Thread: California resident’s immigration initiative receives mayora

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?news ... 5154&rfi=6

06/20/2006
California resident’s immigration initiative receives mayoral opposition
BY NICHOLE DOBO
STAFF WRITER


Nearly 3,000 miles west of Hazleton, Joseph Turner spent months gathering enough signatures to put an initiative to fight illegal immigration on the ballot.


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Turns out, that initiative is nearly identical to the ordinance proposed last week in Hazleton by Mayor Lou Barletta.

Both seek to punish landlords who rent to illegal immigrants. Both would revoke the business permits of for-profit entities that employ illegal immigrants. Both seek to make English the “official” city language.

The difference is, in San Bernardino, Calif., Turner is fighting to get the law approved over the protests from the city’s mayor, Patrick J. Morris, as California residents can propose laws with enough voter support. In Hazleton, the mayor is fighting to pass the ordinance and seems to have enough support from city council to get the measure passed next month.

The mayor of San Bernardino considers the proposed local law as “rational as stabbing yourself in the eye,” said Jim Morris, the mayor’s chief of staff.

City Hall is concerned about the legality of the initiative, which would likely cost taxpayers a minimum of $750,000 to defend in federal court.

Besides the legal challenge, Morris said the initiative would drive businesses away, distract local police from fighting crime and give the city a bad name.

“It’s a costly and stupid message to send,” Morris said.

Politicians are often hesitant to take a hard stance against immigration issues for fear of being voted out of office or being viewed as politically incorrect, said Turner, an anti-illegal immigration activist.

“Average Americans” are in favor of actively routing out illegal immigrants, said Turner, who went door-to-door collecting signatures to take his initiative to the ballot.

Turner was able to get enough support to send it to a voter referendum, but a legal challenge may stop the proposed law before it gets that far.

San Bernardino, a city of approximately 200,000, is located near Los Angeles.

In the meantime, Hazleton may become the first city in the nation to pass this type of local legislation aimed at enforcing federal immigration law.

Barletta said threats of a legal challenge will not stop him from pushing the proposed ordinance, which he believes will help make Hazleton the toughest city on illegal immigration in the nation.

“I bet some illegal immigrants are already leaving,” Barletta said.

ndobo@citizensvoice.com





©The Citizens Voice 2006

“I bet some illegal immigrants are already leaving,” Barletta said.

I bet they are, Mayor Barletta........I damn do bet they are!!
You are one gutsy dude