Thread: Escondido: Latino rights groups campaign against rental ban

Not much new in this article that hasn't been posted before although it was published today. May want to click on the link and read 'comments.'

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/10 ... _17_06.txt

Latino rights groups campaign against rental ban

By: DAVID FRIED and EDWARD SIFUENTES - Staff Writers

ESCONDIDO -- Betting that a strong defense is the best offense, local Latino activist and civil rights groups banded together Tuesday to educate Escondido tenants potentially affected by a proposed ban on renting to illegal immigrants.

Civil rights groups began the day with a press conference declaring the law ---- which is expected to receive final approval from a City Council majority tonight ---- unenforceable, and vowing to try to defeat it.

The media event was followed by an evening workshop aimed at educating renters about the ins-and-outs of the rental ban, and to assure them that the law would not allow landlords to discriminate against them, and that the rental ban hasn't taken effect yet and may never be enforced.

About 80 people attended the forum hosted by the Escondido Human Rights Committee, a grass-roots immigrant and human rights group. Speakers from several organizations said they plan to fight the rental ban in court and by educating people about their rights.

"The U.S. Constitution protects all persons, every person," said Kevin Keenan, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of San Diego and Imperial Counties, told the predominantly Latino crowd at the workshop.

At the press conference, Kristina Campbell, an attorney with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said she believes the law faces too many practical and legal obstacles to be effective.

"Not only will there be legal challenges," Campbell said. "It is doubtful the ordinance as currently drafted is even enforceable."

About one dozen representatives from the ACLU, the Fair Housing Council of San Diego, the local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and La Raza Lawyers Association joined Campbell to decry the law. The event was organized by El Grupo, an umbrella organization of civil and Latino rights groups.

Over the last week, thousands of fliers printed in Spanish have been distributed explaining tenants' rights and urging individuals to call the Fair Housing Council if they feel those rights have been violated.

At the forum, representatives of various organizations explained the terms of the ordinance and explained that it is not in effect and would likely be challenged if it is approved by the city council. One man said his landlord told him he would not renew his lease until after the ordinance is resolved one way or the other.

"If they are treating you differently (than other tenants) because of your nationality ... talk to us so that we can investigate that," said David Kline, an attorney with the Fair Housing Council.

Arnoldo Marin, a community activist from San Marcos, said undocumented immigrants already have a tough time renting homes. He said the ordinance will make it tougher not just on those who are in the country illegally, but all Latinos, whom he said landlords will view with suspicion.

"This is very discriminatory," Marin said. "More than 40 percent of the people are Latino in Escondido."

As written, the city would investigate written complaints filed against landlords accused of renting to illegal immigrants. Complaints based primarily on race, ethnicity or national origin would be dismissed, the ordinance states.

Landlords responding to complaints would have to provide the city with tenants' immigration documents, which would be passed along to the federal government for verification.

Landlords found to be renting to illegal immigrants would have 10 business days to remove the tenants, or face penalties, including having their business license suspended and fines of up to $1,000 and six months in jail.

Two weeks ago, the council voted 3-2 to approve the rental ban. The ordinance heads back to the council tonight for a second and final vote. If approved, as expected, the law would go into effect 30 days later on Nov. 18.

Civil rights groups, including the ACLU have vowed to challenge the constitutionality of the law and ask the city or the courts to delay its enforcement until all legal challenges have been decided.

Last time the council discussed the law, City Hall was flooded with rallies supporting both sides of the issue. Whether demonstrators will turn out in equal numbers tonight is uncertain, although police said they will have additional security measures in place.

One opponent of the law, retired Assistant Sheriff Bill Flores, the spokesman for El Grupo, said he is not asking people to come out and demonstrate against the law, arguing the council's vote is a foregone conclusion.

"Other avenues need to be explored," Flores said. "The politics of this issue may well be over, and I think we need to look at other ways of defeating this divisive and destructive issue."

All of this intimidation trying to prevent the Legislative system from working for the People. It's so nice out they threaten you with the Judicial process.

Also, Illegal Aliens have no rights! The Constitution does not give rights to invaders from a foreign land. That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard.

The only thing Illegal Aliens are intitled to is due process of law and a trip out of our country.

Dixie

This is a link to a very nice online copy of the Constitution.
http://www.archives.gov/national-archiv ... ution.html

It's always amusing when the illegal supporters call these ordinances "divisive." That seems to be a favorite of theirs along with "racist." We have it here in my city where we passed the ordinance.

I would like them to tell me exactly WHAT is divisive about wanting the law of the land enforced? The people who are divisive are the ones trying to intimidate in order to continue to get their way, to be able to walk all over American citizens and their laws. If trying to have some semblance of law and order in your city is now deemed to be divisive, so be it.

What's divisive is attempting to create an ordinance that is racial profiling; that is what is going to happen with an ordinance such as this. Any LATINO person who is predominately Spanish Speaking will probably have a hard time renting due to something like this. What is absurd most of all about this legislation, your organization and all you [Mod Edit=No personal attacks on this forum] is that you, as well as everyone else in our society benifits from the labor that both legal and illegal immigrants provide for our country and when economic times get a little tough you try and find a scapegoat as to why you are losing your jobs. Why wages are being depressed .

There is one word for this behavior [hypocracy.

HIPOCRACY ARE THESE PEOPLE WHO INVADE SOMEBODY ELSE COUNTRY WITH NO RESPECT FOR THE LAWS. THEY ARE CRIMINALS ILLEGAL ALLIENS AND THEiR PLACE ARE IN JAIL OR BACK FROM WHERE THEY CAME

Originally Posted by ELDEFENSOR

What's divisive is attempting to create an ordinance that is racial profiling; that is what is going to happen with an ordinance such as this. Any LATINO person who is predominately Spanish Speaking will probably have a hard time renting due to something like this. What is absurd most of all about this legislation, your organization and all you ;Mod Edit=No personal attacks on this forum.] is that you, as well as everyone else in our society benifits from the labor that both legal and illegal immigrants provide for our country and when economic times get a little tough you try and find a scapegoat as to why you are losing your jobs. Why wages are being depressed .

There is one word for this behavior [hypocracy.

Must admit I do not know the details of how the city plans to address the issue of enforcement. If someone is a legal citizen it should be easy to prove. Perhaps the landlords are to ask every renter? Most probably.
The problem is our federal government has made laws against illegal immigration which it fails to enforce. In the meantime, there are anywhere from 12-20 million here and some local governments are trying to do what they can.
Yes, immigrants, legal and illegal, contribute by working. Have no problem with legal immigrants whatsoever. But communities are feeling the financial strain on their hospitals, schools, jails, etc. which is the negative side of the equation.
Spell check, the word is 'hypocrisy.' Means people that appear to have higher morals or principles than they really have. I do not personally believe we here are hypocrites just because we want laws followed, care about the future of this country and are tired of politicians who only care about their own self interests.

This is more reason why Hispanics who are here legally should learn how to speak English. If they spoke decent English and if they have legal ID then they wouldn't have to worry. Why can't others see it that way?

ELDEFENSOR if Illegal labor is so beneficial to the economy who doesnt Mexico allow illegal laborers to stay in Mexico. Stop being so darn sensitive to your Raza and get real.

What's divisive is attempting to create an ordinance that is racial profiling; that is what is going to happen with an ordinance such as this.

Got a crystal ball there with a cloud in it?
The ordinance is to deny housing to those without legal status. We have laws that would prevent a person of legal status being denied housing. We support our laws.

It looks like Gabriel is calling in reinfofrcements.