Posted on 05/03/2006 11:52:50 AM PDT by skyman
Mario Medina works seven days a week, usually from the 6:30 a.m. start of the breakfast run until he shuts down his "Tacos Michoacn" truck around 11 p.m.
Monday marked a rare day of respite for the 30-year-old entrepreneur who joined thousands of people in Napa County -- and hundreds of thousands across the nation -- in a day-long economic boycott in support of immigrant rights.
"To unite ourselves with the rest of the Latino community, we're not doing any business today," Medina said in Spanish, taking a break from hosing down one of his two trucks' aluminum-plated interior in his back yard. "It's a financial sacrifice but we want to show the government we're more than manual labor, we also produce economic goods."
Several Napans said, however, the boycott only alienated them further from the immigrant population.
Steve May, a 38-year-old bartender at Napa Bowl, said Mexican nationals who work here are treated better than Americans who work in Mexico.
"Two of my friends have businesses down there and they're not allowed to hire Americans," said May while lunching at Soscol Cafe.
Tom Dudum, sitting a few stools away, said he is frustrated because there are more pressing issues facing the nation, like runaway gas prices, the war in Iraq, and the ever-elusive Osama bin Laden.
"The only reason this is happening is we're getting close to the election. It's what government does," said Dudum, a 44-year-old who develops Napa property. "They change the focus to distract people from the real issues."
As Javier, the cafe's head cook and owner, served up a club sandwich to Dudum, a customer walked in and cheerfully called to Javier in Spanish: "Why are you working? It's Monday, you're supposed to be off," said Brian Silver, a cafe regular.
Javier, who declined to comment about Monday's boycott, just smiled, shrugged, and kept grilling hamburgers.
Silver, a 63-year-old attorney, said he thinks the boycott will have little political impact because the Latino community as a whole has failed to turn out and vote.
"I welcome anything that sensitizes them to the democratic process," Silver said. "But I don't think this is the best way to win the hearts and minds of the public."
Attendance was down dramatically at local schools.
Marlene Hernandez, 16, a junior at Napa High, said that in her fourth-period class only four people showed. The rest of her classes weren't that different.
"As they saw that no one was there (students) started leaving," Hernandez said. "I went to school because I wanted to see the difference (in attendance)."
Hernandez said she believes some teachers "pretended like nothing was wrong," while one offered extra credit for the four students who showed up to class.
On and off the job
At Gillwoods Cafe in Napa Town Center, owner Ed Gill said his business was open Monday. Gill said he gave his employees the option to take the day off, but that no one took him up on the offer.
Gill posted a sign on the front door that showed support of immigrants and less punitive forms of immigration reform.
"All of our workers wanted to work, so we decided to put up the sign (in support)," Gill said. "We recognize there are issues that need to be dealt with, and without the cooperation of immigrants we would not be open today."
Andrea Ruiz, 26, who busses tables at Gillwoods, said she couldn't afford the day off.
"I have a 6-year-old son, and I have to take care of him," said Ruiz, who is from Costa Rica.
Jonas Reyes, 35, runs the kitchen at Gillwoods. He has worked at the cafe for 14 years. Boycotting, he said, is not the answer to the immigration debate.
"We thought about it, but it's not the solution," Reyes said.
At Embassy Suites on California Boulevard, the majority of housekeepers took the day off. But representatives said that they were not negatively affected by the absence of their workers. At Travelodge on Coombs Street, it was a different story. All the housekeepers worked.
"We have dedicated employees," said manager Gary Dent, who offered employees the option of not working Monday. "Here, we work as a family, we've all been together for so long."
Blanca Hurtado said two out of 20 workers who package and ship wine from a local Napa warehouse worked Monday. She was not one of them.
Hurtado, a 37-year-old mother of two, said she chose to surrender a day's wages even though she won't be affected by changes in immigration laws.
"Everything would have stayed calm until the government proposed to treat immigrants like criminals. That was the beginning of the struggle," Hurtado said. "I am a citizen. But I know many people who don't have their papers who need and deserve to stay here."
She was also one of several people who protested the government's recent immigration proposal by not working Monday, but still utilized government assistance that day. Monday afternoon Hurtado brought her 6-year-old daughter to get some cavities filled at Clinic Ol, a non-profit health clinic partially funded partially with government dollars.
Miguel Flores, a 35-year-old landscaper who boycotted work also brought his young daughter in for a teeth cleaning.
"We pay taxes for all these services," said Flores. "And how many Americans are there who don't work or who are homeless? I know they're in their own country. But I'm paying for their services too."
Susana de La Cruz, who works cleaning Clinic Ol, came to the clinic Monday after her 1-year-old cut his thumb. Along with her husband, who works in the fields, de La Cruz took the day off.
While the 22-year-old woman participated in the day of protest, she said she is deserving of government-provided services.
"We also pay taxes, and we have to take advantage," she said.
Yeah, and how many illegals are YOU employing Mr. Dudum, as you make your multimillions in Kalifornia??
"the only reason it's happening because it's close to the election??"
Title 8 Section 1325 of the U.S. Code obviously means nothing to you....someday it will. I will be cheering gleefully when it does.
""To unite ourselves with the rest of the Latino community, we're not doing any business today," Medina said in Spanish"
Assimulation, eh??
How about we withhold ALL of their wages, fine the employers, and use that money to deport them all?
That would axe the lame argument that "it would be too expensive" to deport them. And as far as personnel to help?
I'm willing to bet there will be millions of Americans and LEGAL citizens who would help...for free.
I once had a welfare bum tell me that the sales taxes that HE paid also paid for his welfare check! I have yet to make any sense of that statement.
I couldn't help wondering: What's with a six year old having multiple cavities?
""Everything would have stayed calm until the government proposed to treat immigrants like criminals."
They ARE criminals.
"We pay taxes for all these services," said Flores. "And how many Americans are there who don't work or who are homeless? I know they're in their own country. But I'm paying for their services too."
What this foreign born jackass fails to realize is that the ancestors, cousins brothers and sisters of homeless or disabled Americans, even Amricans on welfare, built America and fought and died in wars for America. What have his ancestors contributed to America? NOTHING! He came to a country already built up and made nice by Americans. That's why he hustled his mangy butt out of Mexico. To take advantage of an America built by Americans. This clown just got off the banana boat and he thinks he's better than certain Americans.
Once they come to America they still practice Mexican hygiene. Their homes still look like they live in Mexico and whatever part of town they all converge in turns into Mexico.
I am relatively educated on this since I live in a small city in California that has been invaded for years. Every small town surrounding us is 97% hispanic now also.
My NAPA store is American owned.
Miguel Flores, a 35-year-old landscaper who boycotted work also brought his young daughter in for a teeth cleanin
Great, they use the day off to go get free medical services. Do you think the lines in the emergency rooms were longer or shorter on Monday?
A few weeks I was talking to my sister-in-law about her opinion on the illegals. We had good dialogue. But, one thing she said was that Americans who live in Mexico (especially those who have a degree) often get the better jobs and better treatment. I told her that is not what I had heard. We both said we would look more into the comments the other made. So, which is it?
When one considers where sales tax revenues typically go, they do not fund welfare.
The other day I heard one of these illegals on the news trying to say it was like the Jews in Nazi Germany in 1938. I don't think the guy had any clue what it must have been like if he was comparing the two.
"The other day I heard one of these illegals on the news trying to say it was like the Jews in Nazi Germany in 1938. I don't think the guy had any clue what it must have been like if he was comparing the two."
Wonder if the guy knows about the practice of child sacrifice performed by several Pre Columbian Indian cultures?
There are millions of illegals with the same mindset.
You a$$hole! I pay taxes, too, and I try NOT to take advantage. That is the whole problem. And, do you realize you are taking advantage of not the 'government', but other people? Such as ME who pay a lot more taxes than you do. That's what we have a problem with.
Name of the game in mexico. socialism/communists. That why you see it so much representation of the communists in the demonstations. Mobs in the street is the norm down there. Nothing but an insurection as far as I am concerned.
You a$$hole! I pay taxes, too, and I try NOT to take advantage
That will continue to be the fundamental reason why the mexican invaders will never be able to assimilate here. First the general mind set is very raciest. Second, to them, good business is how much can you $crew the other guy. It is "mac-cheeeeeez-mo."
They've been invading our small town, too. I did hear today that Sheriff Arpaio is going to have his posse' start patroling the desert and apprehending illegals they find,... first in the state to actually get serious.
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