Thread: Farmers Branch voting on leases to immigrants

Comments being left after the story at the link too.

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April 30, 2007, 9:19AM
Farmers Branch voting on leases to immigrants
Ban on rentals to those here illegally gains a final round of support and dissent


By THOMAS KOROSEC
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle


Complete coverage of immigration issues FARMERS BRANCH — As early voting begins today on an ordinance aimed at illegal immigrants, organizers on both sides of the measure are getting some influential last-minute support.

The Washington-based Federation for American Immigration Reform, which favors a crackdown on uncontrolled immigration, has joined supporters of a measure in this Dallas suburb to bar landlords from renting apartments to undocumented immigrants.

The group recently distributed 5,000 door hangers supporting the rental ban, which first passed the six-member City Council in November and then was modified in January to include a public vote.

The flier complains about the burden of illegal immigrants on Dallas County's public hospital, among other issues. "We think citizens have the right to decide how their cities are to be run," said Joyce Mucci, FAIR's southern field representative.

The group also has filed a motion to join the city in fighting a federal court challenge of the ordinance.

On April 18, three lawsuits against the city were consolidated in U.S. District Judge Sam Lindsay's court, which will become the center of the fight if the measure clears the May 12 referendum.


Ex-mayor a no vote
Meanwhile, a popular former Farmers Branch mayor, David Blair Jr., has come out against the ban and last week detailed his concerns to the City Council, which has unanimously backed the ordinance requiring landlords to check the citizenship or immigration status of apartment complex renters.

"This has been tremendously divisive," Blair, who served as mayor from 1988 to 1996, said in an interview. "This wasn't vetted by the community before they took action and it was done very quickly."

Echoing a chief campaign theme among opponents, Blair said the city's legal costs to defend the measure already have reached $270,000, and another $440,000 has been budgeted. "I don't see it ending there," Blair said, adding that he doubts federal courts that have allowed illegal immigrants access to public schools and heath care will favor a local law that bars them from renting apartments.

Still, Blair said his sense is most people favor the ordinance, which he expects to pass.

"I think they are looking at it (the city's measure) very narrowly. They see it as a vote against illegal immigration," he said. "People are very frustrated with the federal government's immigration policies."

Although the city of 27,000 is roughly 40 percent Hispanic, Anglos will decide the outcome. Fewer than 10 percent of the city's 14,000 registered voters are Hispanic.

Organizers on both sides are predicting a turnout of four to 10 times normal for a city election. Last year's council election drew 800 voters, under 6 percent of those registered.

"Nobody wants to talk about anything else," said Tony Salerno, one of five candidates running for two open council seats. Salerno and two others are opposed to the rental ordinance. "The first thing people want to know is which way are you going on the (rental) ordinance."

Council candidate Tim Scott said the early days of the ordinance campaign resembled a feud, with the two sides accusing each other of stealing yard signs, stalking campaign workers and the like.

A more civil tone has prevailed in recent weeks and yard signs on both sides have bloomed on residents' greening lawns.

"I support where this ordinance is coming from. The rule of law is important," said Serena Connelly, a social worker who has multiple "against" signs in her spacious front yard. "But I think illegal immigrants have become a scapegoat. I don't see them causing problems in Farmers Branch."


Printer supports a ban
A few doors away in the neighborhood of 1-acre lots and spacious, 50-year-old homes, ban supporter Darryl Mix loaded equipment into an SUV for his children's softball team.

"I think someone needs to do something about immigration. Not just here but the whole country," said Mix, who owns a printing company. "I employ half a dozen Hispanic workers. They're legal and they're the best employees. I have nothing against Hispanics but I don't think we can afford paying for all these illegals. They send most of their pay back to Mexico, anyway."


Outside money
Tom Bohmier, a leader with the pro-ordinance group Support Farmers Branch, said some of the most ardent opposition to the city's immigration push has come from nonresidents. The most recent campaign finance reports underscore his point.

About $40,000 of the $42,765 raised by Let the Voters Decide to defeat the rental ban came from the Dallas law firm Bickel & Brewer.

Bill Brewer, who filed two lawsuits opposing the ban on behalf of Farmers Branch residents and landlords, organized the petition drive that forced the referendum. The council later modified the proposal to require a citywide vote.

"This is not a good idea," said Brewer. "This is going to increase tensions and make this a more difficult place for my kids to live."

Brewer called Texas a state in transition.

"Anglos are going to be in the minority and we're going to have to live with the majority. It's only a matter of time before they start to take control.

"If we do things like they want to do in Farmers Branch now, then we'd better watch out. There may be a little pay back. It's practical for us at one level to live and work together rather than promote these divisions."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chr ... 59898.html

"If we do things like they want to do in Farmers Branch now, then we'd better watch out. There may be a little pay back.

This kind of statement disturbs me. What kind of payback is he talking about? Hate crimes against whites?


As I've said before, I live in Farmers Branch, and look forward to voting on May 12th!! I believe this is the first local election I, or my boyfriend, have ever voted in. But it's VERY important to do so!!

Until this weekend, there was an overwhelming number of "FOR" the ordinance signs on our long, main, very busy street of FB. However, just this weekend a slew of "AGAINST" signs popped up (mainly just on my block). I'm now surrounded by "AGAINST" signs on both sides of me, with a gigantic "AGAINST" banner across the street from me at a local business.

So obviously Elizabeth V. is going gung-ho with the people on my block to put up tons of opposing signs in last-minute desperation.

I so hope we win this one!!!

TexasGal

Sounds like a very volitale situation in the town. I'm glad to here there are just as many signs for the ordinance. I will say alot of prayers for your town and I hope we can add it to our list of wins here at ALIPAC!

What does he mean by payback?