L.I. Clash on Immigrants Is Gaining Political Force [NY]

New York Times ^ | Nov 29, 2004 | PATRICK HEALY

[Mike Fieschko]

Librado Romero/The New York Times

Dave Drew, picketing at Horseblock Road and North Ocean Avenue, is among many in Farmingville who have taken to the streets in protest.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

"A new wave of Hispanic immigrants had swept Long Island, and many residents were furious about the overcrowded homes and lines of day laborers they saw in their towns"

If they think that's bad, wait until the politicians start taxing the heck out of them. We're dying here in Vegas!

[Buck W.]

My old (REALLY OLD) home. Go Sachem!

[randog]

And thanks to the island's relatively weak labor unions, they can find work by standing on street corners...

Yeah, cause it should be illegal to work if you don't pay an organization monthly dues to acquire and keep a job.

[nj26]

Is the local GOP on the right side of this issue? It seems as if the Democrats are seizing the initiative, at least according to the NY Times portrayal.

The GOP on immigration:
"Paul Tonna of Huntington, a Republican member of the Suffolk County Legislature, is a veteran of these wars. He defended day laborers, tried unsuccessfully to pass legislation to set up a hiring hall for them and earned many enemies in the process."

The Democrats on immigration:
"It's been ignored, totally ignored," said Mr. Levy, a Democrat who was elected on a platform of fiscal austerity and better management of the county, on the eastern end of Long Island, and its 1.4 million residents. "It's led to workers being exploited, houses being overcrowded and legitimate businesses going under. There's an undercurrent of frustration within the majority of Suffolk residents."

"But few ideas over the years have drawn as much fire as the one Mr. Levy first broached publicly about three weeks ago to give Suffolk police officers the authority to detain illegal immigrants taken into custody for a variety of offenses. After a meeting last week with representatives of Hispanic groups, Mr. Levy changed his plan, proposing instead to give corrections officers broader powers in enforcing immigration laws and access to federal databases. He said he would also ask Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to assign three federal agents to the county to help identify and deport illegal immigrants in police custody."

If the NY Times is accurately portraying the situation, and the Democrats have seized the leadership from the GOP on this issue, wait until Hillary gets a hold of this! We will be hearing about her "partnering with local officials" to control illegal immigration on Long Island. She could ride this wave straight to the White House.

[primeval patriot]

Bookmark

[Just Lori]

She could ride this wave straight to the White House.


Don't even THINK it!

[Mike Fieschko]

Is the local GOP on the right side of this issue? It seems as if the Democrats are seizing the initiative, at least according to the NY Times portrayal.

I haven't the foggiest idea. Maybe some Lon Guy-landers will join in the discussion.

[-=Wing_0_Walker=-]

Bush has 4 years to wake up to this or the GOP looses. Bush is in power and can do something whereas Hitlary has limited power, at least now,

[Clemenza]

I find articles such as this interesting, as Long Island is where I grew up. When I was a kid, "Hispanic" meant Puerto Ricans and Dominicans who lived "in the city." Most of the island (especially the south shore) was populated by people who fled Brooklyn and Queens, creating a rather insular environment.

I am not surprised that they would react more stridently than other areas of the country. Suburban communities here in the metro Seattle area are filled with apartment complexes with large immigrant populations. I went to a community center near Microsoft's campus two weeks ago where a large gathering of Mexican day laborers were having some sort of "know your rights" event. Nobody protests that sort of thing out here.

[cyborg]

But laborers and advocacy groups say the new policies and aggressive rhetoric are coded attempts to drive Latino immigrants underground or off Long Island. They see parallels between policies denying black families homes in Levittown after World War II and a proposed law in Suffolk County asking federal officials to enforce immigration laws.

** IT is NOT the same thing!!!!!! OMG these people are something else *LOL*

[NY Attitude]

I can remember driving down Horseblock Road into Farmingville and seeing many people hanging around on the corners and running to any vehicle that would stop.

[cyborg]

I live in Village of Hempstead. Please don't get me started *LOL*

[nj26]

We will have to wait and see.

But I have little doubt that she will move in on this action ASAP, probably before her 2006 reelection campaign. She will be more than happy to take credit for Steve Levy's hard work in fighting illegal immigration. And, I am sure that the Clintons will provide some payoff to him, so that he will give her some of the credit.

And, if he doesn't agree to let her muscle in on the action, he better watch his back.

[Clemenza]

They actually set up a "hiring center" at the old Kmart (now Kohls) off the Belt Parkway in Bensonhurst. They used to sleep there, among other activities.

[cyborg]

I remember when 540 WLIE was a talk station and every morning Ed Tyll would be out covering the day laborer issue.

[nj26]

Where are local Republican leaders on the issue of illegal immigration?

[Clemenza]

Are the blacks leaving Hempstead to get away from the illegals like they're doing in Los Angeles?

[Clemenza]

Long Island Republicans = Corrupt RINOs

[cyborg]

Maybe I've gotten jaded but I can't get worked up about the sky high taxes anymore :( The good part about having hispanic families moving in is that they actually appreciate where they live. I can't say the same for one particular area by the bus terminal where MS13 seems to hold court every single night.