Thread: Surprise council trying to stop day laborers from gathering

Surprise council trying to stop day laborers from gathering
Erin Zlomek
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 2, 2007 12:00 AM
http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/ ... 0802.html#

SURPRISE - Surprise City Council members want to ban day laborers from congregating within the city.

A motion approved at last week's council meeting directed city staff to develop an ordinance banning workers from gathering specifically at Greenway Road and Market Street.

However, District 3 Councilman Doc Sullivan said he hopes the proposal will extend citywide by the time it goes to a public hearing, likely in September.

The intersection targeted by the measure is in the oldest residential section of Surprise and borders El Mirage.

"It used to be 10 or 20 guys would hang out there, now there are over 100. It's starting to cause a safety issue," Sullivan said.

At the spot, crowds of men gather near homes, flagging down cars for odd jobs each day. Many of the participants are undocumented immigrants.

"It's the children that are walking to school that's part of (the safety issue)," said District 4 Councilman Danny Arismendez. "Also, trash collects around there, and it just doesn't look good."

The closest day-labor center, Labor Express near Grand Avenue and Luna Street, closed for good a few months ago, said El Mirage Mayor Fred Waterman.

The lack of a place for day laborers to assemble has prompted some residents to question whether an ordinance would be effective.

"I don't think we can completely prevent it," Arismendez said. "This is something the whole state and whole country are battling. But I do think (an ordinance) will help and make a difference."

duplicate post:
http://www.alipac.us/modules.php?name=F ... se+council