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By NANCY VICKERS-PYLE
Highlands Today
AVON PARK - “Thank you for calling the city of Avon Park. For English, press one.†That message continues with similar words in Spanish.
But that is subject to change if City Council members give final approval to an ordinance that makes English the official language of the city on July 10.
That ordinance was added to the council agenda late last week and was given initial approval by the council at the regular meeting Monday.
The ordinance goes beyond declaring an official language. The ordinance provides a $1,000 fine to any landlord who rents property to illegal aliens and the same fine for any person or business that knowingly employs an illegal alien.
TBO POLL:
Mayor Tom Macklin introduced the Illegal Immigration Relief Act Ordinance that mirrors an ordinance that was also initially approved by the city of Hazleton, Pa.
“I would like to have the City Council pass this on first reading. We have been hamstrung and handcuffed by the issues of having illegal aliens around. This is something the majority of the community would support.
“This would send a strong message to the community on what it is we’d like to do, and put the rest of the county on notice that if we make it difficult for illegal aliens to do business here they will go somewhere else,†Macklin said.
City Councilman Doug Eason made the motion to pass the ordinance and Macklin seconded it. Council members George Hall and Sharon Schuler voted no and Brenda Gray joined Macklin and Eason’s vote of approval.
“If there’s no legal housing for illegal aliens, then they won’t necessarily live in this area,†Macklin added.
“Very few of them are going to walk here from Lake Placid to find work. Our first line of defense is the landlords that typically rent or lease to illegal aliens,†he said.
Macklin said illegal aliens were living in deteriorated housing and were taking jobs from legal citizens.
“There are a number of jobs out there that we could be doing if it wasn’t for the fact that some employers hire illegal immigrants for cheap labor taking jobs from people who could do the work,†Macklin said.
Establishing English as the official language of the city would apply to all official city business, not to private businesses or conversations on the street, he said.
“We’re not singling any language out or any respective community,†he said.
Not Right
Maria Rodriquez is the director of the Florida Immigration Advocacy, a pro immigration group. “It’s sad that a municipality would be preoccupied with something that is already in place on the federal level. This sends a message of exclusion rather than integration and inclusion. I’m not a lawyer but I don’t think it is legal to discriminate. I believe it is unconstitutional. This is racial profiling.†Rodriquez said.
Rodriquez said her research shows that about four of 20 businesses in the city were of Latino derivation and that the ordinance was sending a hostile message to the Hispanic population.
She said she was not aware that Hispanics were contributing to criminal activity but if that were the case local law enforcement would be the entity that would respond to that. Ray Royce, director of the Highlands County Citrus Growers Association, said the same thing and added, “If you have a deteriorating neighborhood, then code enforcement deals with that.â€
Hall said that he wanted to know more about how the ordinance would be enforced.
“It’s like the fire assessment tax. If we can’t enforce it, then it isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on,†Hall said.
Royce said enforcement is already in place with the Immigration and Naturalization Services, and that citrus growers depend on migrant labor. Growers he knows employ legal immigrants, he added.
“But for a town to start profiling people, that can be very dangerous. Are they going to go house to house? Will they be able to verify the documentation?†Royce asked.
“What he wants is a little clamor, a scare tactic to try and get Hispanics to move out of Avon Park. There are jobs out there like picking fruit or pulling weeds that most of us prefer not to do. When you have full employment like you do here, you need immigrant labor to do the work, long-term and legally.
“There’s a few bad apples in any ethnic group. What I found when I was in private business is that Hispanics are good family people, are hard-working and I applaud them for that.
Royce said, “They are making money here and sending it home. They also spending money here. They shop in Winn-Dixie. They are paying sales tax on gas and food. I don’t see a lot of Hispanic criminal activity here but if there is than that falls to law enforcement. If you have poor housing and neighborhoods that are deteriorating, you have code enforcement in place.â€
Is It Constitutional?
Jeanne Butterfield is the executive director of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. She said such an ordinance would likely “wind its way through the legal system before it will be determined whether it is constitutional or not.â€
“Generally, immigration issues are dealt with federally and not on the state level,†Butterfield said.
She said federal policy on immigration found some states’ attempt to use trespassing charges to bar immigration as unconstitutional.
Therefore, it is likely, local immigration ordinances would go the same way.
On the subject of English language only, Butterfield said there is no federal law that mandates English only, with good reason.
“Immigrants want to learn the English language,†she said, backing that with the miles long lists of immigrants who want to take ESOL courses, English speaking classes for those who speak other languages.
She said learning to speak English for immigrants is a process. By the third generation, most have lost their native language. It helps the integration. It makes them more informed citizens.
Federal policy already requires employers to verify an employee’s status, and that there are too many methods of getting citizenship for a landlord to be able to determine whether someone was legal or illegal.
“What would happen is a landlord might try to avoid renting to anyone who looked or sounded foreign,†Butterfield said.
She said the landlord issue most likely violates equal protection laws.
I have lived in Avon Park most of my life and now I can honestly say I am pround to live in Avon Park! I hope this immigration bill passes in the city of Avon Park!!
Here is another example of North American people that are doing wrong things.
This kind of people are the ones u see in Medicaid and Welfare offices!!!
..
Bradly Marvin Terrell, 17, of 5017 Janes Drive, remained in the custody of juvenile authorities late Thursday.
He was charged as an adult and faces multiple counts of burglary, theft and criminal mischief.
Investigators said Terrell stole garage-door openers, CDs and a mobile DVD player. He is also accused of using a sharp object to stab and cut holes in car seats and scratching exterior paint and a truck bed liner.
BRANDON - When Hillsborough County sheriff’s deputies knocked on a Dover woman’s door Tuesday to investigate a claim of elderly abuse, they found not only an ailing 86-year-old mother but also 21 dogs and three birds living in filth, officials said.
Virginia Gayle Brewer, 51, of 13635 U.S. 92 E., faces 24 counts of animal cruelty and one count of elderly neglect.
Man Charged With Attempted Sexual Battery
Posted June 28, 2006 at 09:13 PM
By MARI ROBYN JONES The Tampa Tribune
TAMPA - Police say a man tried to rape a woman and repeatedly punched her and threatened to kill her.
Jimmie Lee Blue, 51, punched the woman several times in the face and tried to put a nylon rope around her neck about 12:15 a.m.
(Not an illegal,is a North American guy)
Hola! Vengo de un lugar donde el español es el primer idioma, le sigue el ingles como segundo idioma aunque casi nadie es completamente bilingue. Una invasion de los EU hacia nuestra Isla ocurrida en el 1898 nos hizo ser territorio norteamericano “a la fuerza”...para tener empleo en NUESTRO pais(PR) tenemos que dominar el ingles.. ...que les parece?.....Alguien aqui comentó que el q visitara o viviera en EU tenia q aprender ingles..es cierto..pero eso es un proceso..no se hace inmediatamente....Conozco muchos hispanos que han aprendido mucho ingles y otros que estan en ese proceso..Aun no se de ninguno que no desee aprenderlo....
GOD BLESS the council members that have the backbone to do something about the invasion going on in our country! For those that think this is wrong; all I have to say is WAKE UP! I just did a research paper on illegal immigration and I am sick of the spineless politicians that are allowing our country to be taken over. Federal government has laws for these issues? Pres. Bush just stated that bet. 1999 and 2003 enforcement was scaled back 95%! Local govts. have the duty to make laws to deal with these issues when our federal government does such an inadequate job. If you want to be here do it the LEGAL WAY and learn ENGLISH! This issue should be on a back burner? Wake up, studies in Calif. show they are spending BILLIONS on illegal’s, multiply that times 50 states and you have a CRISIS! I guess flying a Mexican flag over a U.S. flag is just freedom of speech too? It makes me sick. I applaud the council members who are going forth with this. Thank you for being so bold!
Anyone remember the law? It’s illegal to hire ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
Legal immigration is what the US is built on. Stop looking for excuses to justify criminal acts.
Go Avon Park...i’s about time we enforce our own laws.
Hey Michael are you an idiot. Jodie Fosters quote had nothing to do with politics. She used Eminem as a quote on you only get one shot one opportunity do not blow it. I was simply stating that Eminem while you may not agree with his lyrics certainly has talent for words, and is worth quoting if you want to express an opinion. And just so you know Jodie Foster has an IQ of 180 which far surpasses Bush. Look it up jerk.
PArt 4:
Do we really want OUR children to grow up w/hate for something they don’t really understand, they just hear mom & dad say it, so it must be true. Hatred is affecting the future generations of America. Is that really what’s right??
Part 3:The island is beautiful & thriving, they help & are good to all tourists & accommodate everyone. We hang our flag off the mirror not because we hate being is this country, but the pride of the race is just big. We are a proud people who love America & our culture. What is the harm in that? It just the best of both worlds that’s all. Please beore you ridicule or judge us, try to have some understanding & get educated.And as a Christian, to those of you who say “GOD BLESS Avon Park for getting rid of the immigrants.” I really think that GOD is saddend that we can’t live in Peace w/ eachother. Read the book of James it clearly says. “do your best & try hard to live in peace w/one another. GOD has no prefrence for Avon Park for the English rule & no preference to Puerto Rico for Spanish.
Part 2: As a Puerto Rican born in Amarillo, Texas, raised in Tampa, Florida, Air Force wife who’s husband has been on 2 Iraq tours & is a native of New Jersey , raised in Puerto Rico, I am amazed that in this day & age we can’t live in peace together in this great country. There are so many who are threatened by & even hate Latinos. But, those same haters marry women of color. Can someone please explain this?If you saw me, you couldn’t even tell I’m a Latina. I am fair skinned, green eyes, & have no accent when I speak English. But do you want to know how many times I have been called ##### by trying to help someone in my native tongue? I don’t sweat it, because that’s plain ignorance. Let me tell you about Puerto Ricans, they are good, warm people, who out of love would give you their last meal if you were hungry.
President Bush speaks Spanish & he runs our country.As a matter of fact, when he first ran for President he did his speeches in Spanish & English because he wanted the votes. Now he wants to deport everyone. He sends thousands of troops young men & women of every race to Iraq everyday for his own personal agenda, many of whom join the Military just to become citizens of this great country to leave their families behind with no guarantee that they will return. They are given a Life Insurance policy of ONLY $250K which is chump change for their life. Yet noone tells him to get the hell out. His brother Jeb speaks Spanish is married to a Mexican, has 3 children w/her, & he is the governor of Florida. Noone tells him to get the hell out..
Kellie:
Please don’t stop posting.
You have my whole office peeing their pants. The retarded things that you say are only exceeded on a comedic level by the fact that you actually think you are making sense.
Priceless stuff...bless your little heart. The eminem quote, the maniacal ranting that we are bound to live out the plot of “V is for Vendetta”, and then your brilliant musings on the Saddam/Osama argument. Priceless....
No, REALLY...Thanks for the laughs!
It must be assuring to you that He has a special place in heaven for his “special” children.
Now Kellie refers to Jodie Foster as a political expert! Winston Churchill must be turning over in his grave. Osama was in cahoots with Saddam. It’s not theory-it’s now accepted fact. Problem is, Osama is in Pakistan, so we can’t send in the calvary to get him.
Back to the topic at hand. If our government changed its welfare system so that people had to DO something to get a check, there would be fewer jobs that “Americans won’t do.” Chase the illegals out, put the welfare recipients to work in the jobs vacated, and we’ll rise from the ashes we’re heaping upon ourselves.
I never knew there were this many stupid people around these parts. First, if you are going to put up a post… make sure everything is spelled correctly. If it is not, it ruins your credibility and just makes the reader laugh at you.
To Lisa Cooper. Illegal aliens cannot receive welfare, medicaid, or foodstamps because they do not have social security numbers.
To I forget who that is pissed off because bilingual people get jobs that a white non-bilingual person that may be more qualified does not: Obviously the bilingual person is more qualified because that is what companies are looking for!
Many of you are racist and stereotype people based on their looks and their language. I am white, I married a legal Mexican, and I am trying to learn Spanish so I can be more qualified the next time I apply for a job. Maybe you should too! Actually, go get an education first cause many of you seemed to have forgotten to do so.
TO: Candace Zayas, South Tampa
Call a few jobs advertising for “bilingual or bilingual a plus” and the second language will be clarified to be spanish.
Most europeans speak 3 or 4 languages and, much to our detriment, we do not. The more languages one speaks, the more comfortable one is in the world. However, I do NOT advocate catering to only those who speak spanish. I SHOULD NOT HAVE to Press 1 for English.
I have coexisted quite peacefully with the many hispanics in my daily life and have envied their bilingual status. However, the demands from illegal aliens, who have primarily been identified as illegals from Mexico, MAKE ME ANGRY!!! I hope it will backfire on them.
Terri Thatcher: You are making no sense and a your post is a total waste of bandwidth.
Minor point of correction to previous poster about Puerto Rico. As it is not a state the residents pay NO Federal Income Tax. Thus it does not violate the no taxation without representation argument. They do, however, pay a Commonwealth tax, and Social Security tax. The island residents are entitled to full Social Security benefits when elgible. Puerto Rican income taxes are high but this is a matter for their legislature to address.
You can’t ship all the rednecks out. Who will run the meth labs?
Also in case you all forgot Osama caused 911 not Saddam. Sure he was a threat but to say we went to war with Iraq because of 911 is crap.
First of all I am not claiming Eminem as a political expert. I think that quote is very expressive, and Im not the only one using his quotes. Jodie Foster used his You only got one shot, one opportunity in a college graduation. I simply like his lyrics. Am I an all out liberal no I believe in the death penalty and the right to own a gun. But as for Bush’s destruction of the enviroment,innocent kids dying in a war that was propagandized by a Marketing Group Bush paid. No i am not for that nor am I for the bigoted view he has towards gays. Protection of Marriage Amendment ha thats why the US has an 80% divorce rate. Whats going to be left for future generations. Wait till we end up with a coast like texas full of sludge who is going to buy condos then.
hey bart seems you have a problem,,read what you wrote and see how bad that sounds,maybe some anger management courses would help you
Exactly what jobs are illegal immigrants depriving Americans from? Farm worker, house cleaner, general laborer,landscaper? Are these so called jobs low wages, no benefits, no time off, tasks that Americans should be competing for? It’s a sad day when you’re born in this country, with it’s free public education and opportunities, that you find yourself competing with someone who hasn’t been afforded the opportunities you have had. While I am against illegal immigration, those here should be afforded the chance to stay and those coming illegally should be turned away. Enacting punitive measures against those all ready here, without taking into account the beneficial aspects is senseless. Americans are not competing to rush into the fields to pick some crop or jump on the back of a lawn mower for eight hot hours. This is really about holding onto power, a party that wants to secure an election year victory, and good ole us vs them. We heard this same argument with affirmative action
This is for Andres Caballero. Don’t think for one second that your culture is the only one that makes the economy go round in Tampa. If you took your money and ran I can assure you that Tampa will survive. If we didn’t have your business it would be someone else’s. It was here before and will be here after you. And the only reason we have a spanish speaking button is because we speak ENGLISH and get tired of answering the phone and hearing Tu Habla Espanol. As an American with a good job, I get tired of hearing that. I mean you sound like you speak perfectly good English to me why not teach family members or friends to speak ENGLISH so than can make alot of money and shop like you..lol
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Posted by Brendan McLaughlin, Riverview on 06/29 at 11:01 PM
What about all of the cocaine that has been flooded into this area? You liberals gonna blame that on WHITEY too?