Thread: Illegal immigration forum price tag:more than $100K

Illegal immigration forum price tag estimated at more than $100K

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/08 ... _17_05.prt

By: PHILIP K. IRELAND - Staff Writer

CARLSBAD ---- Who should pay when free speech isn't free? Mayor Bud Lewis says he thinks Sen. Bill Morrow should, and said he will bill the senator for an estimated $100,000 in police costs for providing security for a forum on illegal immigration last week.

"We're going to bill Morrow for it," Lewis vowed Wednesday afternoon.

The city has estimated that its security costs for the forum at $100,000, but the total bill for the Aug. 11 forum will probably be much more than that, Lewis said, because seven other local governments sent officers to the event. A full tally of the costs should be available next week.

The "town hall" meeting, presented by Morrow and held at the Carlsbad Cultural Arts Center at Carlsbad High School, featured a slate of speakers who talked about the negative effects of illegal immigration on the nation's heath care and educational systems, national security and the environment.

Morrow rebuffed the assertion that he should pay the costs for security at the forum.

"Those costs were not generated by me or Roger Hedgecock or the slate of speakers, but by the radical leftists, anarchists, the protesters and illegal immigrants who tried to disrupt it," Morrow said Wednesday by phone from Sacramento. "I have done dozens of these forums on dozens of issues and I've never had to deal with this." Hedgecock is a San Diego talk-radio host who moderated the event. Morrow denied any responsibility for the costs incurred by Carlsbad police and seven other law enforcement agencies that came at the request of the Carlsbad Police Department. An estimated 150 law enforcement officials from as far away as El Cajon and Chula Vista responded to the call for extra security. Police made no arrests at the forum.

"In a just world, it should be those people who caused the problem in the first place that should pay for it, and I'll certainly do what I can to identify those groups," Morrow said.

Lewis called the Morrow forum a "political gimmick" designed to give the state senator public attention as he runs to replace Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Escondido, in the 50th congressional district.

"I'm a Republican," Lewis said, "but I'm not a stupid Republican, and I resent it."

Lewis said Morrow added insult to injury by suing the school district for legal fees accrued in Morrow's suit to compel the district to allow the forum.

"My taxpayers are getting hit twice," Lewis said. "Once for the folly of the forum, and again for the suit against the district. We're getting double whammied by him."

Morrow's aides and the school district originally scheduled the forum in July. But when Carlsbad schools superintendent John Roach canceled the forum on Aug. 7, citing violence at previous events when the two groups came together, Morrow sued, claiming that his First Amendment right to free speech had been violated. Roach subsequently reinstated the forum. The controversy was widely covered in newspapers and on the daytime AM talk-radio shows.

Morrow, who advertised the forum with a flier e-mailed to supporters, blamed the resulting flap for attracting protesters that caused the need for the large police presence.

An estimated 350 audience members ---- nearly all of whom agreed with Morrow that the country is facing an immigration crisis ---- had filled the theater by 6 p.m. Aug. 11, leaving another 250 anti-illegal-immigration backers outside, unable to get a seat. About 100 pro-immigration protesters traded shouts with the anti-illegal-immigration crowd outside.

Police encircled all of the protesters while two lines of sheriff's deputies and police officers dressed in riot gear and armed with batons, shotguns and sidearms kept the two groups apart. Protesters on both sides shouted slogans at one another through the police line.

Councilman Matt Hall said he felt a lot of "hate" in the air when he drove by the event. He commended both the police department and Roach, saying Roach was put in a tough position.

"I think he did a very good job in representing the school at what may or may not be allowed at the school," Hall said.

A full accounting of costs to Carlsbad and other agencies is expected next week, said Carlsbad Police Captain Mike Shipley.

Staff writer Barbara Henry contributed to this report. Contact staff writer Philip K. Ireland at (760) 901-4043 or pireland@nctimes.com.

It is money well spent.

Councilman Matt Hall said he felt a lot of "hate" in the air when he drove by the event. He commended both the police department and Roach, saying Roach was put in a tough position.

Cock-Roach created most of this problem himself by flip-flopping more than a beached flounder.

Ahhhhh bill the people whose lives were being threatened rather than the thugs who made the threats. Are we still living in America? I'm starting to wonder. Roach is siding with the people trying to shut down Free Speech.

Here's a Texas sized stiff middle finger to Roach.

Originally Posted by BobC

Ahhhhh bill the people whose lives were being threatened rather than the thugs who made the threats. Are we still living in America? I'm starting to wonder. Roach is siding with the people trying to shut down Free Speech.

Here's a Texas sized stiff middle finger to Roach.

That's the way politicians are. That would be a very big finger, BobC.

Originally Posted by BobC

Ahhhhh bill the people whose lives were being threatened rather than the thugs who made the threats. Are we still living in America? I'm starting to wonder. Roach is siding with the people trying to shut down Free Speech.

Here's a Texas sized stiff middle finger to Roach.

That's the way politicians are. That would be a very big finger, BobC.

In many south american nations, these La Raza, Mecha, Maldef types would be thought of as communists and in most educated south american nations and european nations, communism is viewed as the devil. However, we refer to them as radical leftists. Why do you think that mexican illegal immigrants and pro illegal alien activist groups dont head south of the mexican border. Also, most pro illegal alien activist and/or latino activist groups cater to mexicans only. The same thing with puerto rican activists-puerto ricans another group of people who suck off the welfare system, not integrating, and drape their cars/houses with the Puerto Rican flag driving down streets yelling boriqua!!(puerto rico) Funny how the mexicans and puerto rican(who abuse the system and integrate less than most latin americans as well as having the highest fertility among latinos), pledge allegiance to a countries who kept them in poverty and choose to harm the american taxpayer who has been nothing but compassionate towards them. All this, and they still have the nerve to call us racist. All they do is want more and more given to them without having to earn it.