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Opposition stalls plan for day labor site
Supporters say many day laborers live in same area as proposed facility
Reggie Ugwu
Posted: 1/24/07
Conflicting concern regarding public safety and crime were behind a second unsuccessful decision regarding a site for a second day labor center in Austin.

The Day Labor Community Advisory Committee met for a second time Tuesday at the Waller Creek Center to hear input from the community and make a final recommendation to Austin City Council. A meeting was held the day before at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. But after final testimony from community members opposed to a new day labor site, a satisfactory resolution seemed elusive.

About five prospective sites which have been under consideration.

"There's no obvious right choice," said Jennifer Long, director of Casa Marianella and a member of the committee. "I don't think we're in a right position to make a decision."

Four community members voiced their concerns at the meeting, and all said they believe that a day labor center would exacerbate high crime trends in South Austin neighborhoods.

Renee Barrera, a Riverside Drive resident, expressed concern about public safety, arguing that high day laborer concentration would feed existing crime and transience problems. Jose Carralero, committee member and a representative of the First Workers' Association, challenged the likelihood of such a relationship, adding that many of the day laborers are already living in the Riverside community.

Austin Police Department Commander Jim O'Leary expressed a somewhat different concern, stating that a day labor center would become a target for those who wished to prey upon migrant workers.

As the committee struggled to determine how exactly the potential center would effect such crime concerns, if at all, several members turned to the idea of alternative solutions.

Long moved to conduct research about the possibility of incorporating day labor services with new and existing building supply stores in the city. Emily Timm, committee member and organizer for the Worker's Defense Project, suggested a mobile center. In the end, none of the sites found favor with the committee.

"I'm very reluctant to force this on a community that doesn't want it," said Jose Sherr, chairman of the committee.

The committee did agree that continued discussion and debate was vital to any recommendation, and commended the city council for not merely issuing ordinances.

The members will make one last attempt to examine the issues and will reconvene Tuesday before making a final recommendation.