Thread: CA-HEMET BACKS ARIZONA MEASURE

HEMET BACKS ARIZONA MEASURE

The Press Enterprise (Riverside, CA.)
June 23, 2010
BY BRIAN ROKOS

The Hemet City Council on Tuesday approved a resolution supporting Arizona's anti-illegal immigration law, a symbolic action that had the very real effect of drawing an overflow crowd of more than 100 people to council chambers.

About two dozen spoke, often passionately, with the vast majority imploring the council not to approve the resolution.

After about 1 1/2 hours, by a 4-0 vote with Councilman Jim Foreman absent, Hemet became one of only a few California cities to formally support the law. Upwards of a dozen have taken stances against it.

Susan Bennett, of Tuolumne County, who is visiting friends in Homeland, opposed the resolution.

"America was built on immigration," she said to boos and hisses. "Not everyone comes here to take. They come here to better themselves."

Eugene Stock, of Hemet, supported the resolution.

"For the past six years, our federal government has failed to have any border security," he said.

Others praised Mayor Eric McBride, who brought the resolution to the council.

The law requires Arizona police officers during a "lawful stop, detention or arrest" to detain people they reasonably suspect are in the country without authorization and to verify their status with federal officials.

Opponents fear it will lead to racial profiling and harassment of Hispanics. Proponents say the federal government has not done enough to secure the nation's borders.

The vote won't affect how its Police Department operates, Capt. Dave Brown said.

"Our practice is, when a person is arrested and booked in our facility and we're not able to confirm their identity, we may inquire with ICE," Brown said.

Hemet's resolution states in part, "Whereas the State of Arizona, in the dire straits of enduring the brunt of most of the illegal crossings of the national border, has passed Arizona Senate Bill 1070 … Therefore be it resolved that the City Council of Hemet stands with the people of Arizona and applauds the State of Arizona and Governor Jan Brewer for its recent action to protect and defend its citizens, our country, and the sovereignty of the United States of America."

In other action Tuesday, the City Council approved a 2010-11 budget that includes the loss of five positions in the Police Department - three officers among them - and the layoff of one Public Works employee as part of an effort to eliminate a $5 million shortfall.

The council also approved some drastic cuts - closing Hemet Public Library and the Simpson Center and laying off four more police employees - that won't come to fruition as long as the city can win about $3 million in wage concessions from employees.

Reach Brian Rokos at 951-763-3464 or brokos@PE.com

Chris Baca is among the overflow crowd who attended the Hemet City Council meeting Tuesday night where the council voted 4-0 to show support for Arizona's tougher anti-illegal immigration law.

Mark Zaleski The Press-Enterprise

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Yea! gotta like it when a CALIFORNIA city backs arizona and immigration laws