Posted on 07/14/2006 3:38:38 AM PDT by Born Conservative
By a vote of 4-1, Hazleton City Council approved the Illegal Immigration Relief Act Thursday night. The ordinance is due to take effect in 60 days.
The ordinance makes English the official language of Hazleton. It also punishes landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and businesses who hire them.
A large crowd packed Hazleton City Hall for Thursday night's council meeting. People who could not fit in the room watched on a large TV in a nearby auditorium. A limited number of people were allowed to speak before the vote took place.
Dr. Agapito Lopez of Hazleton used his time at the podium to urge council to reject the ordinance.
"One-third of the constituents that you are representing is Hispanic, is Latino," he said, "and some of them do not know English and will never learn English. So, you have to provide city documents in Spanish for them."
Gene Cannon of Hazleton spoke in support of the measure.
"This is not about racism," Cannon said. "This is about the law and the welfare of our community, and I call on council to pass it without delay."
After the vote in favor of the Illegal Immigration Relief Act, Mayor Lou Barletta said Hazleton is ready to handle any lawsuits that might be filed in response. He says the message of this ordinance is not to single out the Hispanic community, just those breaking the law.
"If anybody is in the city of Hazleton illegally, they need to be concerned for those who are here legally. This is their home, I am their mayor, and this is our community."
While the council meeting took place inside City Hall, members of the Latino community stood outside in protest. Supporters of the ordinance were on the other side of the street. People on each side carried signs to get their message across. Police were out in force to make sure everything stayed peaceful.
Amilcar Arroyo publishes El Mensajero, a Hispanic newspaper in Hazleton.
"Do you see this? Do you see that? Dividing everything," Arroyo said after the vote. "The white people on one side. The Latino people on the other. Why? Why?"
""Do you see this? Do you see that? Dividing everything," Arroyo said after the vote. "The white people on one side. The Latino people on the other. Why? Why?"
I don't know why - maybe because legal citizens are tired of being the ones to pay all the taxes, provide all the free services, watch their own wages go down to match those who don't pay any taxes. . . . Maybe because the legal citizens are tired of the increase in crime and the fact that it may no longer be safe to walk through their own community. These are just guesses, mind you, but I'd say that might be "why".
Brilliant He must be running in Pelosi's New Direction: Far Out(Sarc.).
I give 17 Days and 4 hours until a Clinton appointee strikes this down. Anyone want in the pool?
So one third of their constituents are hispanic -and one
hundred percent of the illegals are honest people who chose
to violate the law,commit a known criminal act -probably much more than just a single criminal act given the social
and legal differences between the USA and the United States
of Mexico where corruption and payoffs are the norm-and where the people are often a law unto themselves because of
their corrupt syste.We all should be excused from being
held accountable for laws we disagree with. I never liked to drive 55 -or wear a seat belt.I know a lot of "mericans
who do not agree with licence laws-or requirement to have
insurance --What we need is aunified North and South America
where there are no laws to get in peoples way.
I'm in central PA and the local news has it that the borough of Ashland is also working on an ordinance imposing penalties for hiring and renting to illegals. Other towns---Shenandoah, West Mahanoy, and Frackville---are also in some stage of this process.
I've been to all these towns. They're about as pretty as old shoes, and as friendly and comfortable. People here are the very heart and soul of America.
They're only looking to do justice here, and stop lawbreakers from taking advantage of legal citizens and immigrants; from profiting from their crimes. But justice---that's what lawbreakers find so offensive and "divisive."
Lou Barletta for President!!!!!!
"I give 17 Days and 4 hours until a Clinton appointee strikes this down. Anyone want in the pool?"
Not in 1000 years. This is a sure thing and any fool that would take this bet is going to lose some cash.
The offspring of those initial immigrants are proud of their heritage and d/n like the concept of illegals besmirching the towns and cities their ancestors worked so hard to develop.
Barletta ran for US Representative in 2002 against incumbent Paul Kanjorski. For years, Kanjorski had received a high rating from the NRA (not sure what his recent rating is), but he's a typical pork-barrel congressman who's been in Congress too long (22 years).
Barletta actually came fairly close to beating him, which rarely happens around here.
Ping
The portion of this ordinance barring people from renting to illegals is patently unconstitutional and will never hold up. It will take about 8 seconds for any federal judge, whether appointed by Clinton or not, to strike this down.
I guess Hazelton's next act will be to force motel, gas station, and roadside vegetable stand owners to check the immigration status of customers.
I did some work for Mr. Barletta's campaign back in '02. He's a good man...we were all very disappointed that he didn't make it.
I think he's putting himself in a nice position to make a run at something higher someday.
On an unrelated note...Hazleton is probably the only place I've seen around here in NEPA that actually had a registered Socalist run for mayor last time around...makes you think a little.
ping
God bless Central PA... I'm from the other side of the Susquehanna-- PA Dutch country--so I'm glad to see Hazleton standing up for itself. I was born, raised, schooled, and colleged in the Valley, so I've heard a lot of the horror stories in our area. Lewistown is another example of a small city overrun.
It's a shame there isn't more conservative activity in our area to show how much we support our country. Perhaps this might be a good rallying point...
Anyone with me? :)
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