Thread: GOVERNOR OPENS ASSISTANCE CENTER IN ESCONDIDO: ILLEGAL ALIEN

Gov. opens assistance center in Escondido

By: GIG CONAUGHTON - Staff Writer
North County Times
January 23, 2007

ESCONDIDO ---- Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Tuesday that Escondido would get one of several temporary "one-stop" assistance centers aimed at helping agricultural workers who may have lost their jobs because of freezing temperatures that have hit the state.

Schwarzenegger's office said the state would open assistance centers in the seven counties that have been hit hardest by the freeze, including one at the North County Inland Career Center in Escondido.

Local officials said they did not think the Escondido center would be very busy because the county has had a shortage of agricultural workers for some time. Officials said the shortage probably meant that few local agricultural workers had lost jobs ---- despite the freeze.


Below-freezing temperatures that destroyed more than $1 billion in citrus crops earlier this month hit hardest in California's Central Valley. But growers and nurseries in San Diego County were also harmed by the weather. Last week, Schwarzenegger added San Diego to the "state of emergency" list of counties that suffered extensive damage.

On Monday, officials from the California Strawberry Commission said San Diego County could lose 50 to 80 percent of its crop ----- which was worth $27 million in 2005. Local avocado growers say they're still trying to put numbers to their damages.

Darrel Ng, a spokesman for the governor, said the assistance centers would help farm, nursery and field workers sign up for unemployment benefits, find other work, get food stamps and find health care assistance, if they had lost their jobs.

The assistance center is scheduled to be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and to remain in operation as long as necessary.

Agricultural officials statewide have said the freeze could cost thousands of people their jobs, and that pickers and truckers would be the first to feel the strain.

However, Reg Javier of the San Diego Workforce Partnership said he doesn't expect large numbers of agricultural workers to show up for help in Escondido because there haven't been enough agricultural workers to fill all the available jobs here for a while. The workforce partnership operates the career center where the governor's team will set up shop.

"There has been a significant shortage of agricultural workers," Javier said. "And other agricultural employers who have had shortages probably picked up anyone who may have lost jobs. We're not expecting a great deal of traffic, but we're just making sure we're prepared."

Eric Larson, executive director of the San Diego County Farm Bureau, said the local shortage had been worsened by controversy over illegal immigration, and Congress' inability to pass immigration reform laws.

Larson said the Farm Bureau and local agricultural businesses would like Congress to pass reform laws containing "guest worker" clauses ---- which would allow immigrant workers to cross over into the United States to work, and go back to Mexico to live.

-- Contact staff writer Gig Conaughton at (760) 739-6696 or gconaughton@nctimes.com.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/01 ... ogcomments

You can tell that the Governor is related to the Kennedy's. He is going the same way as Bush. Crazy.

Originally Posted by Beckyal

You can tell that the Governor is related to the Kennedy's. He is going the same way as Bush. Crazy.

Going? He's been there. I knew from the moment he ran for election the first time that he was a clown and was not to be trusted. They probably already have some back room deal in place that if he panders to illegals that they'll amend the constitution so he can run for president. God help us!

America needs to wake up. Stop electing super rich elitist who don't have our best interest at heart into office time and time again. I just don't understand, why do you have to be super wealthy to run for office. They have made it almost impossible to run on merit. It makes me sick

Comments On This Story

Note: Comments reflect the views of readers and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff.

Jay wrote on January 23, 2007 11:49 PM:"Oh great! Now Schartzenkennedy wants to give illegals unemployment benefits for work that they performed under the table without paying into the benefits system. Used to be that when work dried up, the seasonal migrant workers either went home or someplace where there was something else to pick. That's why they call them seasonal migrant workers. The answer: Migrate!"

Greg in Oceanside wrote on January 24, 2007 1:01 AM:"I don't have a problem helping agricultural workers, just as long as they're US citizens. I don't want any of my tax dollars being given away to illegal aliens."

Roberto wrote on January 24, 2007 5:39 AM:"Hopefully they are just going to help the agricultural workers who are in the United States. They can help the illegal ones simply by painting an arrow on the sidewalk pointing south."

Roberto wrote on January 24, 2007 5:43 AM:""There has been a significant shortage of agricultural workers," Javier said. That is good. It shows that that the efforts of the United States citizens to do a job our federal government won't do is working. Hopefully there will be an even greater shortage when the current "weather" problem is over. One of two things will happen then. Either the farmers will start paying a wage that is fair and attractive to United States citizens or the federal government will pass a guest worker program. Either way our country will benefit."

Assistance for Workers wrote on January 24, 2007 5:48 AM:"Hope this program is regulated and the assistance goes only to LEGAL residence of the STATE. But I do have my doubts. NO ASSISTANCE FOR ILLEGALS EXCEPT TO SEND THEM BACK. CALIFORNIA IS AIDING AND ABETTING CRIMINALS ON THE BACKS OF ITS CITIZENS. DOESN'T THAT BOTHER ANYONE IN BLOG-LAND???? GET AWAY FROM YOUR COMPUTERS AND CALL OR WRITE ENMASS, YOUR REPRESENTATIVES. "

ralph wrote on January 24, 2007 6:37 AM:"I don't really think I am prepared for the answer to my question, but here goes. If I am here illegaly and have lost my job due to the recent frost, is the Governor going to see to it that I get 1. unemployment benefits, 2. food stamps, 3. health care and assistance in finding other work? Please, someone tell me otherwise."

Skip wrote on January 24, 2007 6:47 AM:"If there ever was a better place to set up a Border Patrol Trailer, then this must be it!"

Gary in Murrieta wrote on January 24, 2007 6:49 AM:"Every Minutemen in town just read this story, and it has been forwarded to every anti-Illegal Immigration group in Southern California."

Have we completely lost our minds? wrote on January 24, 2007 7:32 AM:" Please don't tell me that we are going to give money to illegals. If so it will influence my voting for ever. And I will speak out against the present CA administration every chance I get. Why encourage them to stay here - let them go home and build a life in their own country or get in line and come here the right way. If we give money to one type criminal we should give money to all types. Perhaps the guy that stole my truck could be a double dipper?"

Paradigm Shift wrote on January 24, 2007 8:19 AM:"Illegals don't want jobs picking produce in Escondido. Why would they work for $5-6 an hour when they can get jobs working constructions or even pulling weeds for $10-20! Picking citrus and avocados at sub-minium wages doesn't provide enough income to send money home to Mexico! That is why there has been a shortage of "agricultural workers" in Mexcondido for some time now. They would rather do "other" jobs that Americans won't do that pay better."

Tax Payer wrote on January 24, 2007 8:25 AM:"I'd "assist" them with a one way ticket south!"

Rebecca wrote on January 24, 2007 9:29 AM:"Did you ever think that maybe some of them are LEGAL???? "

Roberto wrote on January 24, 2007 10:38 AM:" Yes Rebecca, at least I can say I did. But, I have to say though that it appears to me that Gov. Schwarzenegger is bending to the pressures of the agricultural community once again. These people are afraid of losing their slave labor force and therefore are pressuring the state to provide assistance. And of course our state is more than willing to bend over backwards for them regardless of what the average citizen thinks. Instead of standing up for the legal citizens and working with the farmers to pay fair wages that would entice legal citizen’s to work in the agricultural field they’re going to do everything they can to save the slave labor force. And why shouldn’t they, every time you turn around they get another government subsidy. But these are the same employers who are not concerned about the law and if their labor force is here legally or not. They know that if they followed the employment laws that they would have to pay a fair wage and we just couldn’t have that. It is easier for them to use the excuse “well if we paid them more than people would have to pay more at the grocery store.” Well, no kidding, doesn’t seem to bother the oil companies, the electronics companies, utility companies or any one else. Why should it bother them; because they are more worried about their own wallets than the citizen’s of our country or the country itself? They are not concerned if the taxpayer has to pick up the tab for their medical and education. These are the same people who snuck in a requirement on a bond for the state to make 145 million available in grants and low interest loans specifically for farm worker housing last November and of course the California citizen's gave it to them. Do we do the same for citizens of other occupations? These farmers are as bad if not worse than the oil companies bleeding the citizen's dry while lining their own pockets. And for that matter why are we providing emergency assistance to them? Do we do the same for other business's that have a bad year? Do we authorize bonds to provide funding for housing Wal-Mart workers, fast food employees, and other low skill, low paying jobs? Does the state set up special assistance halls for them when they are laid off? Why not? What is the difference between them and farm workers? Do they have fewer bills, no medical requirements, or no desire for education? So why do we do this just for farm workers?"

BK wrote on January 24, 2007 10:55 AM:"If they're legal and can prove it... then I'm all for assisting them. But, 9 times out of 10 they're NOT!"

john wrote on January 24, 2007 11:00 AM:"Who is to blame the illegal workers or the"american"contractors???would you take a low paying job where you barely make ends meet or a job that the "americans" are willing to give you where you could survive?? If legal people were out looking for these jobs they would have them!! but since they aren't ,some one has to do it!! "

what?? wrote on January 24, 2007 11:54 AM:"i thought these were supposed to be comments not books!!!!!"

Veronica wrote on January 24, 2007 11:59 AM:"For all of those that are so worried about your tax dollars not going to waste you shold know that illegal workers do not qualify for those benefits that citizens or legal residents may have, such as food stamps and unemployment."

Chase wrote on January 24, 2007 12:04 PM:"That is it. Set up a center in Escondido where the population is dead set against illegal immigration. In your face. 40,000,000 plus illegals in the USA and no one to pick the crops. Ask the middle class why. Crime, old diseases back in the USA and no one will do the right thing. A screaming fast lean to the left and communism and no one knows who is voting in this direction. "A fool and his money and freedom are soon parted." Zorro"

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