Thread: Policing day laborers in Orange is a fulltime job

Policing day laborers in Orange is a fulltime job
Police officer devotes time to enforcing new rules that crack down on problems associated with day workers.

By ELLYN PAK
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER


ORANGE - Jack in The Box. Home Depot. Big Lots. 7-Eleven. Albertsons. Home Depot.

Officer Augie Rocha bounces from one location to another like a pinball. He starts his mornings early – usually at 5:30 a.m. – to keep up with the day laborers who begin to congregate throughout the city.

The laborers gather in parking lots, in front of stores and on sidewalks to solicit work. As soon as Rocha rolls up in his police car, dozens of men dissipate. Some stare at Rocha but most avert their eyes and slowly walk away.

"I try to get out and educate them," Rocha says. "And it gets frustrating sometimes when you tell them you can't be there and they're there the next day."

For decades, city officials have grappled with problems associated with day-laborers.

Fliers translated into Spanish promoting the city-run Resource Center have been doled out. Business owners have erected signs in attempts to keep the laborers from soliciting on their private property. Citations have been given out for nuisances ranging from urinating in public to jaywalking.

Even now – nearly 18 years after the opening of the city's Resource Center job site – the city is trying to figure out how to deal with the issue.

"This is a problem that isn't going to go away unless we do something," says Mayor Carolyn Cavecche.

The solution, officials say, may be a part of a set of new ordinances they approved to forbid soliciting beyond a parking lot. This week, laborers will not be able to solicit for work from sidewalks next to streets without parking lanes, medians or driveways on a public right of way. In addition, private property owners must obtain permits to run job centers.

Hundreds congregate

Since May, Rocha has worked full-time to deal with the problems. Fluent in Spanish, Rocha has interacted with most of the day laborer community, which can consist of up to 200 people from throughout the county.

Rocha's presence has helped to divert some of the laborers away from private businesses. But when Rocha – the sole officer tasked to deal with the problems in Orange – is out of view, the laborers almost always return to their usual spots.

In a booth at a Jack in The Box on Katella Avenue, Frank Lopez points to some of the day laborers hanging outside of the fast food joint.

Lopez, who also solicits for work in the same area, says he is bothered by those who break the rules. Lopez usually stays away from the rest of the laborers who see him as competition because he speaks English.

"It makes the guys really looking for work look bad," he says.

Not all laborers are troublemakers, says Rocha, who has helped some find medical assistance and encouraged others to report crimes that occur in their communities.

"I have a heart for them because it's hard for what they're doing," Rocha says of some of the laborers. "Me being Latino, I stretch my hand out to them even more.'

But Rocha isn't shy about citing people who blatantly ignore the ordinances. Near one entrance of a shopping center on Chapman Avenue and Hewes Street, a white pick-up truck stops to pick up two day laborers under a sign that bans them from doing so.

Rocha, who is watching the transaction in the center, pulls the vehicle over and gives all three of the laborers citations for soliciting on private property. The driver of the car also is cited for speeding and driving without a license and being uninsured.

"The law has changed," Rocha says. "And they'll find out what we can do."

Tougher regulations

On a recent morning, Rocha stops at a 7-Eleven on Glassell Street and Katella Avenue. He approaches a group of eight laborers who pretend to wait for the bus. He tells them of new regulations that will go into effect in the second week of January.

"The law is going to be worse for you guys," he usually tells laborers. "My hands are going to be tied."

A few hours later, some of the men from the 7-Eleven have returned to their usual spot and are avoiding Rocha's cruiser. Some of them snicker as they walk past the officer.

"I talk to them and advise them and bring them up to speed. And this is what happens," Rocha says.

"I have a job to do," he adds. "I talk to these guys on a daily basis. Some respect me, some don't."

The more stringent regulations -- some of the toughest in Orange County -- will allow Rocha and patrol officers to give out more citations. Signs stating that solicitation on private property is banned are largely ignored.

Impeding traffic, intimidation of shoppers and public nuisances are some problems that stem from congregating day laborers. Rocha has caught some laborers wedged between cars at Home Depot, some urinating in plain view of the officer, others ogling at young girls coming out of a dance studio. Coffee cups and trash litter the bushes and parking lot.

"The customers feel awkward coming and fighting the crowds," says Peter Hwang, who owns Pageant Cleaners at Chapman Avenue and Hewes Street, a popular hangout. "Overall, it's a strain on our business."

Hwang steps out of his store and watches at least a dozen men hang out at a nearby Friendly Donuts. More than 60 laborers hang out in the parking lot on the weekends, causing Pageant customers to stop their cars at the curb for quick drop-offs and pick-ups.

"These guys are making some money," Hwang says. "They have better cell phones than I do. I don't know how they do it. It's baffling."

Officials are now figuring out how to keep up with enforcement once the new ordinances kick in.

"I don't want to pass an ordinance and not enforce it," Mayor Cavecche says. "My personal opinion is that the police department is going to need to assign more officers to this."

http://www.ocregister.com/news/laborers ... ay-private

Welcome to the 3rd world


"Rocha, who is watching the transaction in the center, pulls the vehicle over and gives all three of the laborers citations for soliciting on private property. The driver of the car also is cited for speeding and driving without a license and being uninsured."

And this guy was allowed to go on his way?

My god we are in trouble

Originally Posted by usanevada

Welcome to the 3rd world


"Rocha, who is watching the transaction in the center, pulls the vehicle over and gives all three of the laborers citations for soliciting on private property. The driver of the car also is cited for speeding and driving without a license and being uninsured."

And this guy was allowed to go on his way?

My god we are in trouble

Insanely ridiculous isn't it?

I've walked a line with minutemen here in Vegas at day labor sites

I've seen ridiculous, and then some

The citations are going right in the trash cans, they are a waste of time and money.

Yet they tell us we need more guest worker programs...Gawd i feel so sorry for the people that still live in these towns.

Know this town very well. Orange borders Santa Ana, which has been gone for decades. This is typical of much of southern CA. Actually I'm surprised Orange is doing anything at all and I commend them for trying.

Thought the same thing about them receiving citations, big deal eh? Citizens have to pay them but illegals will never be followed up on. But then illegals do seem to be protected from many things that citizens aren't.

I'm from Orange County as well. Lifelong resident. I cannot begin to tell you how bad it's become over the past ten years. There are blocks and blocks of barrios that resemble Tijuana.

Illegals stand on street corners daily soliciting work and the police are nowhere to be found, despite the fact there is a law against loitering in the city.

As much as I hate to say it, I have decided to leave the state later this year. Not sure where I'm going yet, but just as long as it's away from here. Honestly, I think California is too far gone to save from the illegal invaders. Entire cites have already been lost to the illegals. It's pretty much over here unless our elected officials suddenly decide to enforce the law, which is doubtful.

I do not see why anyone would spend upwards of a million dollars for a home, only to be be surrounded by third world barrios.

No Bueno: Come to PA!