Thread: Hazleton's illegal-immigrant ordinance wastes resources . .

http://www.mcall.com/news/opinion/all-e ... pinion-hed

July 16, 2006

Hazleton's illegal-immigrant ordinance wastes resources, polarizes a community

Hazleton burst into the national spotlight when Mayor Louis Barletta proposed a local illegal-immigration ordinance even as the national debate about immigration legislation continued in Washington. Mayor Barletta intended to target illegal immigrants. But the net effect is that many Hazleton Hispanics, the majority of whom are law-abiding, hard-working citizens, feel insulted.

The debate began to polarize the community even before City Council passed the ordinance Thursday night. The emotions of proponents and opponents have been so intense that, in the process, something learned by earlier waves of immigrants to America, including Hazleton, got lost: Always be proud of your heritage and celebrate its traditions, even as you strive to assimilate in your new country.

The potential, negative impact of the new ordinance on the former coal-mining city is significant, not to mention the fact that other communities now are considering similarly offensive ordinances. For example, the Standard-Speaker newspaper of Hazleton has reported that supervisors in neighboring Hazle Township used Hazleton's proposal as a model for passage Tuesday of its own Illegal Immigration Act.

According to the Hazleton ordinance, permits, permit renewals, contracts or grants to businesses that ''aid and abet'' illegals by hiring them will be denied. Also, landlords will be fined $1,000 if they are found to be renting to illegal immigrants. The ordinance even goes so far as to cut off or hinder the lines of communication between the city and many of its residents by making English the only permissible language for conducting city business.

Officials of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania have questioned the legality of Hazleton's ordinance. The Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, based in New York, is expected to be among those filing suits to overturn the ordinance, saying immigration matters come under the jurisdiction of the federal government. They are right.

The ordinance was primarily inspired by Mayor Barletta's concern with the rising crime rate in a city that has experienced a stunning influx of Hispanic residents in the past six years. The 2000 Census counted about 1,100 Hispanic residents. But now there are about 8,000 Hispanics from various countries, who were drawn to affordable housing and jobs in nearby industrial parks.

Supporters of the ordinance, however, would be hard-pressed to find any city in America that doesn't experience a higher crime rate when its population grows dramatically. Anti-crime measures should be the focus, instead. Further, enforcement of provisions of the ordinance related to landlords and businesses will divert a considerable amount of resources better used to fight crime on the streets. Hazleton's image has become downright ugly, and the ordinance — not crime — is to blame.

15Read and write comments about this article. | View Recent Comments

Just more phoney baloney from the pro-illegal lugnuts.

According to the Hazleton ordinance, permits, permit renewals, contracts or grants to businesses that ''aid and abet'' illegals by hiring them will be denied. Also, landlords will be fined $1,000 if they are found to be renting to illegal immigrants. The ordinance even goes so far as to cut off or hinder the lines of communication between the city and many of its residents by making English the only permissible language for conducting city business.

Yea, this stuff sounds really wacky, huh?? Guess what, it makes a whole lot of sense to me!!

C'mon now gang - don't you feel just a little bitty - teeny weeny sorry for these poor folks

I guess the backlash was inevitable. I just hope that the Hazleton mayor holds his ground. We should send him more supportive emails.

And then, maybe we should send some "not so supportive" email to the paper that printed this story.

The comments on the article are great and worth reading. Thanks Rockfish!

Originally Posted by CheyenneWoman

C'mon now gang - don't you feel just a little bitty - teeny weeny sorry for these poor folks .

Nope! Not one itty bitty teeny weeny bit!

Originally Posted by noillegalimmigrationannie

Originally Posted by CheyenneWoman

C'mon now gang - don't you feel just a little bitty - teeny weeny sorry for these poor folks .

Nope! Not one itty bitty teeny weeny bit!

Shame on you girl!!

Supporters of the ordinance, however, would be hard-pressed to find any city in America that doesn't experience a higher crime rate when its population grows dramatically. Anti-crime measures should be the focus, instead. Further, enforcement of provisions of the ordinance related to landlords and businesses will divert a considerable amount of resources better used to fight crime on the streets. Hazleton's image has become downright ugly, and the ordinance — not crime — is to blame.

Seriously now, Where does this person get their facts from? Doesn't he/she realize that "anti-crime" IS the focus. These people ARE breaking the law, for pete's sake. I just can't get my itty bitty teeny weeny brain around that sort of mentality.

Originally Posted by CheyenneWoman

Originally Posted by noillegalimmigrationannie

Originally Posted by CheyenneWoman

C'mon now gang - don't you feel just a little bitty - teeny weeny sorry for these poor folks .

Nope! Not one itty bitty teeny weeny bit!

Shame on you girl!!

Supporters of the ordinance, however, would be hard-pressed to find any city in America that doesn't experience a higher crime rate when its population grows dramatically. Anti-crime measures should be the focus, instead. Further, enforcement of provisions of the ordinance related to landlords and businesses will divert a considerable amount of resources better used to fight crime on the streets. Hazleton's image has become downright ugly, and the ordinance — not crime — is to blame.

Seriously now, Where does this person get their facts from? Doesn't he/she realize that "anti-crime" IS the focus. These people ARE breaking the law, for pete's sake. I just can't get my itty bitty teeny weeny brain around that sort of mentality.

My kids have a grandmother that lives very close to Hazelton, PA. I'm surprised, or maybe not, that this illegal immigration nonesense has gone this far North.

My itty bitty teeny weeny brain is mostly done in for tonight. I just wish the illegals brains were doing the same and they stay in their home countries.

CheyenneWoman said:

I guess the backlash was inevitable. I just hope that the Hazleton mayor holds his ground. We should send him more supportive emails.

Emails would be good. Heard him say on tv the other day he had rec'd around 6,000 emails of support.

Originally Posted by noillegalimmigrationannie

http://www.mcall.com/news/opinion/all-editorial1jul16,0,3197664.story?coll=all-newsopinion-hed

July 16, 2006

Hazleton's illegal-immigrant ordinance wastes resources, polarizes a community

Hazleton burst into the national spotlight when Mayor Louis Barletta proposed a local illegal-immigration ordinance even as the national debate about immigration legislation continued in Washington. Mayor Barletta intended to target illegal immigrants. But the net effect is that many Hazleton Hispanics, the majority of whom are law-abiding, hard-working citizens, feel insulted.

The debate began to polarize the community even before City Council passed the ordinance Thursday night. The emotions of proponents and opponents have been so intense that, in the process, something learned by earlier waves of immigrants to America, including Hazleton, got lost: Always be proud of your heritage and celebrate its traditions, even as you strive to assimilate in your new country.

The potential, negative impact of the new ordinance on the former coal-mining city is significant, not to mention the fact that other communities now are considering similarly offensive ordinances. For example, the Standard-Speaker newspaper of Hazleton has reported that supervisors in neighboring Hazle Township used Hazleton's proposal as a model for passage Tuesday of its own Illegal Immigration Act.

According to the Hazleton ordinance, permits, permit renewals, contracts or grants to businesses that ''aid and abet'' illegals by hiring them will be denied. Also, landlords will be fined $1,000 if they are found to be renting to illegal immigrants. The ordinance even goes so far as to cut off or hinder the lines of communication between the city and many of its residents by making English the only permissible language for conducting city business.

Officials of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania have questioned the legality of Hazleton's ordinance. The Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, based in New York, is expected to be among those filing suits to overturn the ordinance, saying immigration matters come under the jurisdiction of the federal government. They are right.

The ordinance was primarily inspired by Mayor Barletta's concern with the rising crime rate in a city that has experienced a stunning influx of Hispanic residents in the past six years. The 2000 Census counted about 1,100 Hispanic residents. But now there are about 8,000 Hispanics from various countries, who were drawn to affordable housing and jobs in nearby industrial parks.

Supporters of the ordinance, however, would be hard-pressed to find any city in America that doesn't experience a higher crime rate when its population grows dramatically. Anti-crime measures should be the focus, instead. Further, enforcement of provisions of the ordinance related to landlords and businesses will divert a considerable amount of resources better used to fight crime on the streets. Hazleton's image has become downright ugly, and the ordinance — not crime — is to blame.

15Read and write comments about this article. | View Recent Comments

"Hazleton's illegal-immigrant ordinance wastes resources, polarizes a community" Then why don`t they move back to "Mexico" and avoid these self imposed problem (s). Illegal Aliens have no "RIGHTS".The only people that like "Illegal ALiens" are people that profit from them at the cost of Real Americans,period!.The people that profit from the Illegals do not have the nerve to stand in the Town Hall and admit that they hire them and expect the American Tax Payer to foot the bill for their Madical Insurance,food stamps and everything else these Illegals drain from the honest hard working American.The contractors should be "Deported" along with the "Illegals".
Why don`t we make all Contractors that hire Illegal Aliens stand before the people and say,yes! I hire Illegal Aliens...Yes! I break federal Law and make nice profits from hiring "Illegal Aliens" and yes,I expect you to pick all cost for the healt care and food stamps and I also think that you should find work for the America Constrution workers that have lost work because I hired Illegal Aliens that work for less money...I`m not going to do it.