Thread: County Commissioner Calls For Action

County Commissioner Calls For Action
by B. Jay Johnson

July 18, 2007
At least one county commissioner is calling for action, in the wake of the Bradley News' series of Special Reports entitled "Illegal Invasion."

Several weeks ago an immigration attorney told us that Bradley County has the perception of being lenient when it comes to dealing with illegal aliens. Commissioner Jeff Yarber finds that disturbing.

In fact, he finds it so disturbing that he is drafting a resolution that calls for tougher laws aimed at illegal aliens in Bradley County.

"I am concerned that we are a sanctuary for illegal immigrants," says Commissioner Yarber. "We need to start making noise and start discussing the issue."

Yarber wants to crack down on landlords who knowingly rent to illegal aliens and to businesses who knowingly hire illegal aliens. He says his resolution is still being drafted, so he doesn't want to discuss the specifics - not just yet.

Commissioner Yarber says he is particularly concerned about illegal aliens who are driving without a driver's license and commiting other crimes that endanger the citizens of Bradley County.

The Bradley News was the first media source to report on the arrest of an illegal alien who drove his vehicle through a fence at a home on Club Drive back in April.

That illegal alien was arrested, but was released on bond. He was later re-arrested for not appearing in court to face the charges in the case.

Commissioner Yarber is bringing the illegal immigration issue to the forefront at a time when the state of Georgia is enacting sweeping immigration laws.

While Congress remains deadlocked on illegal immigration, Georgia is receiving national attention for being the first state to move forward with new laws aimed at stemming the tide of illegal aliens coming into the Peach State.

State Lawmakers in Nashville expect the new law in Georgia to have a direct impact on the illegal immigration population here in Tennessee.

As of July 1, any large company wanting to do business with local or state government agencies must show they have registered to use the federal Employment Eligibility Verification Program. The program is an online database run by the federal Citizenship and Immigration Services.

The new legislation requires employers to check the status of any new workers hired after July 1 and determine whether their Social Security numbers are valid.

During the first year SB 529 is in effect, only companies with 500 employees or more will be required to participate if they want to bid on government contracts in Georgia.

As it is phased in, all contractors and subcontractors working with the state or local governments will be required to enroll after July 2009.

The Georgia Department of Labor recently outlined how it will implement the verification rules, but so far there has been little response from the contracting and building communities that have been preparing for the new law.

"Many have already participated voluntarily, especially the larger employers, which will be this first group," said Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. More than 500 Georgia companies are already taking part in the verification system.

"We have been requiring growers to join the program," said Dawson Morton, an attorney for the Migrant Project of Georgia Legal Services Program. He represents farm workers with legitimate visas fighting against farmers wanting to pay lower wages to undocumented workers and said the verification issue often comes up.

"We were just in court two weeks ago for a contempt proceeding with a grower who refused to join it," said Morton.

Access to healthcare also could change for illegal immigrants in Georgia, but only for some services.

SB 529 makes people prove they are in the country legally before they can receive state-funded benefits.

However, under federal law, no one can be turned away from hospital emergency rooms for care. Georgia legislators also included several exemptions in the bill for children and pregnant women.

Communicable diseases also can be treated because of public health concerns. And those who pay the full amount for services without receiving subsidized care do not have to show their legal status.

As you can imagine, many Hispanics living in Georgia are alarmed and confused by SB 529. It's been reported that many in the state's Hispanic communities are avoiding doctors altogether out of confusion.

Danny Vincent is the Executive Director for HealthSTAT, a student-led nonprofit health group. She says the main services that are going to be affected are adult, primary and chronic care.

Vincent says HealthSTAT and other groups have been preparing for the new law by asking county health departments and state officials to distribute pamphlets to patients and by making sure the law is being interpreted the same at all facilities.

Republican State Senator Chip Rogers of Woodstock, Georgia crafted the law. He says he has already been contacted by representatives of 20 states seeking information about the landmark legislation.

"The weakness of national legislation means more state and local measures will be pitched," Rogers predicts. "You'll see states and local governments taking action because of the failure of the federal government."

That definitely appears to be the case with Bradley County Commissioner Jeff Yarber. He says the federal government has not done its job, but he says local governments can't sit back and wait any longer.

During Monday's commission meeting, Commissioner Ed Elkins asked whether Whitfield County, Georgia had passed any immigration laws of its own. The city of Dalton is located in Whitfield County. The city reportedly is now 47% Hispanic.

Commissioner Yarber said he would research the immigration laws in Georgia and try to find out what is taking place in Whitfield County.

"I'm concerned about the influx of illegals who will be coming our way," said Yarber. "I don't want to just ramble about it, I want to see action."

http://www.bradleyweekly.com/news.cfm?id=5311

There is much going on in Cleveland, TN and Bradley County. Meetings are being held with Mayor Tom Rowland and Mayor Gary Davis. Letters have been written and hand delivered to the Mayors, the Police Chief Wes Snyder and Sheriff Tim Gobble and there are those in court now watching what is happening when illegal aliens come before Judge Sheridan Randolph.

Business Licenses are being checked, consultations with law enforcement are underway and the exposing of the association of Cleveland, TN Mayor Tom Rowland along with other City Officials and local Law Enforcement to the Ocoee Regional Multicultural Services Center (the news says this group helps illegal aliens) is occuring daily. Calls for investigation of the ORMS and the Mayor and other City and County Officials as to why Cleveland is lenient toward illegal aliens is snowballing.

News is traveling quickly that Cleveland is a Sanctuary City. A recent question to the City Police Chief resulted in a "NO COMMENT."

Letters are flowing in to the editors of local news media and costs of this illegal alien invasion to Cleveland, TN are being requested.

Representative Eric Watson spoke on Monday at the Republican Women's meeting and he told of the devastation of illegal immigration to Tennessee and Bradley County. Cards were passed out with the website address of ALIPAC as well as the news of a recent rape by an illegal alien in Tennessee. The Illegal had at least two names and had passed through the judicial system at least 11 times.

Psalm 91

(quote)

Letter to the Editor:

Apparently Crime Does Pay (in Bradley County)

Dear Editor,

Thank you for the series on the invasion of the sovereign territory of the United States by illegal aliens.

On July 3, 2007 judge Sheridan Randolph heard the case of Everardo G. Velázquez for the (6-22-07, 6-29-07, 7-3-07) third time. As you can see, the costs are running up for the American taxpayer for these free services to this illegal alien! The smiling interpreter lovingly put his hands and arms around Mr. Velazquez and this judge allowed this illegal alien to get out of jail and refunded him $626 from his $1,500 bond. No one informed the victims of this new court date so they could address the restitution to be paid to them to damage of their property by this criminal! Not only has this illegal alien broken a federal law by coming into our country, but he now has 3 charges from his March 24, 2007 drunken stupor with at least the name he is using at this time.

Mr. Otis Easton and his wife attended court on June 22, 2007 (both taking time off of work to see justice in action) the date Mr. Velázquez was to appear in court from his offenses dated March 24, 2007. To refresh your mind on March 24, 2007 Everardo G. Velázquez was so drunk he runs into Mr. Eaton's yard damaging his fence and the fence of the Cleveland District office of the United Methodist Church across the street. Everardo G. Velázquez tried to get his car out of Otis Eaton's yard but got caught up on the power pole! As is in many documented cases regarding illegal aliens fleeing the scene of the accident before an officer can arrive is exactly what Mr. Velázquez did. Mr. Velázquez was picked up by an officer as he fled down the street! Everardo G. Velázquez did not appear for his court date (6-22-07) and Judge Randolph then swore out a warrant for his arrest. Mr. Eaton personally informed Eric Watson where to find Mr. Velazquez! Mr. Velázquez was charged with Violation of finance Sec. Law; leaving the scene of accident; and DWI 1st offense.

On June 22, 2007, Mr. Eaton went up front to personally speak to judge Randolph but he thought Otis Eaton was the criminal. Mr. Otis Eaton explained he was the victim and had paperwork for the damage of his property. Judge Randolph informed him that a warrant would be issued for Everardo G. Velázquez's arrests and he would not be released from jail.

No one notified the Eatons of any of the future set dates for this illegal alien so that they could appear to have this criminal pay property damage to his fence that is still waiting to be repaired. The estimate from Gilbert Fence Company is $435 to repair damage to his property. The victims want Everardo G. Velázquez to pay for the damage of their fence.

We are sending a very profound message that crime pays to these illegal aliens and that the American servants (our elected officials) who are sworn to uphold the United States Constitution and the Constitution of the State of Tennessee and the charter and ordinances of Bradley County are just slapping their hands and in many cases dropping most of the charges! These elected judges, attorneys will not ask for restitution (for Americans) and will just look the other way when an illegal alien commits crimes until they kill someone! With Georgia's new law in effect we will now see buses coming into our day labor (on Inman Street it was observed 4 new buses with Spanish written on the side) sites taking jobs away from Tennesseans!

Americans are fed up with this type of justice! The next thing we will have is total anarchy because no one is civil or law abiding. A civilization that does not follow laws will soon have a tyrant running the country or total chaos!


By DiAnna Stanich, Chairwoman, WethepeopleofAmerica.org

(quote)

http://www.bradleyweekly.com/letters.cfm?id=166

Psalm 91

(quote)
Letter to the Editor:

R-E-S-P-E-C-T Just A Little Bit

Dear Editor:

Today I encountered the most nightmarish thing that I can imagine to happen to an American citizen of this supposed to be free country. It's gotten to be only free if you are a criminal by being in this country illegally.

I live on Old Georgetown Road with a 20-foot right-of-way coming up to my property. On the left of the drive is a duplex and on the right a rental house. At the end of the drive is my home. Recently, a Bradley County Gestapo Deputy came up to the front door of my house and asked my wife where Charles Patterson lived. She told him he lived in the north end of the duplex. The deputy then asked if Mr. Patterson drove. My wife told him she did not know because he did not have a car. That was all the deputy said to her. He did not ask her if the man of the house was home. Oh, no, he has his gun and badge to act and do as he pleases. Mr. Patterson was not at home at the time but as is our custom, we sometimes leave our doors unlocked or open, as he had done on this day.

Since he wasn't at home, could they not have asked me where he might be or when he might be back? Oh, now. That is not the Gestapo way of doing things. They prowled through his house and came out the back. Had a thief done that he would be put in jail.

Now I have a personal out-building 20 to 25 feet from Mr. Patterson's house. One of the Gestapo officers started toward the out-building. I told him that was mine and he could not look in it unless he had a warrant. He then informed me in his Gestapo manner that he did not need a warrant. He then informed me that he had an arrest warrant. I asked to see it and asked if it was for me. Again he informed me in his Gestapo manner that h e did not have to show me anything. I asked why was a person who had fought 34 months in the South Pacific to keep this country free being treated worse than the people who are in this country illegally, making them criminals?

As usual they began to make excuses. They have flat made me an enemy to law enforcement and I wouldn't help them if a number one criminal was going down the road.

As a citizen who put his life on the line for the very freedoms that these two officers walked and trampled on made me mad and I will not forget it.

Well guess what? A supervisor at the Sheriff's Department called (in fact, I talked to three) the last one said a Lt. or Capt. Thomas would be out to talk to me. I waited four hours and as I suspected, when I called they said no one was available to come out. So just as I thought I am only an American tax paying citizen and so like I said before, the Gestapo bunch will sweep it under the rug and shuffle papers and nothing will be done about it. It's too bad to be just a legal American citizen.


By Claude Wallace

(quote)

http://www.bradleyweekly.com/letters.cfm?id=167

We need to attend as many events as possible to let others know about ALIPAC so they can be ALARMED to the reality of illegal immigration through their reading of the day's news.

Psalm 91