Thread: OR: 'Why would we have Centro if they were American citizens

'Why would we have Centro if they were American citizens?'

By Molly Blancett KVAL News

April 20, 2011

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. - A Springfield city councilor and member of the county Human Services Commission said he doesn't want to continue giving county money to Centro Latino Americano because the non-profit doesn't ask clients if they are legally in this country.

But Centro officials said they don't have to - and that other non-profit organizations that get money from the county and serve low-income and Spanish-speaking clients don't ask about immigration status, either, because the county doesn't require that information.

Last week, Lane County announced it couldn't afford to continued funding Centro.

Since 1999, Centro LatinoAmericano has relied on the county for nearly a quarter of their $400,000 budget. Centro Latino Americano provides Spanish speakers with several services including legal, health and housing assistance.

The organization is appealing that decision. On Monday, Centro representatives told the Human Services Commission about the negative impacts of closing them down.

When they did, a board member lashed out.

Springfield City Councilor Dave Ralston is one of seven members of the commission that makes recommendations to county commissioners about which programs should get county dollars.

Ralston said Centro doesn't deserve the money.

"Why would we have Centro if they were American citizens?" he told KVAL News. "They are not. They are here illegally."

KVAL News asked Ralston if he thought it was fair to assume that every person who goes to Centro Latino Americano for services is in the country illegally.

"Absolutely," he said. "If they were Americans, why would they go there? They would speak English, right?" >>> WATCH: More of the KVAL News interview with Dave Ralston

Shonna Sedgwick Butler serves as Centro's board treasurer.

"It's so surprising that somebody of his stature could be so misinformed," she said.

Sedgwick Butler said they don't ask for proof of citizenship because the county doesn't require it.

"If the county were to revisit their requirements for what is reported into their database, then certainly we would be asking," she said.

Other organizations that receive county funding, like Food for Lane County, LookingGlass and Women's Space, don't ask clients about their immigration status.

Human Services Commission manager Steve Manela was in Salem on Tuesday but spoke to KVAL News by phone about Ralston's comments.

"When he was speaking, he was representing his own opinion, not the commission's," he said.

Commission chair Clair Syrett sent an e-mail to Centro shortly after Monday's meeting saying Ralston had no role in choosing which agencies received funding, nor did any of the other individual commissioners.

The commission plans to hold several work sessions with the group to help them find funding. The next one is scheduled for Tuesday, May 3.

http://www.katu.com/news/local/120247759.html

Good for him, saying it like it is. It is nothing more than a taxpayer drain to fund special interest agencies that serve only a certain ethnic/racial demographic. If we want to get beyond "racism" then we need to stop having groups funded by government that promote racial/ethnic seperation and/or favoritism.

This is what needs to be asked in order to determine if these groups are seperatist in nature....would I, an average looking white woman be able to go in and get help? No? Why not? If they are getting taxpayer dollars, then those dollars should never be spent on just helping one race/ethnicity.

Agency upset at funds denial
Centro Latino-Americano protests a decision by Lane County officials to eliminate financial support
By Mark Baker

The Register-Guard

Published: Midnight, April 10


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Since 1999, Centro LatinoAmericano has received annual funding from Lane County government of $115,000, executive director Marcela Mendoza said. For a nonprofit agency with an annual budget less than $400,000, the county money is critical, she said.

But after Mendoza applied for $145,000 annually last fall for fiscal years 2011-12 and 2012-13 to cover increased costs, the county denied Centro’s request for any money at all, and the Lane County Board of Commissioners last month upheld the decision.

“We are not sure why,â€

The commission plans to hold several work sessions with the group to help them find funding. The next one is scheduled for Tuesday, May 3.

Here's an idea : if an organization for illegals needs public funding, how about turning to their country of origin for said funding!

Why should LEGAL citizens foot the bill for illegals to have things (legal, health and housing assistance) that the citizens may not obtain for themselves in these times of need? It's time for the entire US population to stand up and say "I'm mad as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore"!

sounds good to me. let mexico pay the damn bills