Thread: Council OKs immigration act for West Hazleton

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/15977009.htm

Council OKs immigration act for West Hazleton
Officials pass ordinance similar to the one in neighboring Hazleton.
By STEVE MOCARSKY smocarsky@timesleader.com
Posted on Fri, Nov. 10, 2006

WEST HAZLETON – A garbage-collection fee hike was a much hotter issue at Thursday’s borough council meeting than a vote on a revised Illegal Immigration Relief Act, which was adopted with no vocal opposition.

Borough council voted 5-0 to pass the act, which is nearly identical to Hazleton’s. The city and its mayor, Lou Barletta, were cast into the national spotlight when Barletta presented the controversial ordinance to council in June.

Officials in West Hazleton, a neighboring borough of about 1,600 residences, received little publicity when council passed the first version in August.

Antonio Rodriguez, a Latino professor from Hazleton, said the ordinance, which punishes landlords and business owners who rent to or employ illegal immigrants, is needed to curb crime. He also said all immigrants should learn to speak English.

Hazleton’s English-only law forbids city employees to use any language other than English in their official duties except under certain circumstances. It requires all city signs and documents be printed only in English as well.

Council President Julie Ehlers said council has no plans to consider an English-only law unless a member brings it up for discussion at a future work session. She also said council is currently “pursuing ways to enforce” the immigration ordinance.

Hazleton has a landlord/tenant ordinance that requires tenants to prove their legal residency status in order to obtain an occupancy permit from City Hall and forbids landlords to rent to anyone who can’t provide a permit. West Hazleton has no similar law.

Ehlers said council will probably expand the borough’s rental ordinance to address the enforcement issue.

In other business, council voted 3-2 to hike garbage collection fees $16 per quarter next year to $46 per quarter. Fees will increase another $1 per quarter in 2008, $2 per quarter in 2009, and $3 per quarter in 2010.

Several residents said the borough should more aggressively pursue delinquent rate payers, but Ehlers said refuse collection costs would still have outpaced revenue by about $98,000 this year even if everyone paid their garbage bills on time.

Antonio Rodriguez, a Latino professor from Hazleton, said the ordinance, which punishes landlords and business owners who rent to or employ illegal immigrants, is needed to curb crime. He also said all immigrants should learn to speak English.

Well now, an honest prof.

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