Thread: Group wants Cape Coral to be English only

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Group wants Cape Coral to be English only
Maggie Newland
Last updated on: 9/19/2006 6:35:03 PM

LEE COUNTY: A petition to ban illegal immigrants from living and working in Cape Coral is now in the hands of the Cape Coral City Council. The petition got more than a thousand signatures, but many Cape leaders say it's unlikely anything will change.

Taking a stand against illegal immigration is why Tony Maida and Mary Ann Redman founded the group called Americans Standing Tall. Monday night they presented a petition with more than 1000 signatures to the Cape Coral City Council.

"My first thought was it had Archie Bunker written all over it," said councilmember Tim Day.

The petition proposes the city council name English the official language of Cape Coral.

"If they learn English they could assimilate into our society a little better," said Redman.

The petition also demands the city pass laws to prevent illegal immigrants from living or working in Cape Coral by fining businesses who hire them and landlords who rent to them.

"We know there are people living in houses that are illegals," said Redman.

"You can't treat them like animals. We build shelters for dogs, we don't ask whether its a dog from this country or not when we decide whether or not to house the dog," said Day.

Day also argued there's no reason for the petition's proposal to make English the official language of Cape Coral.

Not every council member at city hall feels as strongly as Day, but Cape Coral Mayor Eric Feichthaler said he thinks it shouldn't be up to individual cities to pass immigration laws .It's up to the federal government to patrol American borders.

"If politicians say let's let the federal government take care of it, then we don't need you politicians in town," said Maida.

Maida and Redman plan to pass the petition to every politician who will listen.

"We're going to go to Lee County Commissioners and start with them and then we're going to hit Collier County and if someone shoots us in the meantime, then that's the way life is," said Maida.

"You can't treat them like animals. We build shelters for dogs, we don't ask whether its a dog from this country or not when we decide whether or not to house the dog," said Day.

I can't believe this comment was printed. Is this really a rational argument?