Taco Bueno Says It Doesn't Support Farmers Branch Housing Ordinance
Immigration-related ordinance to be decided Saturday
May 10, 2007


By ANABELLE GARAY
Associated Press Writer
FARMERS BRANCH, Texas -- Fast-food chain Taco Bueno Restaurants, L.P. said Thursday its relocation to this Dallas suburb has been misrepresented as an endorsement of the city's controversial ordinance to ban apartment rentals to illegal immigrants.


Farmers Branch council members approved a regulation in November requiring apartment managers to verify that renters are U.S. citizens or legal immigrants before leasing to them. The measure, Ordinance 2903, goes to voters on Saturday.

Opponents and business experts have said the ordinance makes the city seem racist and will discourage businesses from moving to or expanding in Farmers Branch.

Councilman Tim O'Hare, the ordinance's lead proponent, has countered by pointing out that Taco Bueno moved its headquarters to Farmers Branch after the council approved the ordinance.

Taco Bueno moved its headquarters from Carrollton to Farmers Branch in late December, but its lease negotiations began in October 2005, the company said.

"Recently and regrettably, the timing of the Taco Bueno office relocation to Farmers Branch has been mischaracterized as an endorsement of Ordinance 2903. Actually, our relocation effort began well in advance of the referendum and such inferences are incorrect," Taco Bueno chief executive John Miller said in a statement Thursday.

Taco Bueno officials were not made aware of the issue until after relocating, Miller said.

The company has never spoken with Farmers Branch officials about the ordinance and believe the measure is a matter best left to city officials and residents, Miller said.

"Taco Bueno embraces the Hispanic community and has a long tradition of supporting Mexican-American culture and family life. Our stance, however, is that while Taco Bueno cannot support illegal immigration, we do believe 2903 is ill-advised," he said in a statement.

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