Thread: Mayor defends 'Gestapo' comments, urges turn off Lou Dobbs

Mayor defends Farr's 'Gestapo' comments, urges residents to turn off Lou Dobbs

Shanna McCord - Sentinel staff writer
Article Launched: 03/06/2008 04:00:53 AM PST

SANTA CRUZ -- The mayor, in a quixotic move unrelated to city business, is asking Santa Cruz residents to turn off "Lou Dobbs Tonight."

The boycott, announced Wednesday in a proclamation written by Mayor Ryan Coonerty that declares March a "Lou Dobbs-free month," is retaliation for the CNN anchor's criticism of Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, after the congressman told an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official last week that his constituents view the agency as similar to the secret Nazi police, the Gestapo.

"This is a tongue-in-cheek effort at a real serious issue," said Coonerty, who acknowledged the proclamation is somewhat silly. "So, this is my little way of saying I wish our national journalists would engage in a little more thoughtful journalism ... and not pick out one word out of a two-hour hearing on a hard subject."

Neither Dobbs nor a CNN representative could be reached to comment Wednesday.

Farr, who has represented the Central Coast in Congress since 1993, was lambasted by Dobbs on his Feb. 26 show for remarks made at a House committee hearing while questioning ICE chief Julie Myers about recent raids.

According to transcripts, Farr said, "The public image of you becomes one of not this compassionate law enforcement agency but essentially a Gestapo-type agency that is knocking down doors."

Myers immediately responded, "We are not the Gestapo."

Dobbs, a vocal opponent of open borders who has advocated for illegal immigration crackdowns, has welcomed Farr to come on the show to defend the comment.

Farr has not withdrawn the remark. He said it came from the impression many of his constituents have of ICE, which periodically rounds up people without proper documents and deports them.

Coonerty's proclamation, which did not use up any staff time or city money, is supported by council colleagues and other community leaders.

Doug Keegan of the Santa Cruz County Immigration Project praised the proclamation, saying immigration raids spread fear.

"Farr's comment might have been a little over the top," Keegan said. "But it is a very scary situation. I'm always being asked if immigration is going to come get my mom or if immigration is going to come get my brother. We need to find a reasonable compromise."

Councilman Mike Rotkin defended Farr's comments, saying they accurately represent his view of U.S. immigration officials.

"I appreciate Farr using forceful language. It helps make your point and I like to see that," Rotkin said.

Farr was unavailable to comment Wednesday. His spokesman Tom Mentzer said, "This is why I like Santa Cruzans. They won't be censored by anyone. They tell it like it is."

Contact Shanna McCord at 429-2401 or smccord@santacruzsentinel.com

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/ci_847 ... st_emailed

Ryan Coonerty - Mayor Santa Cruz, California

rcoonerty@ci.santa-cruz.ca.us
(831)420-5027
City Hall
809 Center St. Room 10
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Term Expires: November 25, 2008
First Elected: November 2004
http://www.ci.santa-cruz.ca.us/council/ ... nerty.html

"This is why I like Santa Cruzans. They won't be censored by anyone. They tell it like it is."

So does Lou Dobbs!

What a hypocrite. He wants to censor Lou Dobbs, yet he brags on how much he likes Santa Cruzans because they refuse to be censored.

I was pleasantly surprised at the comment section for this article. I'm going to email now

realist
Santa Cruz, CA Reply »
|Report Abuse |#1 2 hrs ago
OK, just for that I'm going to report illegal aliens to the illegal alien hotline, 2 per day. And I'm going to photograph and send pictures of contractors picking them up to the border patrol and to the local prosecutor for state law violations.

Thanks for the inspiration. I've had success before doing that.
sc local
Santa Cruz, CA Reply »
|Report Abuse |#2 1 hr ago
"Coonerty's proclamation, which did not use up any staff time or city money, is supported by council colleagues and other community leaders"

So, who put this formal document together? Who paid for the paper, ink, the official seal?

No cost to the city? While they the Mayor spends his time on such ridiculous proclamation; the citizens cannot walk down River Street without the fear of being attacked and robbed.
JHENRY
Santa Cruz, CA Reply »
|Report Abuse |#3 59 min ago
This is just plain insanity.
We elect people to take care of our citizens and for these bozos to defend illegals against our law enforcement is out of bounds.
What is it about ILLEGAL that people don't understand?
I never watch Lou Dobbs, but- I WILL WATCH LOU DOBBS NOW!
Ryan Coonerty turns out to be a two-faced political wh0re.
And I used to like the guy!

BTW- kudos to ICE for finally fighting back against this invasion of neer do wells.
I want MORE raids.
Not less!
She Be Me
AOL Reply »
|Report Abuse |#4 58 min ago
Looks like Santa Cruz Mayor Ryan Coonerty doesn't like to hear the FACTS or follow the law and doesn't want his constituents to hear the FACTS either.

Mayor Ryan Coonerty endorsing what Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel said shows their utter lack and disregard for their sworn oaths to uphold the Constitution. Both Mayor Ryan Coonerty and Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel should be recalled/impeached IMMEDIATELY.
paul
Denver, CO Reply »
|Report Abuse |#5 56 min ago
Gee, you mean these illegals are unhappy and worried about being picked up? Now it all makes sense to me. Farr is just as much a criminal as these illegal mexicans are. The Santa Cruz City Council who support him and open borders are as well.
HUH
Gibsonia, PA Reply »
|Report Abuse |#6 55 min ago
His spokesman Tom Mentzer said, "This is why I like Santa Cruzans. They won't be censored by anyone. They tell it like it is."
Yeah, sure Tom, just as long as those Santa Cruzans agree with your party line. Don't you think that it is a bit ironic that your boss is, in effect, trying to censor Lou Dobbs with his dubious proclamation? Good Lord, that town is full of hypocritical morons.
Right on Time
Watsonville, CA Reply »
|Report Abuse |#7 43 min ago
"So, this is my little way of saying I wish our national journalists would engage in a little more thoughtful journalism ... and not pick out one word out of a two-hour hearing on a hard subject."
Riiiiiiight. Which is why Connerty was equally as defensive of Don Imus, or Trent Lott, or any other number of public figures who have been excoriated and vilified when their "one word out of a two-hour hearing on a hard subject" was unfairly hand-picked by their opponents. And here, Lou Dobbs is right to call Farr out on this.
Coonerty, what a tool. Tongue-in-cheek? More like cranium in rectum. I declare today, "Santa Cruz Bookshop-Free Day".
alamb
Charlotte, NC Reply »
|Report Abuse |#8 27 min ago
Some politicians, Socio ethno-centrict and business interests, some in the MSM, all keep promoting "illegal aliens" and we Americans, and I also suspect a vast majority of LEGAL immigrants, keep pushing back and reminding all of the aforementioned that this is a Sovereign country with the rule of law, and while we understand the human and humane part of this so-called difficult issue, we demand that our laws be enforced. Enough with this non-sense. What is difficult to understand Mayor Ryan Coonerty?
JHENRY
Santa Cruz, CA Reply »
|Report Abuse |#9 21 min ago
Boycott Bookshop Santa Cruz!
Spread the word.
Maybe if only the illegals still shop at his store, our mayor will realize just where his bread is buttered!
jarbee
Hayward, CA Reply »
|Report Abuse |#10 17 min ago
Right on Time wrote:
Coonerty, what a tool. Tongue-in-cheek? More like cranium in rectum.
Nice.

Our city leaders don't seem to be grasping that the political winds are changing here. They haven't noticed that UCSC is growing more in the sciences, not in basketweaving (the block of liberal votes is breaking up). I thought Ryan Coonerty was a smarter politician, but his initial fence straddling with the LBAM issue and now this idiotic proclamation tells me he is not fit for a political career.

Lou Dobbs' bread-n-butter issue is illegal immigration. He will sensationalize when he can because that is his job (yeah, news sucks). I usually agree with his views, I live in the City of Santa Cruz, and I vote.
JHENRY
Santa Cruz, CA Reply »
|Report Abuse |#11 8 min ago
I would say that Coonerty is a PERFECT politician.
The two-faced type we've all come to hate!

Showing posts 1 - 11 of 11 Type in your comments to post to the forum
http://www.topix.net/forum/source/santa ... 03DAE74PJ4

I'm sure all the publicity Lou Dobbs has been getting lately is increasing, not decreasing, viewership of the show. The last laugh will be ours!

Washington Office....202-225-2861....Fax 202-225-6791
Salinas Office..........831-424-2229....800-340-FARR....Fax 831-424-7099
Santa Cruz Office....831-429-1976

Sent the following e-mail to Mr. Mayor:

Gestapo? Enforcing the Law is a Foreign Concept to you, Mayor?

Dear Mayor Coonerty:

You should now be painfully aware that illegal immigration is not a victimless crime. The most recent tragedy of four Cottonwood, MN children killed (and the many injured) by an illegal alien driver is a terrible reminder of the failure of our government to simply enforce existing immigration laws. At least on two occasions, local police encountered the perpetrator for infractions of the law, yet did nothing. Due to their ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ approach which is obviously supported by the police chiefs, city administrators and even the state legislature, four innocent American children are now dead. State legislators must take charge of their own constituent’s welfare and work to require ALL laws are followed and enforced. Obviously, American citizens cannot pick and choose which laws they will follow, but illegal aliens, with government and law enforcement complicity, can. Following the law, abiding by the law and supporting the law is "work" that illegal aliens just won’t do. Two different groups have emerged in America today due to the effect of illegal immigration, those who have to obey the law (citizens) and those who don't (illegal aliens). How shameful that is.

It is not racist, bigoted or xenophobic to demand that our country’s borders be secured and to support immigration law enforcement. It is racist, bigoted and xenophobic by illegal aliens, their facilitators and advocates to demand that we allow them free reign with impunity in our country, simply because of who they are. Don't fall for their ploy, exhibit a staunch backbone and tell them we are the most diverse nation on the face of the earth and welcome more LEGAL immigrants that the rest of the entire world combined does every year. However, where we draw the line is with the "illegal" portion of the term illegal immigrant. Those who want to come to America legally, play by the rules, pay taxes and be a productive contributor to our economy and society, obey the law and assimilate into our culture will be welcomed by all citizens. Those that don’t not only will not be welcomed, they should be told to leave.

Political power is the real reason immigration advocacy groups are opposed to immigration law enforcement and successful immigration enforcement programs. Any failure by legislators to act and take away the sanctuary status of cities will ultimately lead to a radical shift and upheaval in American demographics resulting in the disenfranchisement of many American citizens.

Have you heard the saying, when California sneezes, the rest of the country catches the flu? Generally what starts in California eventually spreads to the rest of the country. That is, unless a state takes measures to resist it. Unless every state realistically tackles illegal immigration by instituting Comprehensive Immigration ENFORCEMENT, which California has refused to do, this is what you can expect:

As of 2006, California contained greater than 25% of the total illegal alien population within the U.S. Many of these illegals concentrate in Los Angeles. New statistics from the Department of Public Social Services reveal that illegal aliens and their families in Los Angeles County collected over $37 million in welfare and food stamp allocations in November 2007 – up $3 million dollars from September. Twenty five percent of the all welfare and food stamps benefits are going directly to the children of illegal aliens. Illegals collected over $20 million in welfare assistance for November 2007 and over $16 million in monthly food stamp allocations for a projected annual cost of $444 million. "This new information shows an alarming increase in the devastating impact Illegal immigration continues to have on Los Angeles County taxpayers," said Antonovich, LA County Supervisor. "With $220 million for public safety, $400 million for healthcare, and $444 million in welfare allocations, the total cost for illegal immigrants to County taxpayers far exceeds $1 billion a year – not including the millions of dollars for education."

Just keep in mind that the $37 million a month is for only one county in one state and is only welfare and foodstamp benefits. It doesn't include hospital care, education, fraud, wage depression, crime, depreciation of housing values, the portion of bad loans given to illegal aliens by banks, insurance costs and the myriad of other burdensome expenses that illegal aliens put on the backs of American citizens. There are 29 sanctuary cities in California and because of that there should be little wonder why so many illegal aliens stay in this state. They basically operate with impunity and even if they get arrested for a serious crime there is little chance of them being deported. They can sign up for welfare and food stamps with no questions asked and the hospitals provide them with free care as long as there are still emergency rooms that can’t turn them away for lack of funds. All things considered, California has rolled out the welcome mat for them.

Is there any wonder that California is right now in a fiscal crisis emergency with a budget deficit greater than $14 billion and growing? Reliable estimates calculate illegal aliens cost the state $10.5 billion each year! Why not cut all public services to those not in the U.S. legally? Just a simple thought on my part that would go a long way to putting California back on its feet. A bell should be ringing in you head about right now that tells you this is what is coming your way if you refuse to act.

The Congressional Budget Office in December 2007 (CBO: The Impact of Unauthorized Immigrants on the Budgets of State and Local Governments) stated the tax revenues that unauthorized immigrants generate for state and local governments do not offset the total cost of services provided to those immigrants. Illegal immigrants are a NET COST LOSS and a burden to the budgets of all states. This cost is largely borne by the states and citizen taxpayers. Federal payments allocated by Washington fall far short in reimbursing state and local government expenditures.

$108.2 million is spent each year by U.S. border counties in the four state region to pay for law enforcement, criminal justice and emergency healthcare services to illegal immigrants, states a February 2008 report from the United States/Mexico Border Counties Coalition (USMBCC). Current federal reimbursement returns only 11.5 cents on the dollar to counties for handling criminal illegal immigrant services.

From 1999 through 2006, the 24 counties along the U.S.-Mexico border spent a cumulative $1.23 billion on services to process criminal undocumented immigrants through the law enforcement and criminal justice system. In fiscal year 2006 alone, the cost was $192 million. Yet, the federal government has only reimbursed these 24 counties $4.7 million for detaining criminal undocumented immigrants for fiscal year 2006 (and $54.8 million since 1999). These are staggering costs considering the rural nature and poverty level of most of these border counties. The costs to process undocumented immigrants come at the expense of basic, vital services to county residents. (Undocumented Immigrants in U.S. Border Counties: The Costs of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Services; U.S.-Mexico Border Counties Coalition February 200

The average illegal immigrant family uses $2,700/year more in services than it pays in taxes. In 2002, this amounted to a $10.4 billion drain on the federal budget. Some of the greatest federal costs included: Medicaid ($2.5 billion); treatment for the uninsured ($2.2 billion); food assistance programs ($1.9 billion); the federal prison and court systems ($1.6 billion); and federal aid to schools ($1.4 billion). http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalrelease.html

Furthermore; nationwide, 40% of households headed by an illegal alien receive welfare benefits and 56% have no health insurance. Standard & Poor’s reports that education of illegal alien children costs the states and federal government $11 billion dollars per year. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hduG9Dw0oYg

Taxpayers in our country pay more than $100 billion every year on health care and other services for illegal immigrants, including education, law enforcement costs, and housing. – Congressman Dean Heller-Jan. 2008 http://www.nevadaappeal.com/article/200 ... /729401847

The World Bank reports (Worldwide Remittance Flow to Developing Nations Report) for 2006, $68.1 billion dollars were sent by migrant workers (more than 50% illegal aliens) mostly from the U.S. to Latin America. Mexico received 24.4 billion, South America 24.4, Central America 11 billion and the Caribbean 8.4 billion. Specifically, Guatemala received 3.6 billion. This is a direct transfer of a huge portion of our economy to the third world; largely by a group of people (illegal aliens) who are not even authorized to work in our country much less have an established presence here.

Questions you should be asking include "Why is even $1 of taxpayer money being consumed providing services and paying for the huge cost burden of illegal aliens in every state of America? Why are we importing a foreign workforce that transfers a significant amount of money from our economy to foreign nations?"

If the illegality of illegal immigration and the tremendous cost burden to American taxpayers, our economy, our society and our culture doesn’t infuriate you, then look over just a few studies that put illegal alien crime in focus:

(1) Violating the immigration law is a CRIME

(2) Forging documents is a FELONY CRIME

(3) Passing forged documents is a FELONY CRIME

(4) Stealing ID is a FELONY CRIME

(5) Using stolen ID is a FELONY CRIME

A US GAO study found in a study population of 55,322 illegal aliens incarcerated, on average, each had been arrested 8 times for a total arrest figure of at least 459,614 times. If that isn't astounding enough, these 55,322 illegals in the study population had been arrested for committing 700,000 criminal offenses, which averages 13 crimes per illegal alien. So, each illegal alien incarcerated had been arrested 8 times and had committed at least 13 crimes.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, in 2005, 25% of prisoners in federal prisons were illegal aliens, and 4% were legal aliens. This proportion has not gone down; if anything, it has gone up markedly. Bill O'Reilly is on record more recently stating that illegal aliens account for 32% of the federal and state prison population.

The US Justice Department reported that in 2003, alone, 270,000 illegal immigrants had served prison time. The Federation for American Immigration Reform reports: "In March 2000, Congress made public Department of Justice statistics showing that, over the previous five years, the INS had released over 35,000 criminal aliens instead of deporting them. Over 11,000 of those released went on to commit serious crimes, over 1,800 of which were violent ones; including 98 homicides, 142 sexual assaults, and 44 kidnappings. In 2001, thanks to a decision by the Supreme Court, the INS was forced to release into our society over 3,000 criminal aliens who collectively had been convicted of 125 homicides, 387 sex offenses, and 772 assault charges." http://www.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006 ... shtml?s=ic

According to the well-respected U.S. Center for Immigration Studies (www.cis.org), incarcerated convicted illegal aliens make up 29 percent of federal, state and local prisons at a cost of more than $1.6 billion annually. This number doubles when the costs for apprehension, the justice system, public defenders, interpreters, prosecutors and the courts add to the total.

Illegals represent about 8 percent of Arizona's population and the Arizona Department of Corrections reports that Mexican nationals make up 12 percent of the state's 37,200-inmate prison population.

Undocumented aliens, mostly from Mexico and Central America, now total 1953 inmates in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s jail system. That number represents 21 percent of the overall inmate population of men and women housed in the nation’s third largest jail system. Sheriff Joe Arpaio says that is just small part of the story about those incarcerated in his jails. He says that recent figures show that serious crime (class four felonies and above) are committed substantially by illegal aliens. During two recent surveys, between 27 and 53 percent of all suspects booked into the jail on serious felonies had immigration holds placed on them. The vast majority of those with holds were in the United States illegally. According to the Sheriff’s figures, illegal alien inmate population numbers have grown steadily in Arizona and other border states over the last several years. In March 2005, the illegal alien population in Arpaio’s jails totaled approximately 700. (Borderfire Report 2/28/08 )

A new study shows one in five inmates in North Carolina metropolitan jails was not born in this country. The Sheriff’s Association believes a large number of those inmates are here illegally as well. (News 14 Carolina 2/21/08 )

Members of Utah’s Congressional delegation contacted DHS Secretary Chertoff requesting an additional 22 ICE agents for deportations and to investigate crimes perpetrated by undocumented immigrants. "Our jails are full. The crime rates continue to increase, and we can no longer let this problem escalate," reads one of the letters, signed by Utah's two senators and three representatives. Numerous illegal aliens are committing crimes in Utah communities with virtual impunity," The state now has 25 such agents. (Salt Lake Tribune, 03/05/200

The conservative Federation for Immigration Reform contends that while illegal immigrants made up 3 percent of the total U.S. population in 2003 they made up 5 percent of the total prison population. http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?p ... lsandcrime

The Violent Crimes Institute conducted a study in 2006 that determined there were more than 100 sex offenders crossing our southern border daily. Data indicates that there are approximately 240,000 illegal immigrant sex offenders in the United States who have had an average of four victims each, totaling over one million sex crimes.

Illegal aliens are killing more Americans than the Iraq war, says a report from Family Security Matters that estimates some 2,158 murders are committed every year by illegal aliens in the U.S. The group says that number is more than 15 percent of all the murders reported by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the U.S. and about three times the representation of illegal aliens in the general population.

The report from FSM estimates that the 267,000 illegal aliens currently incarcerated in the nation are responsible for nearly 1,300,000 crimes, ranging from drug arrests to rape and murder. Such statistics debunk the claim that illegal immigration is a victimless crime. http://www.gopusa.com/news/2007/februar ... port.shtml

In Los Angeles, 95 percent of all outstanding warrants for homicide (which total 1,200 to 1,500) target illegal aliens. Up to two-thirds of all fugitive felony warrants (17,000) are for illegal aliens. The Illegal-Alien Crime Wave: City Journal, winter 2004 http://www.city-journal.org/html/14_1_t ... alien.html

One thing that is never even mentioned by the champions of the illegal aliens nor is factored into any crime studies is the fact that ALL illegal aliens have a 3 – 5 crimes committed head start on American citizens (see the 5 point list above).

Do you ever hear an acknowledgement from the illegal alien facilitators of the more than 50,000 Americans that have been killed by illegal aliens through murder, manslaughter and drunk driving just since 9/11/01? Of course not, that doesn't fit within their pre-determined conclusion that illegals are only hard working economically displaced ‘migrants’ that regardless of the laws they break by entering, remaining and operating in America, are only here for a better life at the expense of no one. Excuse me for being cynical but I’ve seen the data, read the studies, considered the facts and seen the reality. If you haven’t done the same, I urge you to do so without delay, as many American lives depend on your position and the action (or inaction) that you take.

Furthermore, legalizing an illegal alien’s presence in America by rewarding their illegal behavior through amnesty is not the way to build a good system of law and order. It only invites more criminal activity and non-compliance with our laws.

The central question for everyone, including the facilitators, illegal alien advocates, the ‘no human being is illegal’ compassion crowd, EVERY LEGISLATOR and responsible media reporter is this…Why should even ONE American suffer a crime OF ANY SORT at the hands of an illegal alien? With border security and zero tolerance for illegal immigration, these crimes against our citizens are essentially 100% preventable.

I urge you to view this video that puts the tragedy of illegal alien crime victims into perspective: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpomTIkv ... 08&index=3

Isn’t it about time that we engage in Comprehensive Immigration Enforcement rather than allow amnesty with Comprehensive Immigration Reform?

Sincerely,

zeezil

American citizen

WOW Zeezil! What a great letter! Wish I could write like that.

Originally Posted by ShockedinCalifornia

WOW Zeezil! What a great letter! Wish I could write like that.

cut and paste it and send it,. just make sure that you change the end of the letter to reflect your name instead of zeezil....

im doing it

and i think the mayor needs to be reminded also that gestapo just took you away and killed you. ICE just deports them back to their own country, hardly not the same

Rep. Sam Farr, D-Carmel, after the congressman told an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official last week that his constituents view the agency as similar to the secret Nazi police, the Gestapo

Uhhh, judging from the comments left by his constituents, Farr & his buddy the mayor are totally clueless as to how his constituents really feel.

Guess Farr doesn't speak for them, huh?