http://news.yahoo.com/s/kgtv/20061005/lo_kgtv/10007237 Escondido Passes Ordinance To Prohibit Renting To Illegals Thu Oct 5, 1:27 PM ET



The Escondido City Council voted 3-2 Wednesday night to give initial approval to an ordinance prohibiting landlords from renting to illegal immigrants.

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Under the proposed ordinance, landlords would be required to submit documentation of their tenants' immigration status to the city, which would then pass the information along to the federal government for verification.

Landlords whose tenants are not legal residents would have 10 days to remove the renters or face penalties, including a suspension of their business license and misdemeanor charges for repeat offenders.

The ordinance's provisions would only be triggered by complaints from a landlord, tennant or other member of the public.

Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler and Councilman Ron Newman voted against the proposal.

A second vote is required for the ordinance to be adopted and is scheduled for the Oct. 18 meeting. If it is approved, it would take effect 30 days later.

A representative of the San Diego chapter of the American Liberties Union told the City Council that the proposal was unconstitutional and "an open violation of fair housing laws."

Councilwoman Marie Waldron she said introduced the proposal "to do what we can on the local level" to combat illegal immigration.

"The federal government has let us down by not enforcing our borders," Waldron said. "We should not be ashamed of standing up for our nation and our laws."

Newman said he thought the process was politicized and the proposal was driven by "anger and frustration."

"In my opinion, we have divided this community along racial lines," Newman said.

Newman said the ordinance would be ineffective because it relied on the federal government, which city officials haven't contacted yet.

"This thing has been hastily put together," Newman said. "It is not going to be workable."

Fellow Councilman Sam Abed, an immigrant from Lebanon, argued that the proposed ordinance was needed to relieve overcrowding and eliminate slumlords.

"I am convinced that we need to act today to address the issue of overcrowding," Abed said. "We must shift this debate from helping illegals to helping the citizens of Escondido."

Pfeiler called the proposal "very discriminatory" and divisive and that illegal immigration cannot be solved in Escondido.

Deborah Szekely, owner of Golden Door restaurant, which employs 200 people, called the proposed ordinance a "nightmare."

"Your fears will bring disaster to our city," Szekely said. "Our city will be identified worldwide as racist."

Patrice Lynes told City Council members that "illegal means illegal."

"Passing this ordinance will be a history maker," Lynes said.

Outside City Hall, 200-300 people demonstrated against the proposal, while about three dozen demonstrated in support of it.

At least three dozen law enforcement officers in riot gear kept the two sides apart.

Demonstrators were heated but peaceful.

Some proposal supporters carried signs saying, "Red White Black Brown ... You're Illegal Outta Town." Opponents had signs reading, "USA Not Nazi Germany."

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