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Citrus freeze leaves thousands jobless
AP/Yahoo news ^ | Jan 18, 2007 | Garance Burke

Posted on 01/18/2007 7:23:24 AM PST by television is just wrong

SANGER, Calif. - The deep freeze that has destroyed some $1 billion worth of California citrus could also mean months of unemployment for thousands of farmworkers, packers and truck drivers during what is already a lean season for those who work in agriculture, industry officials say. ADVERTISEMENT

The bad news was already trickling in Wednesday at Harris Farms, a 7,000-acre operation about 25 miles east of Fresno.

"All of my sisters-in-law, my mother-in-law and my brother-in-law just got laid off from the packing sheds," said Valentino Mexicano, a ranch hand whose family of five lives in nearby Sanger. He and other members of the farm's night crew were just getting off a 15-hour shift monitoring miles of orange and lemon trees.

"It's bad," he said. "People are just going to be looking for little jobs to survive because the bills won't wait."

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said the state would offer assistance to all affected laborers, regardless of their immigration status.

"Everyone will get help," he said Tuesday. "We are not here collecting immigration statuses."

The governor's press secretary, Aaron McLear, elaborated on Schwarzenegger's comment Wednesday, saying the promised assistance for illegal immigrants included food programs, temporary housing, low-income energy assistance and other social services — but not unemployment insurance.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; US: California
KEYWORDS: aliens; economicdestruction; immigrantlist; orangefreeze; produce
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To: 1_Inch_Group; 2sheep; 2Trievers; 3AngelaD; 3pools; 3rdcanyon; 4Freedom; 4ourprogeny; 7.62 x 51mm; ..

ping


21 posted on 01/18/2007 8:50:26 AM PST by gubamyster
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To: television is just wrong
"Everyone will get help,"

Does that include helping me with the extra taxes it will take to pay for supporting half of Mexico?

22 posted on 01/18/2007 8:51:33 AM PST by Redcloak ("Shooting makes me feel better!" -Aeryn Sun)
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To: Redcloak

of course not. you are supposed to pay for all of the help they get.


23 posted on 01/18/2007 9:34:30 AM PST by television is just wrong (Our sympathies are misguided with illegal aliens...)
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To: television is just wrong

At the rate things are going, I could use a State program to help me pay the rent on a U-Haul van. I suspect, however, that Aaaaahnold has different ideas.


24 posted on 01/18/2007 10:00:25 AM PST by Redcloak ("Shooting makes me feel better!" -Aeryn Sun)
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To: television is just wrong

Good. I'd happily never drink another glass of OJ if they'd all just GO HOME.


25 posted on 01/18/2007 10:32:46 AM PST by truthkeeper (It's the borders, stupid.)
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To: television is just wrong

The berry industry of Alaska is threatened by continued sub-freezing conditions in the State. Blueberries, raspberries, cranberries, and roseberries are frozen solid and including the bush, shrub, or tree they grow on. Sending $1 billion of FedGov aid might not help save the winter crop, but it sure would help the sales of snowmachines and four-wheelers.


26 posted on 01/18/2007 10:37:26 AM PST by RightWhale
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To: television is just wrong
"Everyone will get help," he said Tuesday. "We are not here collecting immigration statuses."

We're doomed..

sw

27 posted on 01/18/2007 10:39:15 AM PST by spectre (Spectre's wife)
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To: television is just wrong

A lot of these cats already have new houses up there!


28 posted on 01/18/2007 10:44:17 AM PST by BurbankKarl
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To: television is just wrong

Damn this global warming.


29 posted on 01/18/2007 10:48:25 AM PST by dfwgator (The University of Florida - Championship U)
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To: rabidralph

Global warming is a #@!&$%&*@#!$.


30 posted on 01/18/2007 10:50:17 AM PST by Ieatfrijoles (110%)
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To: Ieatfrijoles

No, don't you see? This freakishly cold weather IS because of global warming! You just don't understand the convoluted science!

Of course, the theory there is that the ice caps will melt, cooling the oceans, leading to colder weather for some areas. That that hasn't actually happened won't stop them from using the "you don't understand the wide-ranging effects" argument.


31 posted on 01/18/2007 10:53:08 AM PST by Rastus
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To: television is just wrong

Will Speaker Pelosi stop the upcoming price gouging by "Big Orange Juice"? Will a windfall profit tax be proposed when a navel orange goes from .50 to $1.50? Everybody needs vitamin C and I think we should have congressional hearings into why this is happening.


32 posted on 01/18/2007 10:57:16 AM PST by Sybeck1 (Southaven Mississippi Freeper)
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To: Sybeck1

there are other sources of vitamin C other than citrus juices.


33 posted on 01/18/2007 11:04:43 AM PST by television is just wrong (Our sympathies are misguided with illegal aliens...)
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To: television is just wrong

there are other sources of vitamin C other than citrus juices.


None go so well with breakfast though. And everyone needs a good breakfast to start thier day.


34 posted on 01/18/2007 11:07:51 AM PST by Sybeck1 (Southaven Mississippi Freeper)
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To: Sybeck1

don't know where you are, but Trader Joe's has a wonderful supply of different types of juices. If you have one near you check it out. Lots of berry type juices and apple.


35 posted on 01/18/2007 11:09:56 AM PST by television is just wrong (Our sympathies are misguided with illegal aliens...)
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To: svcw

Not evey legal is American,,,just a US Citizen


36 posted on 01/18/2007 11:35:48 AM PST by silentreignofheroes (When the Last Two Prophets are taken there will be no Tommorrow!)
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To: Redcloak
The $10 billion/year in social services California taxpayers fund for illegal alien services would buy 1,000,000 brand new robotic orange pickers, given free to farmers, EVERY YEAR. It would also create well paid employment for Americans.


37 posted on 01/18/2007 11:53:46 AM PST by Reeses
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To: Reeses

Good point. So many farmers have used cheap wage earners so they wouldn't have to invest in automation.


38 posted on 01/18/2007 5:22:22 PM PST by TheLion (How about "Comprehensive Immigration Enforcement," for a change)
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