Thread: Fresno mayor out on a limb -- again

Fresno mayor out on a limb -- again
Opposition to immigration raids doesn't get council support.

By John Ellis / And Matt Leedy
03/21/07 05:56:44

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The Fresno Bee

Alan Autry's criticism of federal immigration sweeps in Mendota has once again put Fresno's mayor in the spotlight on an issue only marginally related to running the state's sixth-largest city.

A divided Fresno City Council on Tuesday spurned Autry's pitch for a resolution that would have condemned the sweeps and labeled them a violation of civil rights.

In his proposed resolution, Autry also vowed to have the city pursue a lawsuit against the federal government to have such immigration raids stopped.

Council members who opposed the idea said the city has no place representing Mendota in a lawsuit or passing judgment on federal law.

Autry has earned a reputation for championing maverick causes during his six years in office.

He unsuccessfully lobbied for the power to appoint Fresno Unified trustees, called on school districts to conduct random student drug tests and battled Gov. Schwarzenegger over the wisdom of selling bonds to refinance the state's budget deficit.

Sometimes, Autry sounds inconsistent. His criticism of the immigration sweeps, for instance, seems at odds with his May 2005 call for a two-year moratorium on immigration.

It's not only baffled some of his fellow Republicans, it's also infuriated them.

"He's all over the board," said local Republican strategist Michael Der Manouel Jr. "That's been the hallmark. When you're all over the board like that, you wind up alienating everybody."

Teresa Fierro, executive director of Fresno County's Republican Party, said the local GOP has no working relationship with Autry.

"In every election, Autry endorses Democrats, so it comes as no surprise that he would take a liberal position on illegal immigration issues," she said.

Assembly Member Mike Villines, R-Clovis, said, "I love the mayor, but on this, we will disagree. ... The federal government should not apologize for enforcing the laws."

The latest political firestorm is vintage Autry -- though it allies him with Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, a liberal Democrat -- and for that, the mayor makes no apologies.

"Right is right, and wrong is wrong," he said at Tuesday's City Council meeting. "It doesn't matter if a Democrat is doing it or a Republican is doing it."

Autry said the sweeps violate constitutional protections of equal enforcement of the law. And, he said, "Fresno could be next."

Two years ago, when Autry called for an immigration moratorium, he reasoned that illegal immigrants put strains on local services such as jails, hospitals and schools. By taking such an action, he said at the time, a workable immigration program could be developed.

The idea never took hold.

Likewise, Tuesday's resolution failed when the council voted 3-3 on the matter. Four votes are needed to pass a resolution.

Council members Henry T. Perea, Cynthia Sterling and Blong Xiong voted yes. Jerry Duncan, Larry Westerlund and Mike Dages turned it away.

Brian Calhoun, who teaches a Fresno City College class during the council's lunch break, missed the vote because it occurred after noon. Although he didn't register a vote, Calhoun said later that he would have opposed the resolution.

Several council members disagreed with Autry's idea to sue the federal government, saying the city had no chance to win what would be a very costly lawsuit. Westerlund, a former Tulare County prosecutor, doubted whether the city of Fresno could even sue on Mendota's behalf. "I think we'd be tossed out [of court] on our ear in a heartbeat," he said.

Undeterred by the council's rejection, Autry said he will next pitch his resolution to the Council of Fresno County Governments. He said his proposed resolution to Fresno County COG also will include a possible lawsuit against the federal government.

"We have a responsibility to challenge the federal government when they're wrong," said Autry, adding that he will champion immigration reform "until my dying breath."

Such dedication to a point of view also is true to form for Autry.

In 2005, for instance, Autry abruptly quit the League of California Cities board of directors after it failed to support Proposition 76, the centerpiece initiative of Schwarzenegger's push to reform state government.

While Autry didn't have the support he needed from the Fresno City Council on this latest issue, he was backed Tuesday by leaders of some Fresno County cities, including Mendota Mayor Robert Silva and Orange Cove Mayor Victor Lopez. Sanger Mayor Michael Montelongo and San Joaquin Mayor Amarpreet Dhaliwal sent letters supporting Autry's effort.

And some in the agriculture community -- Republicans included -- said they also supported Autry. Many of those caught up in the raids are a critical labor source for central San Joaquin Valley agriculture.

"We need a higher profile and brighter spotlight to get Congress to act," said Joel Nelsen, president of Exeter-based California Citrus Mutual. "This could be the stalking horse."

Manuel Cunha Jr., president of the Nisei Farmers League in Fresno, said he supports Autry but doesn't agree with the mayor's position to sue the federal government.

Instead, city leaders throughout the Valley should contact their representatives in Congress, who Cunha said "have failed to deal with immigration policy."

Cunha said children have a right to go to school and live without fear of losing their parents. Growers have a right to a dependable workforce so their business can be successful.

He blamed both Republicans and Democrats in Congress who are either anti-immigration or haven't taken a stance to improve immigration policy.

"We have a crisis here and they are not doing their job," he said.

Fresno City Council President Perea -- a Democrat who supports Autry's efforts -- predicted the mayor's efforts could alienate him from his own party.

"Being of your political persuasion, it's going to make you very unpopular in your party," Perea told Autry from the council dais.

Indeed, that is already happening, as conservative, urban Republicans such as Fierro and Der Manouel say Autry has involved the city in a matter where it has no business.

"Why is the mayor of Fresno city concerned with Mendota?" Fierro asked. "The city of Fresno needs a mayor who will address the concerns of Herndon Avenue and other issues pertaining to the city of Fresno. Immigration is a federal law, not a city issue."

Der Manouel, the Republican strategist, agreed: "It's none of Fresno's business, and frankly, it's none of [Autry's] business. If he wants to run for Congress, let him go and run for Congress. He's a mayor, not a congressman."

Autry remained unfazed, saying he doesn't plan to run for another political office when his mayoral term expires in January 2009. And even in defeat and in the face of criticism from his own party, Autry remains upbeat about the discussion his latest efforts have sparked.

"I believe a real discussion about real solutions to immigration issues has begun," he said.

Bee staff writer Pablo Lopez and Michael Doyle of the Bee’s Washington Bureau contributed to this report.

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http://www.fresnobee.com/263/story/36513.html

Maybe somebody ought to saw off that limb while he's out there on it.