Thread: Demonstrators rally against day labor laws

Demonstrators rally against day labor laws

By Chris Gosier
Staff Writer

April 22, 2007

STAMFORD - A citizens' group demonstrated outside Mayor Dannel Malloy's house yesterday to call attention to their concerns about illegal immigrants.

The members of Southern Connecticut Citizens for Immigration Reform criticized Malloy for supporting a "no-hassle" zone where day laborers can congregate, and said he should do more to stop the hiring of illegal immigrants in Stamford.

"He should follow up and find out who's hiring these people and have them arrested," said Ted Pechinski of North Branford, a retired electrician and leader of the immigration group.

Malloy said the city has no authority to crack down on the hiring of illegal immigrants. It's the job of the state and federal governments to enforce labor laws, and the federal government handles immigration, he said.

"If they have a problem with immigration policy as it exists in the United States, they have to make their intentions known in Washington," Malloy said.

The no-hassle zone was set up along South State Street in 2004, marked with red-and-white signs in English and Spanish, when the laborers outgrew their original pickup spot beneath Interstate 95 and caused traffic congestion.

Another group member - Bill Farrel, a roofer from North Branford - said the zone attracts illegals who take jobs that otherwise would have gone to U.S. workers. The workers, through their numbers, also depress wages for people in blue-collar professions, he said.

"They'll target this city, particularly" because of the no-hassle zone, he said. "A hassle-free zone equals de facto amnesty."

Malloy said the zone was set up because of a public safety concern - preventing traffic congestion and accidents.

About 10 demonstrators wore hardhats and blue-collared shirts and carried signs. "Stop illegal immigration now," one sign read.

The immigration group, based in North Branford, gained some Stamford members out of yesterday's demonstration, Farrel said. The group plans to hold more demonstrations in the city, he said.

"We're planning on being fairly active here" in Stamford, he said.
Copyright © 2007, Southern Connecticut Newspapers, Inc.

http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/lo ... -headlines

Sounds like Malloy and his cronies need to get the boot.

And business needs to get a clue, We the People are tired of their greedy ethics.