Thread: A Crackdown Was Needed

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news ... 177512.htm

A crackdown was needed

Last week, Riverside Township - reacting to an influx of immigrants from Brazil, a number of whom apparently are illegally in the country - passed an ordinance that would penalize landlords for providing accommodation to illegal immigrants and employers for hiring them.

The action, coming shortly after Hazleton, Pa., passed a similar ordinance, drew wide attention.

Below, slightly condensed, are Riverside Mayor Charles F. Hilton Jr.'s remarks during the council meeting at which Ordinance 2006-16 was approved.

By Charles F. Hilton Jr.

Point No. 1: Riverside, according to the census, has enjoyed a relatively steady population for 25 years or so of about 8,000 residents. Unfortunately, that number is now, quite simply, misleading.

Estimates seem to indicate that we have an additional nondocumented population of 1,500 to 3,500 persons. Such nondocumented persons do not become part of the official census.

Point No. 2: Therefore, this administration exerted considerable time and resources to deal with the escalation of difficulties of a growing "illegal" immigrant population. Let me just stress here the word illegal. Illegal is defined as "prohibited by law, unlawful." An illegal act.

Point No. 3. Riverside's nondocumented population brought public-safety issues, as well as costly public-services issues, together with quality-of-life matters, to the forefront for legal residents.

For instance, a recent fire on Cleveland Avenue brought out the fact that public safety is definitely a major issue.

Parking is another problem.

Several neighborhoods have problems within the township sewer system, also thought to be aggravated by overcrowding. Even our school faces additional burdens.

Point No. 4. Another factor... is that "illegal" persons, who in general do not take part in the census process, are not included when it comes time for Riverside to receive its share of various allocations of county, state or federal tax-dollar assistance... . Although more services are required, the means to pay for these services is withheld.

Point No. 5. An environment of exploitation is created - because some property owners... permit more persons to occupy their properties than is allowed. Prior to this ordinance, no real consequence existed to encourage stoppage of this practice.

For example, a housing unit may be rented to a three-member family for $800 per month, and, in turn, that "family" rents out mattress space to 12 other persons for $100 per week each, making a nice profit for someone but also creating unfunded public-service needs for the additional 12 people [along with] the public-safety issues.

Quite simply, this practice provides irresponsible profit... .

Point No. 6. Discussions with residents, law enforcement, as well as state and federal agencies have provided no solution.

We learned our police are not authorized to enforce immigration laws without another criminal act having been committed or an invitation from the feds.

Apparently no appropriate state illegal-immigration law exists at this time. The township cannot rely on the Immigration Service to deal with these difficulties on a day-to-day basis.

Therefore, my administration consistently looked to what we could do to ensure not only public safety but also the quality of life for our residents.

In that effort over the years, we strengthened our multi-unit housing code to include inspection, we supported the conversion of multi-housing units to single-family homes, and we encouraged property improvements with... a tax abatement.

The township also hired a housing inspector to ensure compliance with existing codes and ordinances.

Point No. 7. We want to do more, so we are in the process of... strengthening the township's enforcement capabilities with Ordinance No. 2006-16.

The mission of this ordinance is to help ensure that landlords adhere to and self-enforce the limits of their certificate of occupancy on their properties.

The township is ready to explore additional ordinances that will further help provide relief from overcrowding.

Personally, I am also exploring further options along this line and will be ready to present another ordinance this summer

Hooray for Riverside Township

We learned our police are not authorized to enforce immigration laws without another criminal act having been committed or an invitation from the feds.

First, well done Riverside Township!

I also hope police are soon authorized to enforce immigration laws.
Being here in the country is illegal and therefore a criminal act!