Posted on 08/18/2005 1:14:01 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
...In recent weeks, radio talk shows, cable news and Internet blogs fumed that taxpayer money would help immigrants who might be in the country illegally. They advised rounding up such immigrants instead.
Some supporters of the site countered with accusations of racism. But at its core, the debate reflected the struggle in Herndon and other Washington suburbs to integrate a steady flow of new immigrants -- those here legally and illegally.
"This has been a horrendously difficult issue," Mayor Michael O'Reilly said. He said every worker has a constitutional right to "stand on a street corner whether they have documents or not."
As a condition of the permit granted to Project Hope, the nonprofit group must distribute information to contractors telling them that hiring undocumented immigrants is illegal. But Project Hope officials said they will not ask the laborers to disclose their status.
The speakers last night -- the carry-over crowd from a seven-hour hearing Tuesday in Herndon's small council chambers -- were evenly split about the proposed site as they testified before the television cameras that lined the aisles.
Opponents from Herndon and as far away as Colorado called for stepped-up police enforcement, legislative changes and an end to the hiring of undocumented workers. .................
Supporters cited the biblical exhortation to love thy neighbor and begged the council not to allow the community to turn its back on its less-fortunate members. They said the problem is not immigration but a neighborhood conflict over noise, littering and safety.
"This controversy will not disappear if we . . . maintain the status quo," said Stef Woods, a lawyer for Just Neighbors, a group that helps immigrants.
Each side blamed the other for the animosity in the town, where foreign-born residents now make up 38 percent of the 22,000 residents.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
I get it! If they don't know he's an illegal, he's not really illegal, right?
Another mental giant of our times.
He said every worker has a constitutional right to "stand on a street corner whether they have documents or not."
(((shaking))) my head.
I was in northern Virginia the last few days, and one of the local talk show hosts was VERY fired up over this issue, was very upset that public moneys are to be used for this. I don't know whether he lives in Herndon or not, but it was interesting to hear the dialog. As I watched DC and Northern Virginia get smaller in my rear view window, I reflected AGAIN how fortunate I am that I no longer live near that place.
People around the country are getting fired up about this.
Don't ask. Don't tell.
If you're here illegally, someone in law enforcement has the Constitutional DUTY, OBLIGATION, and RESPONSIBILITY to remove you from the country!!
I did not hear English being spoken, at all...
"This has been a horrendously difficult issue," Mayor Michael O'Reilly said. He said every worker has a constitutional right to "stand on a street corner whether they have documents or not."
Could the esteemed (cough) Mayor point out where in the constitution this is given as a right? Effing nitwit, just babbles this kind of nonsense, and the idiots in the press parrot it without question.
Then, let's see if the Mayor can understand non-citizens are NOT entitled to ANYTHING, the Constitution is for LEGAL RESIDENTS. I am fed up and sick and tired of Constitutional rights being given to everyone BUT US CITIZENS!!!!!
If he had said "vistor", or "tourist", well, maybe - but Customs would hardly let tourists in without identification.
How insane is it, the criminals we should be locking up and deporting are allowed to stand on street corners and in parking lots, smirking, drinking, flaunting their presence, making lewd comments to the women that are unfortunate enough to be near them.
Oh, I know how to make it worse - when elected officials defend them and say they have the right to be there! Why not extend the same rights to crack dealers, Mayor? If you can turn a blind eye to their illegal status, why not say "Crack dealers can't sell crack - but they have the right to stand on the street, and cops can't ask them what they're doing there"
How much worse does it have to get before something gets done? Sorry for the rant, but I am getting fed up!
every American has a constitutional right to "own a gun whether they have documents or not."
I like my version of the mayor's statements a lot better, and the constitution actually says my version of it.
Hmmmm, I'm wandering if Mayor Michael O'Reilly's city requires a business license in order to conduct business there?
If so, then instead of exercising their constitutional right to stand on street corners, these people would be in violation of a city ordinance.
After all, their presence on the street corner is a solicitation for and an offer of work. Their presence on the street corner is an act of advertising. Their presence on street corners is an invitation to purchase their services. In essence they are conducting a business activity.
Mr. Mayor, there are many employment agencies that are licensed, have offices, provide employment for their office staff and pay a variety of taxes and fees to the city, county and state, all in order to provide services to accommodates employees and employers. These people standing on street corners are in direct competition with the employment agencies and have an unfair advantage in that they are absolved of any responsibility to adhere to rules and regulations thus creating unfair competition.
Why is your office, Mr. Mayor, engaging in selective enforcement? Why is your office allowing activities to be carried out by illegals that would be cause for civil or criminal prosecution of citizens and legal immigrants?
***...On any given day, between 20 to 30 workers will find jobs at the Shirlington site, not quite half of those who show up. Tobar said employers are encouraged to pay a fair wage, from $10 to $15 an hour depending on the work, maybe more for job requiring especially heavy labor.
Day laborers register at the site and are entered into a lottery system that gives all laborers an equal chance to be hired for unskilled work. Those with specific skills, like carpentry, can be matched up with employers seeking skilled labor. ......***
http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0805/252343.html
The Mayor could drive us all to such rants. Good.
Most politicians don't want to acknowledge the OBVIOUS problems only reap the rewards. Follow the money. They're getting campaign money and support for the positions they take.
Then it's time to fight the OBVIOUS with the OBVIOUS.......eliminate the politicians...........down with political parties!
He said every worker has a constitutional right to "stand on a street corner whether they have documents or not."
...um... no they don't.
Well, it's a dumb remark, but the very reason for this town council meeting, pretty much says they can.
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