Thread: Metro Atlanta county abandons day labor proposal

Metro Atlanta county abandons day labor proposal

http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stor ... M1.shtml
By GREG BLUESTEIN
Associated Press Writer
Monday, August 13, 2007
Story last updated at 3:15 p.m. on Monday, August 13, 2007

ATLANTA - A metro Atlanta suburb said Monday it was abandoning a measure that would prohibit day laborers from gathering on public property or in parking lots, pleasing immigrant advocacy groups who claimed it was discriminatory.

Cobb County lawmakers will withdraw the proposal on Tuesday and wait for future legal decisions before adopting an ordinance that may conflict with federal immigration law, said county spokesman Robert Quigley.

The decision was welcome news for immigrant advocacy groups, which claimed the proposal unfairly targeted Hispanic immigrants.

"We're glad to see Cobb County still values the U.S. Constitution and federal law," said Jerry Gonzalez, the head of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials. "We hope it serves as a warning for other counties that may consider similar initiatives.

Officials in Cobb County, where 68,000 Hispanic residents make up about 10 percent of the county's population, have taken a stiff stand against illegal immigrants.

The commission passed an ordinance two weeks ago that limits the number of adults who can live in a house.

In June, the county's jail began to check the legal status of every foreign inmate and started to deport those here illegally. The county has also begun to enforce a rule requiring contractors on county projects to make sure new hires are legal by running their names through a federal database

Cobb County commissioners have argued the ordinances do not specifically target Hispanics, but instead are meant to promote safety. The day labor ordinance, said Quigley, was "aimed at providing safer intersections and protecting the lives of both the pedestrian and the motorist."

But immigrant advocacy groups said the ordinance also had another message: That immigrants are not welcome in the county.

"The bottom line is that the federal government has a role and responsibility for controlling immigration," said Gonzalez, who resigned from a county outreach group last week to protest the county's initiatives. "And only the federal government can act in such a way."

___

On the Net:

Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials: http://www.galeo.org/

Cobb County: http://www.cobbcounty.org/

I wonder if cities still have loitering laws or vagrancy laws?

These people are hanging around on public property just waiting to be picked up for work - which is in essence conducting business - sort of.

Maybe some people should set up big flea market or garage sale, lemonade stands, etc., - and just wait for someone to pick up their wares.

If it is legal to just hang around, don't know why one couldn't be selling something.

All I can say is throw them out of office!!! If you want to stop these people!



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"The bottom line is that the federal government has a role and responsibility for controlling immigration," said Gonzalez

How in the world can someone possibly translate a loitering law, which these day laborers are a public nusiance, into "controlling" immigration?? They should have told Gonzo to go "pound sand." It's a public welfare issue, NOT an immigration issue and somebody needs to drive that home to them.

How's the crackdown going to affect day laborers, I wonder?? They need to require them to have legal ID!

Cobb County lawmakers will withdraw the proposal on Tuesday and wait for future legal decisions before adopting an ordinance that may conflict with federal immigration law, said county spokesman Robert Quigley.

Atlanta don't start letting these illegal lovers start pushing you around with there B.S It makes you look like a bunch of pansies.

Frank Perdue would be proud of these Cobb County lawmakers.

Ya, stand up like us in Oklahoma. I have been seeing them move with there trucks and trailers full of all there stuff over the last month. You know the ones moving are not legal but maybe they are moving to those places that want and welcome them. If that is the case then very shortly these areas will be screaming or it will be to late for them just like Ca.

How can these Mexican supporters wave the banner of Law and Order only when it keeps the illegals rolling in perks.

The minute you try to control this invasion with ordinances and laws, they run for the Constitution and the law books. Why don't these defenders of justice break out the law books and condem these people for jumping the border thereby breaking Federal laws. I see where these supporters are threatening the rest of the counties of Georgia not to engage is such activity as Cobb County. I wish Cobb County had never done anything if they were going to back down.

Everyone needs to write to the State Legislature of Georgia and try and get this to be considered as a state law. We are being held hostage in our own country. If one state takes a stand then others will. We just need to take our country back state by state.

Georgians need to pick these clowns up and then hit about 30-40 speed bumps going about 30mph before dumping them out in front of the I.C.E. building.

Stupid is as stupid does.

Dixie