Thread: Petition is new Fremont try to oust illegal immigrants

Petition is new Fremont try to oust illegal immigrants
John Ferak, Midlands News Service
08/30/2008

FREMONT, Neb. -- A group of residents wants the entire community to have a voice on a recently failed City Council ordinance intended to drive illegal immigrants from Fremont.

A petition being circulated mirrors the wording of a proposed ordinance that was defeated last month by the City Council. More than 1,000 people attended the meeting at which Councilman Bob Warner's proposal was voted down.

It was the first attempt by a Nebraska city to crack down on illegal immigration.

A favorable vote targeting illegal immigration may not change anything, said Councilman Scott Getzschman.

Getzschman voted against Warner's ordinance, saying the city could squander thousands of dollars to defend and implement the ordinance.

"It is not going to matter whether this ordinance is passed by the City Council or by the public,'' he said Thursday. "This ordinance, if passed, would be litigated and cost city tax dollars, which means a reduction in city services.''

Fremont resident Carl Schaffner said Thursday that hundreds of Fremont residents remain bitter and angry with council members who voted against Warner's ordinance.

That's why Schaffner hopes the petition drive will garner enough signatures to force a citywide vote.

City Clerk Kim Volk said Thursday that organizers have six months to collect enough valid signatures to force a special city election. Volk certified the group's ballot petition Tuesday. An initial petition had contained flaws.

Three residents -- Jerry Hart, Wanda Kotas and John Wiegert -- are spearheading the petition effort.

Sharon K. Neuhalfen, deputy Dodge County clerk, said it appears that petition organizers need to collect at least 3,000 valid signatures to hold a special election in the city of 25,000 residents.

The earliest possible election would be sometime next year, Volk said. It is too late to get the initiative on the Nov. 4 ballot.

In late July, Fremont Mayor Donald "Skip'' Edwards broke a 4-4 deadlock by the City Council, voting against Warner's proposed ordinance aimed at prohibiting illegal immigrants in Fremont.

Warner wanted Fremont to require contractors and employers who get licenses, permits or loans from the city to electronically verify a job applicant's immigration status.

Also, landlords who leased to illegal immigrants would face a $100 fine. The ordinance would require every renter to buy a $5 occupancy license, issued only after local police had verified the person's immigration status.

The proposed ordinance said illegal immigrants place a fiscal burden on the city, increase the cost of public services and hold down wages. It also said crimes committed by illegal immigrants endanger the health, safety and welfare of legal residents.

Schaffner also is circulating petitions to get his name on the November ballot for Fremont mayor.

"This issue is not going to go away,'' he said. "It is time we stopped asking everyone else what they think about our town.

"I think for real Fremonters, a lot of people feel that their own opinion doesn't seem to matter.''
http://www.southwestiowanews.com:80/sit ... 7131&rfi=6

Do the local governments think the local Americans are happy camping with the illegal criminal aliens?

And then we have the state government that will tell you that capitalism is in power instead of the people.

And then the federal government need to be redone entirely. Starting with pension losses and salary reductions.