Thread: Escondido gives final approval

We knew this would happen but....
And next will be the ACLU and who-know-who-all to take the city to court.
I truly wish Escondido and other such cities luck, lots of luck for trying to do part of the job our federal government won't do.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/10 ... _17_06.txt

Escondido gives final approval to illegal immigrant rental ban

By: PAUL EAKINS - Staff Writer - North County Times

ESCONDIDO -- In its second and final vote on the matter, the City Council on Wednesday approved an ordinance that will prohibit landlords from renting to illegal immigrants, or face penalties including fines and jail time.

The vote made Escondido the first California city to adopt such a measure, and sets the city up for a potentially long and expensive legal battle.

The council voted along the same 3-2 margin to reaffirm its initial vote from two weeks ago during a meeting considerably tamer and less impassioned than before.

Council members Ed Gallo, Sam Abed and Marie Waldron, who proposed the rental ban in July, voted in favor of the measure. Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler and Councilman Ron Newman voted against it.

Roughly 80 community members attended the meeting, considerably less than the overflow crowd that packed council chambers at the first vote on Oct. 4.

Barring any legal challenges, the ordinance is set to take effect Nov. 18.

Several civil rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union have vowed to mount legal challenges to the law and prevent it from taking effect.

Under the ordinance, landlords found to be renting to illegal immigrants would face penalties ranging from suspension of their business license to fines of up to $1,000 and six months in jail.

The city would enforce the ban based on written complaints submitted with the business license division.

Complaints based on race or ethnicity would be discarded.

Landlords facing allegations would be required to submit immigration documents for their tenants. The city would forward the papers to the federal government for verification.

Before the council decision, a small crowd of supporters and opponents of a measure to ban landlords from renting to illegal immigrants gathered outside of City Hall.

About 30 members of the San Diego Minutemen, an anti-illegal immigration group, and others supporting the ordinance began gathering about 2:30 p.m., while only a few opponents of the ordinance trickled in before the 4 p.m. meeting.

The two groups were on opposite sides of the sidewalk and driveway in front of City Hall, separated by several low barriers, police tape and several Escondido police officers.

Inside the council chamber, about 80 people were in attendance and there were many empty seats as the meeting began.

The scene was far different two weeks ago when the council heard the first reading of the ordinance and eventually voted 3-2 to move it forward. At that night meeting on Oct. 4, the council chamber was filled to capacity and more than 400 demonstrators stood for hours in front of City Hall, chanting, shouting and waving signs in support of or opposed to the ordinance.

That night, an estimated 200 law enforcement officials from throughout San Diego County, arrived to separate the crowds and provide security during the meeting.

Daniel Perez, a community activist who organized the Oct. 4 protest at which more than 300 people opposed to the ordinance showed up, said today that he had told community members not to demonstrate again.

He said the City Council had listened to their concerns and opinions about the ordinance, and had ignored them. The people's voice will next be heard in court, he said.

"We expect our lawyers to start working tomorrow," Perez said.

Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union have said they will fight the ordinance in court if it is passed.

Meanwhile, a citizen's group called 'Predatory Aliens Stop Killing Our Police!' met in the pro-ordinance area in front of City Hall before the meeting for a short memorial service to remember law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty by undocumented immigrants.

Group members set up a table with candles and stood in a line, carrying signs bearing the photos of slain officers and wearing paper hearts with photos of Marie Waldron, Sam Abed or Ed Gallo, the three council members who voted for the ordinance Oct. 4.

The service also honored Amy Marie Kortlang, a 22-year-old Ramona resident who was killed Oct. 9 in a head-on collision on Highway 67. Rafael Ramirez Perez, 22, who had been deported to Mexico in March, faces six criminal charges, including murder and DUI, and could receive life in prison.

Gary Walker, an Escondido resident and founder of PASKOP described the ordinance as "the first salvo to deal with the raging epidemic of the illegal immigration invasion."

PASKOP is a multi-ethnic, non-sectarian group modeled after the educational and public awareness goals of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Walker said.

"It's a similar type of approach ... to educate peoples' heart and minds (on) senseless carnage," Walker said.

Members of the San Diego Minutemen said they were there to support the ordinance, and said similar laws should be enacted throughout the county.

When the meeting ended, roughly 100 people on both sides of the issue remained in front of City Hall, taunting each other across lines of police officers in riot gear. Roughly 30 officers from police departments throughout San Diego County were on hand to handle the crowd.

Thank God! City by City!

ACLU is about to stand for American Citizens Left U out of a job!

Dixie

He said the City Council had listened to their concerns and opinions about the ordinance, and had ignored them. The people's voice will next be heard in court, he said.

No Senor Perez, you idiot, the City Council finally DID listen, to the concerns of its CITIZENS, the real Americans who live legally there and vote. You know, the people who obey ALL the laws and pay their taxes who support the schools, hospitals and public services. The ones who pay for the welfare, education and medical costs of your mooching illegal alien invaders?