Thread: 'Grupo' resists housing law in Escondido, CA

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'Grupo' resists housing law


Latino network's revival timed to fight ordinance
By Booyeon Lee and Elena Gaona
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
August 16, 2006

ESCONDIDO – Latino residents throughout the county are mobilizing to challenge the proposal of a city ordinance that would penalize landlords for housing illegal immigrants.

More than a dozen group and community leaders from North County, including Escondido City Council candidates Olga Diaz and Carmen Miranda, gathered last night at Trinity Episcopal Church Escondido to discuss an opposition plan to the drafting of such a law, which they say is discriminatory.

“On its face, it's illegal,” said retired assistant sheriff Bill Flores, who attended the meeting. “But it's also tearing the community apart.”

Opposition leaders said they expect a large turnout of residents and volunteer attorneys, including some from the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, to address city officials today during a 4 p.m. council meeting, the first public hearing on the issue.

Leaders told police they plan no protest, but will have their own volunteer security to prevent confrontations. Last night, the group lined up speakers to deliver a “civil” message to the City Council that the proposed law is divisive and illogical.

“We live here and we have a voice in what we want from our government,” Diaz said.

Councilwoman Marie Waldron floated the proposal last month, a few days before Hazleton, Pa., became the first city to approve a similar ordinance.

Since then, a handful of cities and towns along the East Coast have also passed laws to make it hard for illegal immigrants to rent in their jurisdictions.

The proposed Escondido ordinance has brought a defunct Latino coalition to life. Yesterday, El Grupo sin Nombre (The Group without a Name), a network of three dozen Latino organizations founded in 1997 by the late San Marcos Councilman Vince Andrade, announced a comeback with a shorter name, “El Grupo.”

Spokesman Bill Flores said leaders of the organization have been discussing a revival for a while, but decided to launch sooner than planned in response to Waldron's proposal. He likened the move to Vista's controversial day-labor ordinance that cites employers who hire day laborers at locations the city doesn't control.

“These ordinances are clearly discriminatory against the Latino community – in fact, all minority communities,” Flores said.

El Grupo is led by groups that include the North County chapter of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People, the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, Chicano Federation of San Diego County and the La Raza Lawyers Association.

“I want to thank Marie Waldron for bringing us together,” said community activist and soccer league official Danny Perez, who helped organize last night's gathering at Trinity church.

During an interview, Perez's phone continued to ring from Latino leaders upset about the possibility of Escondido becoming the first California city to pass an ordinance that punishes landlords for housing illegal residents.

“What makes us sad is that the people who represent us are ignorant,” Perez said. Such a law would affect the entire community, he said.

For example, his efforts to get youth off drugs will be more difficult if they are homeless, he said. And landlords will end up torn between following federal laws that say it's illegal to discriminate and local laws that order it so, he said.

Yesterday, a federal lawsuit was filed against the city of Hazleton by the New York-based American Civil Liberties Union and the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund. Legal defense fund officials said they hope to set a precedent preventing other cities such as Escondido from considering a similar law.

In addition to local Latino residents and members of El Grupo, today's council meeting is expected to draw Latino activists from across the county, including immigration activist Enrique Morones and his Border Angels group.

San Diego Minutemen will also be there. Gary Walker, an Escondido member of the San Diego Minutemen, said he fully expected the Latino community to mobilize in response to the proposed law because it is intended to curb the “Mexican invasion.” He conceded the ordinance would target both legal and illegal Latinos, but “profiling has to be done when you have an invasion.”

“Escondido is known, even in Mexico, as a safe haven for illegal immigrants,” he said. “This is no small problem.”

“These ordinances are clearly discriminatory against the Latino community – in fact, all minority communities,” Flores said.

I guess illegals can't read English let alone speak it. Where in any of this proposal does it state this proposed ordinance is targeted specifically against Latinos?
I wasn't aware that illegals is now its own separate life form.

How many times do we have to say it, WHAT PART OF ILLEGAL DO YOU PEOPLE NOT UNDERSTAND This is beyond comprehension. My father didn't fight in World War II so illegals can have the same rights as citizens. Where has common sense gone

“We live here and we have a voice in what we want from our government,” Diaz said.

They may live here but if they are illegal this is not THEIR government and they have no voice or right to say what THEY want!

http://www.10news.com/news/9689319/detail.html

Proposed Law To Hinder Illegal Immigration Targets Landlords
Escondido City Council Discusses Issue

POSTED: 10:54 am PDT August 16, 2006
UPDATED: 11:06 am PDT August 16, 2006

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ESCONDIDO, Calif. -- A North County community is leading the way in local efforts to hinder illegal immigration.

Under debate is a proposed law that would punish landlords who rent to undocumented immigrants. Those found in violation of the proposed law would be fined $1,000 and may even be arrested.

The Escondido City Council will discuss the provisions of the new law Wednesday afternoon. Council members intend the law as a deterrent to illegal immigrants moving into the city.

It is an issue that is dividing the community--bringing many out to protest. Immigrant groups and high school students will be among those opposing the proposed law.

Escondido High School students are marching to Grape Day Park in protest Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.

Protestors will also be in front of Escondido City Hall when council members arrive for Wednesday's council meeting.

And landlords will end up torn between following federal laws that say it's illegal to discriminate and local laws that order it so, he said.

How about the Federal laws that state renting to them is aiding and abetting illegal activity. Landlords wouldn't need a ordinance if they followed the law. These people are oh so concerned about laws being violated, but they want to ignore the statutes prohibiting them from the same things they are protesting!