Thread: Escondido: Latinos react to eviction threats

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib ... evict.html

Latinos react to eviction threats

By J. Harry Jones
STAFF WRITER

October 14, 2006

ESCONDIDO – Reacting to reports that some landlords and apartment managers are telling renters they must produce immigration documents or face eviction, several Latino groups are going on the offensive.

Thousands of fliers are being distributed in the city telling people not to panic, and that a controversial housing ordinance passed by the City Council last week won't go into effect until next month – if ever.

The fliers, written in Spanish, encourage people who are being pressured to produce immigration documents to call the Fair Housing Council of San Diego and not to be intimidated by an overreaction by landlords.

“(We) have been receiving numerous complaints from renters regarding landlords and/or apartment managers that have threatened eviction if immigration documents are not presented,” said Bill Flores, spokesman for El Grupo, an umbrella organization representing several Latino groups.

“In response to these rumors and stories and incidents, many, many renters are fearful that evictions are imminent. El Grupo and other Latino-based organizations want to quell those fears.”

The fliers say landlords cannot legally threaten renters with evictions based on their immigration status, and that the ordinance is not in effect and can't be enforced until Nov. 18 at the earliest.

They also predict that the courts will suspend the implementation of the ordinance because it is discriminatory and unconstitutional.

“Our message is, 'Don't worry, nothing is going to happen in the immediate future,' ” Flores said. “But if your landlord or apartment manager threatens eviction due to immigration status, you should call the Fair Housing Council of San Diego in Oceanside at (760) 439-3940.”

Such calls, the fliers promise, will be confidential.

Robert Pinnegar, executive director of the San Diego County Apartment Association, which opposes the ordinance, said he has not heard of any Escondido landlords demanding identification papers. However, he said his organization has received many calls from concerned landlords asking what they should do.

On Oct 4, the Escondido council voted 3-2 in favor of an ordinance that would punish landlords for renting to illegal immigrants by suspending their businesses licenses or imposing fines.

Proponents say the ordinance is a small way for the city to deal with a flood of illegal immigrants, an issue they say the federal government has failed to address. Overcrowding in many Escondido apartment buildings is a serious health and safety problem, they say, as multiple families crowd into one house or apartment.

Opponents say the ordinance is fraught with legal problems and will be overturned in court. Many also charge that it is motivated by racism, and has divided the city along racial and cultural lines.

A second reading of the ordinance is scheduled for Wednesday. If it passes again, as expected, it would go into effect 30 days later if there is no court intervention.

Flores said a news conference has been scheduled for Tuesday at Grape Day Park in hopes of getting the El Grupo message out to Escondido residents.

A similar ordinance enacted in Hazleton, Pa., is being challenged in court and has been put on hold.

“Our message is, 'Don't worry, nothing is going to happen in the immediate future,' ” Flores said.

YeEah, don't worry, if a law is created giving you rights and benefits, we will support it and make them enforce it or face holy hell. But if a law goes against our interests, just ignore it, we'll fight it and file lawsuits and protest. You see, we like the law and the democratic process if it benefits us, but if Americans dare propse laws that do not benefit us we can always just ignore them, like we do with any law we don't approve of, like immigration laws, employment laws, income tax laws, false document laws, housing regulations, animal cruelty laws, driving and licensing laws, and on and on. So just do whatever you want, those stupid gringos can't stop us from invading their country and mooching every free benefit we can.

Reacting to reports that some landlords and apartment managers are telling renters they must produce immigration documents or face eviction, several Latino groups are going on the offensive.

In California, in some cases a landlord is required to state "just cause" for terminating a tenancy. Generally, though, they don't need a reason to kick someone out.

So let the illegals get offended.

big deal...

So I go down in my basement and get my birth certificate out of the fire box, get my permit, and live happily ever after...


Such calls, the fliers promise, will be confidential.

As we all keep saying; what have they got to worry about if they are legal citizens.

Oh!! Just take your lumps and leave!!

Sour grapes is'nt going to get you anywhere!