Thread: Autry calls for halt in illegals

I liked this guy when he played Bubba
Autry calls for halt in illegals


Fresno mayor offers to host a summit, tackling national issue in State of City speech.

By John Ellis / The Fresno Bee

(Updated Friday, May 27, 2005, 5:53 AM)


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Fresno Mayor Alan Autry waded into a volatile federal issue Thursday in his annual State of the City speech, calling for a two-year moratorium on immigration in order to address the "chaos now masquerading as a border."


Autry acknowledged that he would likely get criticism for his comments, much as Gov. Schwarzenegger came under fire after praising Minuteman Project volunteers who patrolled the Mexican border.

But Autry said the "consequences" that come after an illegal immigrant enters the country "are 100% local."

Among the local effects, Autry said, are strains on city services such as the Police Department, hospitals from illegal immigrants seeking medical care and school systems from students who move often and eventually drop out.


He said the nation must institute a guest-worker program. "The cold, hard truth is that if left unaddressed much longer, this crisis has the potential to devastate the state of California, in particular the city of Fresno," the mayor said.

Autry said he plans to ask the League of California Cities to take up the issue, including a summit on the matter. He offered Fresno as the host city. He said President Bush, Mexican President Vicente Fox and Schwarzenegger would be invited to send representatives. The goal would be an "effective, orderly, legal and fair" immigration policy.

City Council President Mike Dages thought the speech was an inappropriate time to address the matter.

"I don't think it's a prominent city issue," Dages said. "I think the State of the City address should relate to city issues only."

In a 59-minute speech at the Fresno Convention and Entertainment Center that was interrupted by applause more than a dozen times, Autry also called for creating a blue-ribbon committee to investigate the possibility of consolidating city and county law enforcement agencies.

Autry said it would eliminate the duplication of services and ensure the efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

Judy Case, chairwoman of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors, said the committee is a good idea. She said it might be able to find economies and efficiencies that could help both the city Police Department and the county Sheriff's Department.

There has been talk of building a combined headquarters for the Fresno police and fire departments and the county Sheriff's Department, which Case, who attended Autry's speech, said was also a good idea.

But she was not sure about a total consolidation of the agencies.

"Fresno County is 15 cities plus the county, not one city plus the county," Case said. "You have to take that into account."

Autry also urged the Local Agency Formation Commission to approve the expansion of Fresno's future service area by about 14 square miles in the southeast part of the city. He noted the area is part of the city's 2025 general plan.

In March, the city had withdrawn its application after LAFCO, which decides annexations and incorporations, was set to reconsider an earlier approval of the expansion. Commissioners were angry at what they said was a misleading presentation by city officials in gaining the initial expansion approval.

The city is expected to resubmit its application.

Between those announcements, Autry praised his administration's accomplishments.

In a long segment in the middle of the speech, he defended Schwarzenegger's policies, specifically citing the governor's now-abandoned plan to scrap the traditional government pension system in favor of 401(k)-style investment accounts.

And again addressing the education issue â€â€

Fresno Mayor Alan Autry waded into a volatile federal issue Thursday in his annual State of the City speech, calling for a two-year moratorium on immigration in order to address the "chaos now masquerading as a border."

I like this man already.
Count another willing to stand up.
Are you listening Mr. Bush????????

Like I told jp a little while ago. I like his character Bubba cause he acted from gut feelings, well perhaps Autry is a real Bubba.