Posted on 08/24/2005 8:53:13 PM PDT by TERMINATTOR
BISBEE - Following on the heels of Gov. Janet Napolitano's Aug. 15 declaration of a border emergency, the Cochise County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday morning took similar action.
The "Declaration of Local Emergency to Address Illegal Immigrant Impacts in Cochise County" says "Š an emergency exists as a result of illegal immigration and its resulting impacts, which endanger life or property."
The resolution asks the state to provide personnel, equipment and "fiscal assistance" to the county as needed, and calls upon the governor to do "everything within her power and authority to convince the federal government to assume full responsibility, including fiscal responsibility, to resolve this crisis."
The impact of illegal immigration has shown up in several ways in the county, including an increase in criminal activity that affects law enforcement, the court system, the county jail population and requests for medical assistance.
State statute authorizes the board of supervisors to declare a local emergency. By declaring a local emergency, separate from the governor's declaration, the board can call direct attention to the county's need for state assistance in both money and resources.
"The county is grateful that the governor is doing everything within her power on our behalf," said board Chairman Pat Call in a prepared statement afterward. "However, we have to continue to convince the federal government that we are, and have been, in a crisis down here. Our county resources are stretched to the breaking point and we can't wait for the one-size fits all long-term solution."
According to procedure for requesting emergency funding, the county would usually have to declare its own state of emergency in order to receive any state assistance.
Declaring support would not have precluded the county from receiving money, but declaring a local emergency puts more emphasis on the county's specific needs.
"We are at ground zero for undocumented immigration into this country," said board Vice Chairman Paul Newman. "This emergency declaration is a clarion call to the federal government to assist our county's economic and emotional burdens. There is no easy legislative fix to this complex problem. In the meantime, this declaration should put us in good stead to receive much-needed federal and state reimbursement for our overtaxed criminal justice and health-care systems."
No sunset date has been included in the resolution. The board of supervisors has the authority to evoke emergency powers if necessary and to declare when the state of emergency has lifted.
District 3 Supervisor Richard Searle summed up the necessity of declaring a local state of emergency above and beyond supporting the governor's declaration.
"A resolution of support doesn't go far enough in reminding those in Washington that we have an emergency in Cochise County," he said. "We've been dealing with this crisis for so long we are almost numb to it."
Officials from Cochise, Pima and Santa Cruz counties are scheduled to meet with representatives from the governor's office at 8:30 a.m. today at the Windemere Hotel and Conference Center.
I'll take your word on the Cochise county official, but if you think the govs of NM and AZ, the democratic party, or Hillary are trying to take the issue away from the republicans, you are grasping straws.
When Governor Janet Napolitano openly criticizes the current administration in her declaration of an emergency less than a year before her reelection bid;
And when said Governor has vetoed 80% of the enabling legislation coming from Arizona's Proposition 200;
How can you say it is anything but a political ploy, a move to bash the Republican party on this issue?
Hmmm??? I realize it is difficult to read a person's mind in order to divine their true motivation, but the actions of Arizona's Governor over the last two years speak volumes, my FRiend.
As I pointed out above, Governer Bush also criticized the feds for this and as Prez, his budgets requests included money for re-imbursement.
Appropriation of this money is entirely up to Congress.
The question is, will this declaration of an emergency result in money for the state. ?
The impact of illegal immigration has shown up in several ways in the county, including an increase in criminal activity that affects law enforcement, the court system, the county jail population and requests for medical assistance.
Ping.
susie
I took a copy of this article to my County Supervisor today, his comment was: I like it, I am going to do something about this! We then had a discussion about it, tax money was not mentioned, message to Washington was mentioned. I imagine tax money will be involved at some point, but that wasn't what motivated him.
Well, that may be your interpretation. I'm reading about this in my local paper on a daily basis, as well as listening to her comments on the nightly local news, and I'm going to stand by my interpretation of her reported comments.
I won't disagree that it's about Federal dollars...but she is getting in her digs against the President, make no mistake about it.
This would be true on any issue. It is called rhetoric.
So, they'll get some funds and the flow of illegals will increase proportionately. The Feds have no interest in stemming the flow. They are going through the motions to appease the unwashed masses before we take to the streets.
susie
Normally I would agree with you, this guy has only been in office six months, he still has the "I am going to do what is right for my constituants," attitude, the re-elect me syndrome hasn't set in yet.
Well, I do believe those folks are out there, the good guys who really are trying to do the right thing (I have an Aunt who is in a state legislature, and I have ever confidence that she's the real deal). They are just so few and far between. Especially at the higher levels. Maybe your guy will really do something. Or...get run over in an attempt.
susie
Well, I do believe those folks are out there, the good guys who really are trying to do the right thing (I have an Aunt who is in a state legislature, and I have every confidence that she's the real deal). They are just so few and far between. Especially at the higher levels. Maybe your guy will really do something. Or...get run over in an attempt.
susie
Up to this point he has been a refreshing surprise, he has been much more conservative than we thought he would be.
Is he the county supervisor who runs a restaurant and bragged about hiring an illegal from El Salvador as a dishwasher, then personally transporting him to another state?
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