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Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Day-labor solicitation down 55 to 80 percent in parts of Orange
Six areas of city notorious for large congregations of day laborers seeing less activity.
By ELLYN PAK


ORANGE – Day-labor solicitation in six areas of the city notorious for drawing large numbers of workers has drastically diminished, city officials reported.

"It seems to be diminishing here in Orange," said City Manager John Sibley at Tuesday's council meeting.

The areas, which used to average 49 to 206 day laborers daily near hardware stores, doughnut shops and conveniences stores, now see about 10 to 93 laborers per day – a 55 percent to 80 percent reduction, according to the City Attorney's Office.

Solicitation has only increased near the city-run Resource Center, which is open for day laborers to look for work.

Officials attribute the decrease in numbers to a set of ordinances enacted in January, including banning solicitation from sidewalks next to streets without parking lanes and by people while driving on a city street.

The ordinances also ban solicitation from private property without the owner's approval; soliciting in traffic lanes; and solicitation from medians or driveways on a public right of way.

Also, in March, the city started requiring city businesses that wanted to allow day laborers to congregate on their property and those that want to employ them to get a permit. No owner has applied for such a permit.

City Attorney David DeBerry said that as anticipated, only 11 of 33 people cited appeared. He said that the success of the enacted ordinances will not require the city to take more drastic measures, including an earlier proposal to require solicitors to attain permits.

www.ocregister.com