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Migrant Workers Struggle to Find Housing
AP via SFGate ^ | 8/13/7 | GILLIAN FLACCUS, Associated Press Writer

Posted on 08/13/2007 12:37:32 PM PDT by SmithL

Thermal, Calif. (AP) -- Life is harsh for the 4,000 migrant workers who live in the Desert Mobile Home Park, where hundreds of dilapidated dwellings sit along dirt streets. The 110-degree air is thick with large black flies and the stench of raw sewage. Wild dogs prowl the alleys.

But conditions could get even worse if the federal government follows through on its threat to close this site on a sun-baked Indian reservation because of rampant health and safety violations.

"Where are we going to go, where are they going to put us?" asked Angelina Cisneros, 59, who lives with her family of four in a crumbling sea-green trailer. "We don't have any money."

The fertile Coachella Valley is one of the nation's richest farming regions and home to five-star tourist destinations such as Palm Springs. But the thousands of migrant workers who toil in the fields struggle to find housing. On annual wages of just $12,000, many families can afford only squalid homes.

Desert Mobile Home Park is unusual because it's located on the Torres Martinez Indian Reservation — beyond the reach of state and local governments.

Thus far, the Bureau of Indian Affairs has not been able to provide any alternatives for residents, even as it prepares to ask a federal judge next month to order a phased closure of the park over four months.

The judge could agree or instead demand that the owner make repairs or put the park into federal receivership.

The bureau is working with county officials to find alternative housing — a daunting prospect in a region southeast of Los Angeles where demand quickly overwhelms the 200 or more affordable units that come on the market each year.

"There's no easy answer, and I wish there was,"...

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; US: California
KEYWORDS: aliens; bia; illegalimmigrants; immigrantlist; indiansovereignty; migrantworkers; trashtrailers
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1 posted on 08/13/2007 12:37:38 PM PDT by SmithL
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To: SmithL

I propose federal funding.


2 posted on 08/13/2007 12:40:27 PM PDT by SIDENET ("You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred")
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To: SmithL
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
3 posted on 08/13/2007 12:41:35 PM PDT by dragonblustar (Never hold discussions with the monkey when the organ grinder is in the room. - Churchill)
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To: SmithL
The fertile Coachella Valley is one of the nation's richest farming regions and home to five-star tourist destinations such as Palm Springs. But the thousands of migrant workers who toil in the fields struggle to find housing. On annual wages of just $12,000, many families can afford only squalid homes.

John Steinbeck didn't get noticed while working as a third-rate journalist - I don't think Gillian will either. Time to tone down the purple prose. ;)

4 posted on 08/13/2007 12:41:42 PM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ("Wise men don't need to debate; men who need to debate are not wise." -- Tao Te Ching)
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To: SmithL
From the article:

Residents pay $275 a month to rent a space for a trailer. With utilities, they said, the monthly bill frequently tops $500 ... During peak season as many as 20 people live in some trailers at the park

So that would be $25 per person per month.

Seems somebody among the tenants should be able to scare up a few bucks for some improvements, even if the landlord won't.

5 posted on 08/13/2007 12:43:04 PM PDT by DuncanWaring (The Lord uses the good ones; the bad ones use the Lord.)
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To: SmithL

Sounds like Tijuana...right down to the wild, roaming dogs.


6 posted on 08/13/2007 12:43:13 PM PDT by Squeako (Free Republic: As addictive as living in your car, yelling at neighbors and burning your own poo.)
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To: SIDENET

I propose deportation and the funding of efforts to develop more automation for the agricultural sector. (Cheap illegal labor is why there is little automation in harvesting.)


7 posted on 08/13/2007 12:44:18 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: SmithL

So go back to Mexico.


8 posted on 08/13/2007 12:45:38 PM PDT by RockinRight (Fred's Campaign: A hell of an opening, coast for a while, and then have a hell of a close.)
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To: SmithL

“The 110-degree air is thick with large black flies and the stench of raw sewage. Wild dogs prowl the alleys.”

It must remind them of home.


9 posted on 08/13/2007 12:45:40 PM PDT by Rb ver. 2.0 (eHarmony reject)
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To: SmithL

They have housing.......IN MEXICO!


10 posted on 08/13/2007 12:46:23 PM PDT by dfwgator (The University of Florida - Still Championship U)
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To: Mr. Jeeves
Well if the haciendas are not to the liking of the border jumpers, they need to cut short the vacation and go back home to mehico.
11 posted on 08/13/2007 12:46:52 PM PDT by Weeedley (Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.)
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To: SmithL

“Where are we going to go, where are they going to put us?” asked Angelina Cisneros, 59, who lives with her family of four in a crumbling sea-green trailer. “We don’t have any money.”

Nobody forced you here, you came here, on your own, against our laws, illegally with your penchant for stray wild dog packs, garbage carelessly strewn here and there, turds attracting flies in the alleys and corners of buildings, illiteracy, and piss running down the gutters.

We don’t want 3rd world squalor here, walk your fat illegal butt back to your home country, get involved in the political process or join a revolution and take YOUR country back. Hands off my country, it is fine without you and your raw sewage in the streets. We have enough raw sewage in Washington DC to deal with.


12 posted on 08/13/2007 12:46:59 PM PDT by TheKidster (you can only trust government to grow, consolidate power and infringe upon your liberties.)
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To: Mr. Jeeves
Well if the haciendas are not to the liking of the border jumpers, they need to cut short the vacation and go back home to mehico.
13 posted on 08/13/2007 12:47:03 PM PDT by Weeedley (Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.)
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To: SmithL

My question is: is it better or worse than what they left? If its worse, than go back. If its better,then whats the problem?


14 posted on 08/13/2007 12:47:32 PM PDT by Jack Wilson
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To: SmithL

See that dark image on the spider's head. It's in the shape of a tiny violin.

15 posted on 08/13/2007 12:48:22 PM PDT by Jeff Chandler ("A person's a person no matter how small." -Dr. Seuss)
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To: SmithL

OHHHH the horror .... what an F’n shame. Hey I got an idea .... go home


16 posted on 08/13/2007 12:48:26 PM PDT by clamper1797 (Fred Thompson and Duncan Hunter in 2008 ... in either order)
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To: SmithL
Fletcher, of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, said few improvements were found. "You have to put in at least basic infrastructure — proper water, proper sewer, proper electrical — and he didn't do any of those,"

Let's get back to Constitutional basics here. Where does the federal government get off dictating standards of living to private citizens on private property (anywhere, never mind on Indian land)? And how did our ancestors ever survive without a federal government ordering "proper water, proper sewer, proper electrical"? After all, the latter two simply didn't exist when our nation was undergoing its founding and geographical expansion, and "proper water" was hit or miss in the form of natural streams, rivers, and lakes, and wells dug by people themselves for their own use.

17 posted on 08/13/2007 12:48:37 PM PDT by GovernmentShrinker
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To: SmithL

Too bad. You mean Carlos Slim won’t build you a nice house??? Oh I forgot. Mexico exports its POVERTY, not its money....


18 posted on 08/13/2007 12:50:11 PM PDT by EagleUSA
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To: SmithL
"The fertile Coachella Valley is one of the nation's richest farming regions and home to five-star tourist destinations such as Palm Springs. But the thousands of migrant workers who toil in the fields struggle to find housing. On annual wages of just $12,000, many families can afford only squalid homes."

I see no good reason the government should subsidize these workers. I feel badly about their situation - but the people who hire them should pay for a decent place for them to live and with a decent salary they could even pay rent.

Sure, prices may go up - but what's the difference if things cost more - or it comes out of pocket by taxing everyone.

There should be no slave labor to benefit those who profit from it.

19 posted on 08/13/2007 12:50:18 PM PDT by LADY J
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To: Rb ver. 2.0; All
It must remind them of home.

I'm still waiting for true shantytowns to start popping up in the US. It seems like we are importing everything else from the Third World.


20 posted on 08/13/2007 12:51:02 PM PDT by SIDENET ("You knew the job was dangerous when you took it, Fred")
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