Doors to open at day-laborer center (Herndon, VA)

The Washington Times ^ | 12-14-05 | Keyonna Summers

[JZelle]

The trailer that houses Herndon's day-laborer center, scheduled to open this morning, isn't fancy. But it is clean; it is heated; and it has a restroom. For the laborers who plan to use the center, it's a welcome step up from hanging out on a street corner, in nearby parking lots or outside a 7-Eleven. "It's just amenities we try to provide on site so they don't have to go a distance to get the things that they need," said Bill Threlkeld, director of Project Hope and Harmony, a nonprofit group that will operate the center. "Any degree of initial comfort we can give them is very much appreciated by them." Still, workers will have to wait for work outside the trailer, in a designated area of the center's parking lot. Organizers will use a lottery system to distribute jobs among the laborers so they don't swarm vehicles entering the parking lot, Mr. Threlkeld said. "So you only have three or five guys at a time who know they are in line to go to a work site, [and] the rest of the guys ... know if they venture off for too long, they might miss out on the opportunity," he said. In the parking lot, there will be four portable toilets, heaters and a mobile food vendor to prevent the laborers -- mostly men -- from walking around town, Mr. Threlkeld said. The trailer that houses the center sits behind the town's former police station, near the intersection of Rock Hill and Sterling roads in Herndon.

[oblomov]

Caution: Day Laborer Xing

[InsureAmerica]

in a different world, if groups of mostly white American citizens loitered at 7-11s in order to find work, would a shelter be built and job training skills offered on the premise that it is better for the neighborhood, or would they be cited for trespassing and/or arrested? Or not?

[Gefreiter]

These are the -ahem- "day laborers" who make like $14, $15 an hour hanging sheetrock, right?

I make $11 on an armored car crew, had to buy my own weapon, necessary permits for same, and body armor, have a clean driving and criminal record, and otherwise be trustworthy and kind.

When did non-skilled, or marginally-skilled, illegals start making more than Americans?

[gieriscm]

Watch for crime in the area to go up overnight.

I'm also wondering how long before MS13 tags this place. I'll bet it's trashed before the end of this year.

[MineralMan]

"These are the -ahem- "day laborers" who make like $14, $15 an hour hanging sheetrock, right?

I make $11 on an armored car crew, had to buy my own weapon, necessary permits for same, and body armor, have a clean driving and criminal record, and otherwise be trustworthy and kind. "

---

Time to learn sheetrocking, then, I'd guess. I used to do day labor to supplement the income from my home-based business when it was just getting started back in the 1970s.

I joined the crowd and lined up, just like everyone else. Guess what? I got hired first...every time...ahead of all the illegals.

I did framing, finish carpentry, and roofing. I hated that work, so I was glad when my business started earning enough to stop doing that.

Want to earn those kind of wages? Get a skill and go down there. Even better, you could get an actual job with a contractor and not have to line up.

English-speaking guys get picked first.

[Mane in Virginia]

I hope the minutemen have plenty of cameras and film...