Thread: Baldwin Park Repeals Day Laborer Limitation Law

Aug 16, 2007 2:15 pm US/Pacific

Baldwin Park Repeals Day Laborer Limitation Law
VIDEO: Watch The Latest News
SLIDESHOWS: View The Day's Top Photos
(CBS) BALDWIN PARK, Calif. An ordinance that drastically limited the ability of day laborers to solicit work was repealed by the Baldwin Park City Council, and immigrant-rights groups today celebrated a victory in their legal battle against the law.

"Individuals who wish to use the public sidewalks in Baldwin Park to seek jobs to earn a living and support their families may now do so without fear of being ticketed or arrested," said Kristina Campbell, an attorney with the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. "MALDEF is pleased that the Baldwin Park City Council has repealed this divisive and unconstitutional law.

"It is our hope that other cities that have passed anti-solicitation laws will do the right thing by repealing similar ordinances like Baldwin Park's and realize that passing this type of ordinance opens them up to costly litigation," she said.

The Baldwin Park law made it illegal for anyone to use a sidewalk for solicitation if doing so reduces the amount of free area for walking to less than three feet. The law went into effect July 6, but it was put on hold 10 days later by U.S. District Judge Edward Rafeedie, who issued a preliminary injunction barring the city from enforcing the measure.

The City Council voted unanimously last night to repeal the ordinance.

Councilman Ricardo Pacheco told KFWB radio he is looking into the possibility of establishing a day labor center in the city.

"I've noticed that a lot of other cities, they have day labor centers and have an organized way (so) the day laborers can solicit work, and that's what I'm pursuing right now," he said.

Supporters of the day laborers said Baldwin Park's ordinance was essentially a ban on soliciting work.

"The repeal of this unjust and unconstitutional law is shared by all day laborers and is a testament to their strength," said Pablo Alvarado, director of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network. "Day laborers spoke out in City Council meetings, they marched and rallied, they defended all of our rights, and now they will continue to contribute to this community through their hard work without being criminalized."

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. )
http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_228172104.html

"The repeal of this unjust and unconstitutional law is shared by all day laborers and is a testament to their strength," said Pablo Alvarado,

I bet you money he has never read the Constitution. If he had, he would know that the Constitution doesn't have anything to say about what cities do with their domestic issues. The city has a perfect right to keep these people from using sidewalks as "as place of business" which is exactly what they are doing. They just don't have the guts to stand up to these militants!

Councilman Ricardo Pacheco told KFWB radio he is looking into the possibility of establishing a day labor center in the city.

The Councilman's name says it all

Councilman Ricardo Pacheco

This town was a goner anyway. No big deal.