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  1. #1
    UB
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    Immigration an issue in Freehold (NJ) Council Race

    Immigration a key concern in Freehold Borough Council race

    Two incumbents defend their seats
    Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 10/27/06
    BY ANDREA ALEXANDER
    FREEHOLD BUREAU

    FREEHOLD — A newcomer to borough politics, Republican Joseph C. Liguori has reignited a debate over policies toward illegal immigrants in town, as he tries to break the Democrats' lock on all six Borough Council seats.

    Liguori — who won a spot on the ballot in the primary through a write-in campaign that he spearheaded — is trying to knock off one of the two Democratic incumbents seeking re-election. Council members Marc D. Le-Vine and Sharon Shutzer are both running to retain their seats on the borough council. Democrat Jaye Sims is running unopposed for a one-year unexpired term on the council.

    "Obviously the key issues are the issues that surround the illegal immigrant community in the borough: the overcrowding of schools, homes and loitering in the downtown business district," Liguori said. "If I am elected to the council, I will make that a primary focus."

    LeVine and Shutzer balked at Liguori's suggestion that the council has not done enough to address concerns over illegal immigrants. Groups representing the day laborers sued the borough in 2003 after officials tried to close the Throckmorton Street muster zone near Rhea Street.

    In March 2004 U.S. District Judge Anne E. Thompson, sitting in Trenton, forced the borough to reopen the muster zone on a portion of the site that is publicly owned, a significantly smaller tract than where day laborers first gathered.

    Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, the borough was also forced to rescind an ordinance that prohibited loitering on public property to comply with a New Jersey Supreme Court decision that found such measures were unconstitutional.

    "We have done so many things to get a handle on it," Shutzer said.

    "We have done everything we can within the law," she said. "There are lots of people who have lots of ideas about things we should be doing, and unfortunately many of those things are outside the law. We have done what we can, and we continue to do everything we can within the law to address the problem."

    LeVine said he has been at the forefront of the issue. He founded PEOPLE (Pressing Our Elected Officials to Protect Our Living Environment), a group that blamed day laborers and illegal immigrants for issues such as overcrowded housing, loitering and excessive noise, and for driving out long-rooted families.

    Liguori disagrees with officials' claims that the town has done everything it can to deal with illegal immigrants.

    "The council continues to say our hands are tied," Liguori said. "My feeling is they could do more to alleviate the problem."

    Liguori said some of the issues with the illegal immigrants could be addressed through "enforcement of ordinances or the development of additional ordinances," but did not offer specifics.

    Shutzer and LeVine said the council has pushed several quality-of-life initiatives and worked with area churches to encourage illegal immigrants to follow the local laws, as a way to crack down on such problems as public urination.

    The borough also recently launched a new code enforcement initiative to inspect every rental property in town, LeVine said.

    "We as a town have been able to accomplish many of the things we need to through code enforcement," LeVine said. "The town has tried to lessen the effects of illegal immigration to the best of our ability."

    "Until the federal government and the state government decide they are going to do something about it, our hands are tied," Shutzer said. "That does not mean we are sitting back and doing nothing about it."

    Liguori said he believes the council also needs to do a better job informing residents about changes to borough ordinances. He said he has heard complaints from residents who were cited for violating ordinances they did not know existed.

    He said he wants to bring an end to single-party rule.

    "Nobody has challenged their leadership in such a long period of time, I believe they have become complacent," Liguori said. "It is my feeling that it is time for change and I believe I can provide a fresh perspective to the council."

    LeVine said he believes he can make a differance by remaining on the council. In addition to continuing to crack down on absentee landlords and push other quality-of-life initiatives, LeVine said he wants to work to bring improvements to the downtown.

    "I want to preserve historic buildings that give Freehold its charm," LeVine said.

    He said he would also like to see a better mix of retail stores to complement the restaurants in the downtown.

    Shutzer said she also wants to work to preserve the quality of life for residents in town.

    "The only promise I made in all the years that I served is that I will work hard to do what I think is in the best interest of our residents," said Shutzer, who noted that her daughter and son-in-law recently bought a home in the borough.

    "I want to make this a better place for people to live, and I think I've worked hard to do that," Shutzer said.



    http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/articl ... 004/NEWS01
    If you ain't mad, you ain't payin' attention = Terry Anderson.

  2. #2
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    Good News......UB!!
    Join our efforts to Secure America's Borders and End Illegal Immigration by Joining ALIPAC's E-Mail Alerts network (CLICK HERE)

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