Thread: Mayor proposes official language

http://www.standardspeaker.com/index.ph ... 5&Itemid=2


Mayor proposes official language
Monday, 12 June 2006
By L.A. TARONE

tarone@standardspeaker.com

English will be the official language of the city of Hazleton, landlords who rent to illegal aliens will be fined and firms that hire illegal aliens will be barred from doing business within and with the city for five years if city council adopts a proposal from Mayor Lou Barletta. It is called the “Illegal Immigration Relief Act Ordinance.”
City council will consider it Thursday night.
The first three sections of the bill are declarations and definitions. The prohibitions are spelled out in Sections Four, Five and Six.
Section Four reads, “Any for-profit entity…that aids and abets illegal aliens or illegal immigration shall be denied approval of a business permit, the renewal of a business permit, city contracts or grants for a period of not less that five years…”
That section extends the punitive measures to include “acts committed by its parent company or subsidiary.” It defines aiding and abetting as “the hiring or attempted hiring of illegal aliens, renting or leasing to illegal aliens, or funding or aiding in the establishment of a laborer center that does not verify legal work status.” It adds the prohibition on helping illegals means “within the United States, not just within the city limits.”
“It is broad in scope,” Barletta said. “It includes national companies. I do not want companies that hire illegals in Hazleton. Period.”
Section Five bars both the renting of property by illegals as well as legal residents and/or citizens renting to illegals, “irrespective of such person’s intent, knowledge or negligence.”
It fines violators $1,000 for each offense – presumably meaning that if a citizen rents to three illegals, that would constitute three violations, meaning fines of $3,000.
Barletta said enforcement could come through the existing landlords’ ordinance and after the fact in the event of a crime.
“If we apprehend an illegal in any crime or violation, we will check his address and check with the landlord to see that he was given some form of identification,” Barletta said.
“Landlords needs to ask for IDs. Now, of course, if they were shown false identification, we won’t charge them. But landlords have to ask for ID. They have to get some sort of documentation. I don’t want people profiting from illegals.”
Section Six declares English “the official language of the city.”
“This is America,” Barletta said. “English is the language we speak. Everyone should have to play by the same rules. Hey, if I moved to France I’d have to learn French.”
“Unless explicitly mandated by the federal government, the state of Pennsylvania or the city of Hazleton, all official city business, forms, documents, signage, telecommunications or electronic communication devices will be written in or utilize English only,” the proposal reads.
“Our taxpayers should not have to foot the bill to train workers to make documents available in multiple languages,” Barletta said. “There’s no reason to spend money for new arrivals who have chosen not to learn English. This is a great country with great opportunities. But people who enjoy the benefits of it should learn and use English.”
That section does not prevent a private business owner or any individual from putting up a sign in a language other than English, nor does it prevent any individual from speaking a foreign language.
But it does mean that things such as copies of city laws, ordinances, licenses and permits will be printed in English only, except when ordered by a higher governmental entity.
Federal and state documents are covered by laws from their respective jurisdictions. And many federal and some state documents are mandated to be available in several languages.
The proposal is sure to be controversial and Barletta expects it. But he said the proposal is needed.
“I want to make this city one of the most difficult places in the U.S. for illegals,” Barletta said. “If you’re in the country illegally, maybe this isn’t the place to come.”
Under Section Two, "Findings and Declaration of Purpose,” the proposal reads that illegal immigration “leads to higher crime, contributes to overcrowded classrooms and failing schools, subjects our hospitals to fiscal hardship and legal residents to substandard quality of care, and destroys our neighborhoods and diminishes our overall quality of life.”
The extent of Hazleton’s illegal alien problem, obviously, isn’t known. But several have been arrested in high-profile crimes within the last three months.
Pedro Cabrera and Joan Romero, the two men charged in the May murder of 29-year-old Derek Kichline, are in the country illegally from the Dominican Republic, officials have said.
Michael Brito, 19, whose street name is “Marko,” was the main target of a North Wyoming Street drug raid in March. He is in the country illegally from the Dominican Republic, officials have said.
A few other illegals have also been picked up on other charges, including a 14-year-old male who was apprehended for shooting guns at Pine Street Playground in May.
Barletta said he wouldn’t be surprised if someone tried to legally challenge the ordinance, but he believes it is legal and enforceable and that it would stand a challenge.
“If somebody challenges it, so what?” Barletta said. “Anybody can challenge anything. It is legal and enforceable. If you’re here illegally, you’re already committing a crime. And people shouldn’t defend someone who did something illegal.”
Barletta said the proposal isn’t discriminatory because it prohibits renting to and hiring all illegal aliens, regardless of from where they hail, and that it stops the translation of city documents into all foreign languages. He added it was not aimed at stopping immigrants from coming to Hazleton, just illegal ones.
“No, this is not anti-immigrant,” Barletta said. “It is not aimed at immigrants with proper documentation. This country was built on immigration – legal immigration! Legal immigrants are here. They’re a great and productive part of our community.”
Barletta has complained about illegals in Hazleton before. Often, he has urged the federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to open an office in Hazleton. Last year, he went to Washington to discuss illegal immigration, among other things, with federal officials.
If passed, the ordinance will make Hazleton the second city in the state to adopt English as its official language. Allentown did so over a decade ago.
Allentown’s proclamation was controversial at the time it was adopted and remains so, though it appears to have widespread support among citizens.
But there, city Councilman Tony Phillips, elected in 2005, wants to strip the proclamation from the city charter and replace it with, “Allentown is a city that celebrates the diversity of its residents.”
But Phillips’ move has, thus far, not generated much support.
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http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=5020491

Illegal Immigrant Relief Act



Monday, June 12, 5:16 p.m.
By Bob Reynolds

The mayor of Hazleton wants English as the official language of the city but there is more to a proposed new law than that.

Just ask anyone who lives in Hazleton and they'll probably tell you the population is swelling, swelling with immigrants.

Officials say some of the crime there, including the two men recently charged with murdering a man, was committed by illegal immigrants.

"We had a man shooting a gun at a playground around that same time. He was here illegally. We had a drug bust on Wyoming Street. Two of the six were illegal. We had a murder on Wyoming Street. That person was illegal," said Mayor Lou Barletta.

That's why he wants the Illegal Immigration Relief Act passed. The city could fine landlords for knowingly renting housing to illegals. There would be a $1,000 fine for every violation. Companies could lose licenses to operate in the city if illegals are knowingly hired.

The act also makes English Hazleton's official language. That means all city documents will only be available in English. The head of the city's Hispanic community supports the mayors actions.

"I was surprised about that part but we recognize that English is the official language of the United States and people who come here should learn the language, which is English," said businessman Amilcar Arroyo.

Ed Chipkevich plans to open a bakery in the city.

"I think they should crack down on illegal aliens and I think businesses should not hire illegal aliens," he said.

Council is take up the issue on Thursday. Mayor Barletta believes his proposal will become law because it only cracks down on lawbreakers.

http://www.wnep.com/Global/story.asp?S=5019822


ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION RELIEF ACT ORDINANCE



ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION RELIEF ACT ORDINANCE
ORDINANCE 2006 -

BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAZLETON AS FOLLOWS:


SECTION 1 - TITLE

Ibis chapter shall he known and maybe cited Immigration Relief Act Ordinance" as the "City of Hazleton Illegal

SECTION 2. - FINDINGS AND DECLARATION OF PURPOSE


The People of the City of Hazleton find and declare:

A. That illegal immigration leads to higher crime rates, contributes to overcrowded classrooms and failing schools, subjects our hospitals to fiscal hardship and legal residents to substandard quality of care, and destroys our neighborhoods and diminishes our overall quality of life.

B. That the City of Hazleton is empowered and mandated by the People of Hazleton to abate the nuisance of illegal immigration by aggressively prohibiting and punishing the acts, policies, people and businesses that aid and abet illegal aliens.

SECTION 3. DEFINITIONS


Whenever used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

"City" means the City of Hazleton. "Contract employer" means any person individuals through a day labor agency who obtains the services of one or more

"Vehicle" means a vehicle as defined in Pennsylvania Vehicle Code as the same now reads or may hereafter be amended.

SECTION 4. BUSINESS PERMITS. CONTRACTS OR GRANTS


Any for profit entity including acts committed by- its parent company or subsidiaries that aids and abets illegal aliens or illegal immigration shall be denied approval of a business permit, the renewal of a business permit, city contracts or grants for a period not less than five years from its last offense.

A. Aiding and abetting shall include, hut not be limited to, the hiring or attempted hiring of illegal aliens, renting or leasing to illegal aliens, or funding or aiding in the establishment of a day laborer center that does not verify legal work status.

B. Any act that aids and abets illegal aliens within the United States, not just within the City limits, will constitute a violation.

SECTION 5. RENTING TO ILLEGAL ALIENS


A. Illegal aliens are prohibited from leasing or renting property. Any property owner or renter/tenant/lessee in control of property, who allows an illegal alien to use, rent or lease their property shall be in violation of this section, irrespective of such person's intent, knowledge or negligence, said violation hereby being expressly declared a strict liability offense.

B. Any person or entity that violates this section shall he subject to a fine of not less than $1,000.00.

SECTION 6. ENGLISH ONLY


A. The City of Hazleton declares that English is the official language of the City.

B. Unless explicitly mandated by the federal government, the state of Pennsylvania or the City of Hazleton, all official city business, forms, documents, signage, telecommunication or electronic communication devices will he conducted or written in or utilize English only.

SECTION 7. SEVERABILITY


If any part of provision of this Chapter is in conflict or inconsistent with applicable provisions of federal or state statutes, or is otherwise held to be invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, such part of provision shall be suspended and superseded by such applicable laws or regulations, and the remainder of this Chapter shall not be affected thereby.

Brian, Thanks for the posts.