'd like to see him out picking grapes," Carrasco said.

"He can go to Oregon, there's plenty of water there," Borunda said.

It's a good lesson in choosing your words wisely.

Carter also said it was wrong to create the impression that every farm worker is a criminal.

Meanwhile, the United Farm Workers will be holding a meeting Friday at noon to discuss the issue.

Carter is a board member of the California Water Impact Network as well as the president of the California Save our Streams Council.

http://www.kmph.com/Global/story.asp?S=9799495

"They're not even American citizens for starters. Do you think we should employ illegal aliens? What parent raises their child to be a farm worker? These kids are the least educated people in America or the southwest corner of this Valley. They turn to lives of crime. They go on welfare. They get into drug trafficking and they join gangs," Lloyd Carter said.

THE TRUTH!

"For him to say these things about these people, about them being gang members, being on welfare, living a life of crime, that's a stereotype and I don't think that should be tolerated," Leon Borunda said.

The TRUTH hurts!

Domingo Zapata wrote, "Mr. Carter's comments made me sick to my stomach. I am a Mexican American that lives in the Central Valley and I was offended and very upset with the stupidity of Mr. Carter's assumptions of all illegal aliens in the Central Valley."

So 10 people aren't illegal, big deal ...

I feel very badly. I don't have a racist bone in my body, but clearly there is a big social problem as a result of bringing in thousands of farm workers."

Like you lose your counry and culture when they come here ILLEGALLY and make demands involving my taxpayer monies? Illegal's are not, and should not be welcomed here by anyone. But they do get a nice ride to the border!

Would there even be a water shortage if illegals weren't allowed in Cali? What that person said about illegals is true!