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Escondido, CA Focus Campaign
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Landlord ordinance draws more than 300 foes to vigil


By J. Harry Jones
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
October 4, 2006



ESCONDIDO –Hundreds of men, women and children participated last night in a silent candlelight vigil and prayer session to show their opposition to a proposed city ordinance that would penalize landlords for renting to illegal immigrants.
It was a solemn, quiet protest, in stark contrast to recent immigration rallies around the county. More than 300 people carrying candles walked single file from Grape Day Park on Broadway the short distance to City Hall, where they prayed for common sense to prevail.

No counter-protesters were present.

The City Council is expected to adopt the ordinance tonight at a meeting beginning at 7. Three of the five council members – Marie Waldron, Ed Gallo and Sam Abed – have expressed their support. They say the ordinance is designed to partially deal with an issue that the federal and state governments have failed to resolve.

Last night, fliers were passed out encouraging people not to vote for Waldron, who is running for re-election.

One man held a sign that featured a photo of Waldron with a red line running across her face. “Stop Racism!” it read.

Under the ordinance, after a complaint to the city, landlords would have to give documentation of their tenants' immigration status. The city would then ask the federal government for verification.

If tenants are found to be illegal immigrants, landlords would be given five days to evict them or face suspension of their business licenses. Repeat offenders also could face misdemeanor charges.

If the ordinance is enacted, Escondido would become the first city in the state, and the largest city in the nation, to pass such an ordinance.

Protesters representing both sides of the issue are expected to gather at City Hall tonight. Police said they are anticipating the crowds.

“We're in touch with other law enforcement organizations and are preparing to have enough resources available for whatever may happen,” Escondido police Lt. David Mankin said.

Latino activists organized last night's gathering.

“We wanted to demonstrate our profound sadness that this city has chosen to take this course of action,” said Bill Flores, spokesman for El Grupo Sin Nombre, a coalition of civil rights, educational and other North County organizations. “The purpose of the silent vigil is to protest the proposed ordinance that we believe is unproductive, anti-family and represents inhumane treatment of this targeted group of people.”

Flores, who retired after serving as an assistant sheriff under county Sheriff Bill Kolender, said he never planned on becoming an activist.

“I wanted to be retired, but I can't allow what is happening here in Escondido to go unanswered,” he said.

Flores said families were asked to participate last night for a specific reason.

“The effect this ordinance will have is to evict families . . . families whose children may be citizens of the United States,” he said. “These children may well be paying for the sins of their fathers.”

Flores said it is ironic that the city has coincidentally declared this to be Family Week.

“This proposal is tearing this community apart,” he said. “It's a terrible situation. The wounds that this proposal has already caused are deep and may well be long-lasting. The city right now is not a healthy place to be.”

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J. Harry Jones: (760) 737-7579; jharry.jones@uniontrib.com