[donybrx]

The City of Hazleton, ssw of Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne Co. has been having an unusually high influx of hispanics, particularly from the NYC metro for about a decade. As far as I understood, the influx, though overwhleming at times for a previously stagnant small city, has been largely welcomed and without controversy. I don't know what's happened but I've been reading about concerns with increased violent crime, drugs etc. Here's the mayor's stance on the illegal component:

06/14/2006
Hazleton mayor pushes anti-illegals policy
BY NICHOLE DOBO
STAFF WRITER


The mayor of Hazleton has proposed an ordinance that would ban illegal immigrants from living or working in the city and would make English the “official” city language.
Mayor Lou Barletta’s ordinance would make it a crime to rent to illegal immigrants and would ban a business from the city if it employs these immigrants. It would also remove all Spanish forms and instructions from City Hall.

“My goal is to make Hazleton the toughest city for illegal immigrants in the United States,” said Mr. Barletta, the mayor of a city that has seen an increasing Hispanic population in recent years.

The ordinance has three parts that would limit the rights of illegal immigrants to live or work in the city, but does not single out any particular race or ancestry.

The proposed limits include:
Revoking the business permit of any for-profit entity that “aids or abets” illegal immigrants. This would also include taking away a business permit for a national company doing business in Hazleton if illegal immigrants are hired in a different city or state. The ban on business would last no less than five years.


Fining landlords who lease or rent property to an illegal immigrant “irrespective of such person’s intent, knowledge or negligence.” The fine would be not less than $1,000. This would include illegal immigrants who are already living in rented properties, the mayor said.


Removing all non-English communication from City Hall and all city business forms, documents, signs, telecommunication or electronic communication. This section is under a section of the ordinance titled “ENGLISH ONLY.”

The mayor said the purposed ordinance, the “Illegal Immigration Relief Act,” will not affect the city’s Hispanic immigrants. The mayor said he welcomes the new residents — as long as they came to America legally.

The city has seen a significant increase in Hispanic businesses in the past few years, which the mayor credits with revitalizing a city struggling with an aging and declining population.

“It’s a wonderful thing,” he said of the new Hispanic population. “Many have moved into the city and are opening business. They are a productive part of our community.”

Council will talk about the ordinance Thursday at 7 p.m. in City Hall. The ordinance will have three readings before the final vote is taken.

Contact the writer: ndobo@citizensvoice.com
©The Times-Tribune 2006

[wrightchr]

i saw this on WNEP and WBRE the other night. i think the mayor has the right idea.

[vasiliymeshko]

Thumbs up to Barletta. It's about time someone stepped up about this.

[donybrx]

Any bets on how soon all this becomes national news?????? Starting with Lou Dobbs probably.......

Posted on Fri, Jun. 16, 2006
Hazleton nears law on illegals

Council passes first reading of ordinance calling for hiring and rental regulations, and English as city’s official language.

FULL TEXT(link):
http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/14832003.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

More articles:
06/16/2006
Plan to ban illegal immigrants divides Hazleton Barletta’s ordinance gets its first approval from city council
BY NICHOLE DOBO
STAFF WRITER

HAZLETON — When Mayor Lou Barletta asked a Hispanic man at a city council meeting if he is “legal,” the man lifted his head and said this:
“My name is Leo Cordero.”

“I live at 659 North Locust Street.”

“Social Security number ...”

Cordero was cut off by a round of applause from a crowd divided on the mayor’s proposal that would ban illegal immigrants from living in Hazleton, fine businesses that “aid and abet” those immigrants and remove all foreign language documents from city hall.

The ordinance passed its first reading 4-1 Thursday. It must pass two more readings before it goes into effect.

The crowd of nearly 100 residents packed the council chambers, forcing some to stand. Five residents urged the council not to pass the ordinance and two asked for a few revisions. One man agreed totally with the ordinance, suggesting signs saying “This is an English-only town” be posted at city limits.

At issue was whether or not all immigrants — including those the city considers illegal — have rights and if the ordinance was directed at the city’s swelling Hispanic population.

“Citizen or not a citizen, we have basic rights,” Cordero said. “Nobody is criminal until you find that person to be criminal.”

Barletta urged the crowd several times that he was not directing the ordinance at the city’s Hispanic population. Many times the mayor got considerable applause when reiterating his intention to drive away every person he believes to be an “illegal immigrant.”

“This ordinance does not roll back the welcome mat to those who are legally in the United States,” he said, reading from a prepared speech. “ ... Rather, this ordinance seeks to stem the flow of illegal immigrants into Hazleton. They are not welcome here.”

The city has seen a large growth in the last few years, mainly due to Hispanic immigration. Previously, the mayor estimated more than 25 percent of the city is Hispanic. In 2001, the city had three Hispanic businesses; today, there are more than 60.

Anna Arias, a member of the Governors Commission on Latino Affairs, told the mayor — who she said used to be a personal friend — she did not believe the ordinance was not directed at the Hispanic community because they are the biggest immigrant group in the area.

Arias said it was “very disturbing” that the mayor would seek to remove all Spanish documents from city hall, as part of the ordinance’s intent to make the city’s “official” language English.

“We are also taxpayers,” she said.

Then, Arias asked for permission to address the mayor directly, which was granted.

“Are you planing to continue your political career?”

“Well, I haven’t announced anything ...” Barletta began.

“I hope you are not,” Arias said, turning to look directly at the mayor. “This will haunt you.”

To which Joseph Yannuzzi, council president, pounded his gavel said Arias was “out of order” and told her she could no longer speak.

Council seemed roundly in favor of the measure. Councilman Robert Nilles suggested they “add teeth” to the ordinance by having city hall hand out “permits” that would allow persons to rent if they could prove they are legally in the country.

After the public comment session, Councilwoman Evelyn Graham told the crowd about her ancestor’s history.

Graham said her father came from Russia “legally” and “lived out of a garbage can” before going to work in the coal mines. When she asked her parents to teach her Russian as a child, their “reply was no.” And Graham is glad they said that because “they knew I could not succeed in America speaking Russian.”

Natalia Gomez, a Hazleton professional, said she believes it is in the best interest of everyone to learn about cultures and to remember the area’s history of immigration issues, alluding to the Lattimer massacre, an incident near Hazleton when a sheriff and his crew killed 19 unarmed immigrant miners.

She urged council and the mayor to scrap the ordinance.

“No one will be able to alleviate the tension and chaos you are creating,” she said.

ndobo@citizensvoice.com

[Ex-Ithacan]

I can see a lot of problems arising out of this legislation. For one, it does seem obviouly geared toward Hispanics, not good. Two, what to do about enforcement. Does this mean the city police will be acting as if they are INS agents? Could be a jurisdictional and financial problem there. Three, who investigates and makes determinations on whether someone is legal or not?

I'm not pleading the case for illegals. I would hope all immigrants to this country are legal. That's what built this place. But I think this might be too simplistic of a solution to be practical.

[vasiliymeshko]

“Citizen or not a citizen, we have basic rights,” Cordero said. “Nobody is criminal until you find that person to be criminal.”

Oh great! What am I not getting here? Since when breaking our immigration laws is considered "non-criminal"?

[DallasTexan]

Shut it, commie.

;)

[vasiliymeshko]

Who? Me?

[DallasTexan]

Yeah, go back to Soviet Russia, where car drive you!

:p

[vasiliymeshko]

How many times do I have to tell you people that I'm NOT from Russia :koko:

[donybrx]

Let's stick to the issues of Hazleton.

Is it overwhelmed? How is that handled fairly? If crime has increased radically, how is crime prevention funded with the very limited resources of a small city like this, unprepared fo meet extraordinary demands. What are the Mayor's obligations to the populus of Hazleton, to the immigrant population? What would you do as mayor or city official to bring back some needed balance?

[wrightchr]

i think the city has some legal obligation here to do something about illegal immigration; however, you can't go around accusing everyone who looks hispanic to prove their citizenship. i think hazeltons mayor is pretty arrogant and probably not the sharpest tool in the shed, especially with his tact...that said, i think he has the right idea with this issue. i think legislation against employers who hire illegals and landlords who rent to illegals would definately crack down on the problem. that said...enforcing immigration laws and detaining illegals has always been up to the federal government. i'm not sure local authorities have the jurisdiction or the manpower to round up every illegal...especially in a city like hazelton where nearly 1/2 of the population is hispanic.

[LostInTheZone]

well, at least he's acknowledging the positive contributions hispanic immigrants are making to the town. That puts him ahead of most of the anti-immifration camp. This sounds like a political move.

[vasiliymeshko]

that said...enforcing immigration laws and detaining illegals has always been up to the federal government. i'm not sure local authorities have the jurisdiction or the manpower to round up every illegal...
You're probably right, but look at what the federal government has done with the issue lately. Next to nothing! They might sit in DC and debate it to ethernity, but in the end they all want those hispanic votes. I blame booth parties for this mess! :hell:

[donybrx]

I don't think that it's possible to label the matter as political or otherwise. From what I'm reading there are mounting problems, real problems, which if left without balancing measures promise to worsen. That isn't good for either the established Hazleton citzenry or for any among hardworking, taxpaying immigrant population who make an effort to get legalized the hard way (like earlier generations of immigrants), pay taxes and improve the Hazleton housing stock in the process.

What seems clear to me:

---It does start at the national level.The ongoing lack of sensible immigration policy by the national leadership dating back into the 1980's, by now needing very drastic reform, has lagely created unmanageable situations such as Hazelton's which states and localities have no choice but to confront by themselves. I'm skeptical that the national leadership is going to get it together anytime soon, faced with the downside of making a stand and losing votes. Jerks, pigs and power-whores all. It disgusts me that nearly every aspect of consqequnce for the good old USA has been compromised at best and hollowed-out-to-the point-of-meaninglessness at worst in the name of money and power....and religion.....

...Asking forbearance for that rant it's also clear that:
Hazleton has gone from 23,000 to 31,000 in a very short time by virtue of largely hispanic in-migration. That's big.

..Why Hazleton? very cheap housing, much cheaper than metro NYC, low taxes, pretty good schools, wonderful natural enivirons, location extrmely near the intersection of I-80 (to NYC) and I-81 (south to Harrisburg and ultimately New Orleans and north to I-84 at Scranton ---to CT & Boston---or on up to Canada. Just off the top of my head. ALso, easy going atmosphere (at least before all this).

.....Some new jobs via KOZ system (Coca Cola proposes a $90 M installation and there's another similar prospect underway for about $100 by Archer Daniel's Midland, I think.) This is where it hits the fan, too. The KOZ type programs were initiated to provide work for locals at a fair wage in exchange for tax abatements & other perks. What happens is, the companies take the deal BUT end up bypassing local hires for cheaper labor in the form of illegals. It becomes more difficult, then, for the municipality & state to cry foul without being accused of racsim, etc. In short, what started as a good idea to rebuild a declining community turns into a pandora's box. dog eat dog.
There's gotta be a better way, fairer to all.
One thing certain. It's gonna get worse before it gets better.

Here's (below) a link to a lengthy article about the Hazleton scene in today's paper. very worth reading if you have interest in these issues as they affect Hazleton as a kind of 'laboratory' and the nation at large.

Headline: "Proposal polarizes Hazleton"
TEXT:
http://www.zwire.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=2259&dept_id=455154&newsid=16805693

[Joey D]

What a bunch of fucking idiots.

Sorry, but Illegal Immigrants (Mexicans) hardly drive up crime rates.

The Mexicans in this part of the country aren't the 3rd generation Mexicans in LA. They keep to themselves, go to work, come home, ride public transit, then go back to Mexico.

I really wish people one day would see that there is a difference between Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. Puerto Ricans are legal, have SSNs, American Citizens, and usually (no offense) are the ones involved in the crime.

I mean, come on - there is about a foot difference in height between 'em.

[donybrx]

Any bets on how soon all this becomes national news?????? Starting with Lou Dobbs probably.......

It didn't take long.......

06/20/2006
Barletta’s proposal draws attention of national media
BY NICHOLE DOBO
STAFF WRITER

The national media have come calling in Hazleton.

A local ordinance proposed to crack down on illegal immigrants in the city is attracting the attention of national media outlets and residents from California to Maryland, said Mayor Lou Barletta.

“I am getting calls from all over the country,” said Barletta, the mayor of a city that has seen the Hispanic population surge from about 4 percent in 2000 to about 30 percent today.

While Barletta is not yet slated to appear on national television, the mayor said a number of journalists have called his office to inquire about the ordinance, which would fine landlords who rent to illegal immigrants, revoke the business permits of for-profit entities that hire these immigrants and make English the “official” city language.

The local ordinance — which blames issues ranging from failing schools to higher crime rates on illegal immigration — may be unusual, but was not drafted as a political move or publicity stunt, Barletta said. The mayor is up for re-election next year.

A local political consultant disagrees.

“He is using this to ascribe all his city’s problems to illegal immigration,” said Ed Mitchell.

That could backfire if a large number of Hispanic voters — and others against the ordinance — vote in a bloc to remove the mayor from office next year, Mitchell said. The ordinance is “simplistic” and an “immoral” move to drum up attention on a complex national issue, he said.

Barletta maintains he did not propose the ordinance to help shore up votes. Instead, he proposed it to take action, mainly against violent crime and vandalism in the city, which the mayor attributes to illegal immigration.

“This is not just a federal issue,” Barletta said. “Local municipalities are going to have to deal with it. We are not going to just sit back.”

The ordinance must be passed three times by city council. It passed the first reading 4-1 last week. The next meeting is July 13 at 7 p.m. in city hall. Council could hold the second and third readings during that meeting, Barletta said.

ndobo@citizensvoice.com
©The Citizens Voice 2006

[frank_pentangeli]

I love that so many Italian guys are anti illegal immigration. It's so hilarious. Those swarthy fuckers don't even know their own history, on so many levels.

[donybrx]

^^^ It seems that he's far from alone.......and the situation isn't a simple one.

Excerpt: "BUT SEVERAL PEOPLE SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE MAYOR`S PLAN.. INCLUDING THE PUBLISHER OF THE CITY`S SPANISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER.
Amilcar Arroyo
Supports Proposal
"GOOD PEOPLE WHO COME TO HAZLETON LEGALLY ..WE DON`T WANT BAD PEOPLE HERE."

From Full Text: http://www.wbre.com/news/print.asp?mode=shownews&id=2190

[Crawford]

^^^ It seems that he's far from alone.......and the situation isn't a simple one.

Excerpt: "BUT SEVERAL PEOPLE SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE MAYOR`S PLAN.. INCLUDING THE PUBLISHER OF THE CITY`S SPANISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER.
Amilcar Arroyo
Supports Proposal
"GOOD PEOPLE WHO COME TO HAZLETON LEGALLY ..WE DON`T WANT BAD PEOPLE HERE."

From Full Text: http://www.wbre.com/news/print.asp?mode=shownews&id=2190

^
I'd bet big money that gentleman quoted is of Puerto Rican descent, meaning he is not an immigrant.

The Latino "establishment" in much of the Northeast is Puerto Rican (which is part of the US), and they do NOT speak for Latino immigrants.

There is no correlation between having documents/lacking documents and being "good" or "bad." There are so many undocumented immigrants because so few of the existing legal immigration spots go to newcomers from Mexico and Central America (relative to other nations).

If you are truly interested in solving the problem, the obvious answer is to increase the number of legal slots for Mexicans and Central Americans.

[donybrx]

^^It's very possible that the newspaper guy is of Puerto Rican descent and likely a recent transplant from New York (remember: Hazleton had really next to no latino population until the recent past).

I'm still not sure what the problem(s) is in Hazleton and hope to follow along in order to discover as the matter is written up, however sketchily, in the media.

I can imagine that the recent influx has been overwhelming to Hazleton is some ways (schools, for example) and that they could use a breather in order to accommodate the newer citizens before more show up, which seems a given.

As with most things in life..the bad follows the good as night follows day. I have few reservations that drug dealers/ gang types have come along to follow/ pursue the action, both Latinos and not...few of whom are likely recent arrivals, but more likely guys from New York, maybe Philly.

There's been an alarming rise in crime in Wilke-Barre too courtesy of New York and Philly. As we all know, once the drugs take hold in a community, violent crime is the province of no particular ethnicity. As such, no one can be blamed for trying to keep it at bay or from ruining whole communities.....

Any solution to the national problem to the extent one exists is likely going to require a multi-level solution and some hard choices.

[donybrx]

Growing national media presence/ focus. Hazleton fever...or is it fervor??????????

.....from ABC World News Tonight and CNN on down to Laura Ingraham...
---------------------------------------------
National Media Focus on Hazleton

Tuesday, June 20, 3:59 p.m.
By Bob Reynolds

The national spotlight is on Hazleton as national media look at a proposal to crack down on illegal immigrants and those who help them.

Outside of Hazleton city hall, Mayor Lou Barletta met with Dan Harris from ABC's World News Tonight.

ABC News is reporting on a proposed new law for Hazleton that would crack down on those who knowingly employ and rent to illegal immigrants. The idea was born after city officials realized that many recent violent crimes were committed by illegals.

"When you're trying to do a story to a national audience, you want to find one place that puts it into perspective and crystallizes it in a very dramatic and clear way and Hazleton seems to do that," said Harris.

"I think we touched a nerve here and I think people have been thinking and they're waiting for someone to come forward and this is the reaction America has," said Mayor Barletta. "As you can see, the phone doesn't stop ringing. The response has been overwhelming."


"Here it's especially dramatic because of the extent of the steps the city is considering taking and the reaction. There have been some people that are supportive and people who are upset so that adds up to a good story," added Harris.

Reaction to the proposal resonates in the mayor's office. His secretary Cherie Homa is almost overwhelmed with requests for interviews.

"We received calls from CNN New York, KDKA out of Pittsburgh, WRVA of Richmond, Virginia, the Laura Ingraham show out of Washington, WSVA out of York,Pennsylvania."

Homa claims she is having one of the busiest days of her professional life.

Ever since the national media picked up the story of Hazleton's proposed crackdown on illegal immigrants, the issue has taken on a life of its own. Over the weekend, more than 1,200 e-mails were sent to the mayor.


"Some of the e-mails have said 'We want Mayor Barletta to run for president.' They want him to be the next mayor in New York, Florida. The response has been just been great," said Homa. "It's apparently what people want in their cities as well and they haven't heard it from their politicians."

Tom Warg is one of those who e-mailed the mayor, praising his efforts. "It's time to get something done. It's time to get the crime stopped, period!"

Part of the proposal would make all official city documents printed only in English.

[donybrx]

The concerns of Hazleton with the Mayor as spokesman will be on CNN's Lou Dobbs Report tonight, Wednesday, June 21......The McCaffrey Report touched on it last night.....

[wrightchr]

I recently read in the Pottsville paper that Shenandoah, PA will enact similar legislation curbing illegals in the borough. Shenandoah also has a very large hispanic population. Hazelton may have set a trend for local municipalities to take on illegal immigration themselves. I think this is ultimately going to end up in the court system.

[liat91]

What a bunch of fucking idiots.

Sorry, but Illegal Immigrants (Mexicans) hardly drive up crime rates.

The Mexicans in this part of the country aren't the 3rd generation Mexicans in LA. They keep to themselves, go to work, come home, ride public transit, then go back to Mexico.

I really wish people one day would see that there is a difference between Mexicans and Puerto Ricans. Puerto Ricans are legal, have SSNs, American Citizens, and usually (no offense) are the ones involved in the crime.

I mean, come on - there is about a foot difference in height between 'em.


Oh yeah, heard about the illegal mexican dude caught raping a puppy. :notacrook: The police caught him red handed with his cock in the puppies ass. O.K., so he was trying to be quite there in the woods. He raped a puppy man, at least a full grown four legged beauty might not have been so monstrous. True story btw. :yuck:

[donybrx]

:previous: Topic is Hazleton, please. Thank you.

[donybrx]

I recently read in the Pottsville paper that Shenandoah, PA will enact similar legislation curbing illegals in the borough. Shenandoah also has a very large hispanic population. Hazelton may have set a trend for local municipalities to take on illegal immigration themselves. I think this is ultimately going to end up in the court system.

It already has...in San Bernardino CA which means that if passed in Hazleton, Hazleton's initiative will be the first of its kind in the nation.

More here:
http://www.standardspeaker.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2228&Itemid=2

At the same time, the Commonwealth is tackling the illegal immigrant matter in Harrisburg as it seems are numerous other states and municipalities, frustrated with the lack of leadership form Washington.

[donybrx]

From the Hazleton Standard-Speaker

Bills on illegals introduced statewide
Saturday, 24 June 2006
By KRISSY SCATTON
scatton@standardspeaker.com
These days, it’s tough to be an illegal immigrant or the employer of illegal immigrants in Pennsylvania. On the heels of proposed ordinances cracking down on illegal immigrants and their employers and landlords in the Hazleton area, a coalition of state representatives introduced a collection of bills that address similar issues throughout Pennsylvania on Tuesday.
A bipartisan group including Reps. Bob Belfanti, D-107, Tom Yewcic, D-72, Daryle Metcalfe, R-12, Mark Mustio, R-44, and Tom Creighton, R-37, unveiled the bills, known as “National Security Begins at Home,” at a news conference in Harrisburg.
The bills attack the illegal immigration issue from several different angles. Belfanti’s bills would make it a third-degree felony for an employer to knowingly hire an illegal immigrant, and would also grant state district attorneys the power to investigate and arrest illegal immigrants or their employers.
Belfanti is also pushing for contractor licensure, especially after an incident in Northumberland County in which underage illegal immigrants were caught working on the construction of a shopping center.
“I want contractors to prove that paperwork is legitimate,” Belfanti said during a phone interview Friday. “I want contractor licensure. If you have a license, you’re more likely to follow the rules.”
Another bill would make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to receive public benefits, such as food stamps.
On May 11, Gov. Ed Rendell signed into a law a bill proposed by Rep. Bob Allen, R-Pottsville, requiring companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants to return state grants and pay penalty interest on state loans.
During the news conference, the representatives indicated that the state legislature had to step up on the illegal immigration issue because the federal government simply isn’t doing enough.
“The federal government clearly hasn’t accomplished its constitutional duties of securing the borders,” Yewcic said Thursday during a phone interview. “This is a huge burden on our healthcare system, our education system, our welfare system.”
Yewcic hopes that Pennsylvania’s initiative, besides sending a message to the federal government, will encourage other states who are feeling the burden of illegal immigration.
“If nothing else, it sends a message to our neighbors, and maybe other states will jump on board,” Yewcic said.
The bills have already found support from Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, in the national spotlight for the ordinance he introduced last week dealing with illegal immigration issues. Barletta attended the press conference on Tuesday to endorse the bills.
Like Barletta, who said his final straw was after the May 10 shooting of Derek Kichline, Yewcic reached his breaking point on May 1.
“I watched the demonstrations on May 1,” Yewcic said, “and saw people waving the flags of other countries in the street and trying to hurt our economy.”
Meanwhile, rumblings of controversy have started, even though hearings on the bills won’t even begin until later this summer.
An editorial in Wednesday’s edition of The York Dispatch referred to the bills as “legislative nastiness,” saying, “Pennsylvanians should be embarrassed by this racist fit of pique within the ranks of its General Assembly.”
Belfanti responded to the backlash, saying, “This is a question about illegal immigration. I don’t know what people don’t understand about that.” Belfanti likened illegal immigration to other criminal acts like shoplifting and assault, saying, “There are some things you just can’t do.”
“There are about 60 ways to get into the country legally,” he continued. “The people who come in illegally usually fall into three categories – they have criminal records in their home countries, they are underage and wouldn’t be allowed to work here, or they’re just impatient.”
Yewcic agreed, making it clear that Pennsylvania still welcomes legal immigrants. “My grandparents were immigrants,” he said. “They came here, but they came here legally. They were proud to be Americans.”
He added, “If you want to live the American dream, you have to be American.”

[passdoubt]

They're too late! The Slavs are already everywhere in Hazleton!

[donybrx]

But Judy Giuliani left town (Rudy's new wife) as did Jack Palance (sold his farm nearby) and Michale Smerconish, so there's a little room......

[donybrx]

Controversial ordinance passes...adjacent hazle Township is also gearing up a similar intiative. The hispanic community has brought in legal defense team from NYC. This will be in the news probably for a while.....

07/14/2006
Hazleton approves illegal alien law
BY NICHOLE DOBO
STAFF WRITER


HAZLETON — The Hazleton City Council approved an ordinance Thursday that is intended to make life in the city impossible for illegal immigrants.

Advertisement


The ordinance, likely the first of its kind in the nation, drew national media attention and about 1,000 people to City Hall.

Designed to hit illegal immigrants where they live and work on a local level, the ordinance has prompted copycat laws nationwide. Unhappy with the federal government’s response to illegal immigration, municipal leaders are increasingly taking on immigration issues.

“We must draw the line, and we are drawing it tonight,” Mayor Lou Barletta told City Council members in a prepared statement.

A group of lawyers warned the city Wednesday in a letter they will challenge the law.

“At this point we’re prepared to follow through with that letter we sent,” said Paula Knudsen, a lawyer with the ACLU of Pennsylvania. “We will protect the rights of residents of this city.”

By a 4-1 vote, council passed an ordinance that bans illegal immigrants from renting property, punishes businesses that hires or “aids or abets” these immigrants, and makes English the “official” city language.

The lone dissenter on council was Robert Nilles, who said several lawyers indicated the ordinance would not pass legal muster, which could, in turn, cost taxpayers in legal fees.

“We cannot expend city money just because it makes us feel good,” Mr. Nilles said.

Solicitor Christopher Slusser said he believes the ordinance is legal because it does not seek to enforce federal immigration laws. Instead, he said, the ordinance punishes those who aid illegal immigrants. The city did ask the advice of another attorney, whom Mr. Slusser did not name, but no immigration lawyers were consulted, he said.

During the nearly two-hour Council meeting, several residents and community leaders begged the city not to pass the ordinance. Council was cat-called from a primarily white audience.

“Are any of you ready to deport U.S. citizen children because their parents are illegal immigrants?” Anna Arias, a member of the Governors Commission on Latino Affairs, asked Council.

“Yes,” several people shouted from the seating area.

Sister Susan Hadzima, of the Scranton-based Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, said she was saddened by the hate and dissuasiveness she witnessed in City Hall.

“It took me back to the civil rights movement,” Sister Hadzima said.

Mayor Bill Hines, of nearby Beaver Meadows, told Council the ordinance is needed because “illegals here have a right — to go back where they belong.”

The city has seen a large increase in Hispanic immigrants in the past five years. In 2000, about 5 percent of the population was Hispanic. Today, that number is closer to 30 percent, city officials said.

Many residents who spoke in favor of the ordinance said they are unhappy with the changes in Hazleton. They say big-city crime brought by people they consider to be illegal immigrants is making life unbearable and frightening.

“We survived very well before this mass immigration,” said Ed Makuta, a McAdoo resident who grew up in Hazleton.

Security was high in city hall and out on the street. Police officers checked bags and used metal detectors. Everyone had to sign in and wear a “visitor” or “press” tag.

Mr. Barletta told the Associated Press he wore a bullet-proof vest to the meeting because it is such an emotional issue.

There were no reports of physical confrontations in City Hall.

Some reporters and about 300 others had to be turned away because City Hall was full nearly 45 minutes before the meeting began. Council chambers seated about 150 people and a separate room with seating for about 70 more people who watched the meeting on live television.

The ordinance that council passed was significantly different from an ordinance read at a meeting a month ago. It increases a landlord penalty to $1,000 a day if an illegal immigrant rents property and promises to punish businesses that “aid or abet” illegal immigrants, which include selling items to these immigrants, the mayor said in a press conference.

Mr. Slusser, the city attorney, said the rules would be enforced on a “case-by-case” basis, with “the city as a whole” holding that power.

Mr. Barletta said the hard stance of the ordinance has led many illegal immigrants to leave the city. Illegal immigration is to blame for higher crime rates, failing schools and is draining the city resources, he said, although he could not provide statistics to back that up.

“We do not care where they come from, we do not care what language they speak,” the mayor said. “But an illegal alien is not welcome in Hazleton.”

Contact the writer:

ndobo@citizensvoice.com

©The Times-Tribune 2006

[frank_pentangeli]

fuck that shit

[Crawford]

The racist trash in Hazleton will suffer a tremendous body blow when half the community leaves and there is nobody left to rent their homes or work in their businesses.

Watch those property values plummet. Hazleton without immigrants is just another Gary or East St Louis. This town is a goner if it rejects the only source of new residents and its economic backbone.

Also, I guarantee the source of crime, bad schools, etc. is NOT Mexicans. The undocumented Mexicans in the Northeast are overwhelmingly men without families from Puebla. In NYC the crime goes down when Mexicans move into a neigborhood, because they are too busy working all the time to even have time for anything else.

It is likely AMERICAN CITIZENS who are causing the alleged problems in Hazleton. The irony is that Puerto Ricans, Whites and others will remain (they are probably the source of problems), while the people being falsely blamed (Mexicans) are being attacked.

[donybrx]

Too simplistic. ^^^^ There are fair points on either side of the Hazleton argument. Areas like Hazleton are another world apart from NYC. Unless you have long experience or actual roots there, you're unlikely to have any perspective on the populace or the whole scenario from both points of view.

From what I glean, this started out being fine. Yet, this little city has had a 30% increase without the resources to keep pace nor the resources to fight increased crime. It is overwhelmed and the mayor is asking for help. No one is offering so he does the next best thing. His choice is to try to get some breathing room to catch up or to continue to trade old problems of stagnation etc., for new ones that seem to be worse....all of you who are actually mayors & city managers reading this understand, right?

This doesn't compare in any way NYC where the good mayor has scads of agencies and legions of personnel to attend to shifts and adjustments. Moreover, if NYC were to experience a 30% increase in 5 years, there'd be more than a small degree of chaos.......that's be adding 2.5 Million to the 8 Million already there...in a brief period......imagine!

The mistake the hispanic community seems to make is one of tact: in not taking the initial good will of Hazleton's folks, making a point of establishing the goals they have in common with Hazletonians and offering every assurance to work together for a healthy, safe generous community.

Instead, their leadership too often takes a defiant, almost militating stance, that makes it seem as though the existing community is of no concern to them or their ambitions..it happens too often....it becomes overkill. Instead of winning over the base community, it ends up offending them.

The people in these old towns are usually far more empathic than you'd imagine.....but they don't want to be made to feel unwelcome in their own places.....

I'd love to know what Judi Giuliani (Rudy's Judi) thinks...since she is a native of Hazleton.......

[donybrx]

Actually, here's an account of the heated meeting at City Hall kast night from the Hazleton "STANDARD SPEAKER"

Groundbreaking: After passionate debate, Hazleton passes illegal immigration law
Friday, 14 July 2006
By L.A. TARONE
tarone@standardspeaker.com
During a hot, crowded, tension-filled meeting, Hazleton City Council enacted the Illegal Immigration Relief Act. It will take effect in 60 days. One critic told council passage made Hazleton “the first Nazi city in the country.”
The vote was 4-1, with President Joe Yannuzzi, Vice President Jack Mundie, Evelyn Graham and Tom Gabos voting “yes.” Bob Nilles voted “no.”
The crowd filled council chambers, the balcony and the auditorium across the hall. Security was very tight.
When Mayor Louis Barletta entered, flanked by city Administrator Sam Monticello and Solicitor Chris Slusser, he was greeted by applause and a standing ovation from most in the balcony. He addressed the crowd, saying that since he first proposed the act, “my office has received more than 8,000 e-mails supporting the measure,” adding that they came from every state.
But he added he gave more weight to letters and e-mails from “Grant Street, Locust Street, Laurel Street… We received hundreds of letters of support from every section of the city.”
“For the record, I have received exactly one – one – negative response from a local resident,” Barletta said.
Barletta said the ordinance does “not target any particular race” and had no “reference to specific races, nor will you find any reference to any language other than English.
“Over the past month or so, we have been accused of being racist, intolerant and unfair,” Barletta said. “But let me repeat what I have been saying all along: Illegal is illegal.”
Dr. Agapito Lopez raised a point of order in an effort to delay a vote. Noting 17 wording changes and five new paragraphs to the revised ordinance, he argued it had been substantively changed and required council to start over with first reading. Slusser disagreed and said in his legal opinion that the ordinance was “substantively not altered.”
The fieriest speaker against the proposal was Anna Arias.
She called the ordinance “discriminatory, bigoted and racist.” She said “undocumented immigrants” were “very important for this country,” and disputed Barletta’s assertion they drain city resources, adding they didn’t accept services such as prenatal care or heating assistance. She added she knew of a Latino family whose garbage pick-up was missed and said she believed that was a form of racial intimidation.
“If you pass this, you will go down in history as the council that made Hazleton the first Nazi city in the country,” Arias barked. The crowd responded with howls.
Lopez said illegals “have been here forever.” He said that immigrants, legal or otherwise, were welcomed during World Wars I and II and the Korean Conflict because their labor skills were needed.
He also said the ordinance violated Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act, the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Employment Opportunity Act. He gave a passionate endorsement of the immigration proposal in front of the U.S. Senate, which includes a guest worker program and “earned citizenship.”
He said passage would require the city to create an immigration office in City Hall and that the city “will collapse” if it passed. Under questioning from Nilles, Lopez said it takes someone seven years to learn a new language, adding that it was very difficult for anyone over 40 to do so.
“Since we came here, we have been fixing up houses – Hazleton looks much better now,” Lopez said. He added immigrants needed “instructions in our language.”
But when Nilles asked him how immigrants would assimilate if they couldn’t understand or be understood, Lopez said immigrants would not “convert to Anglos.”
“We will acculturate, we will adapt to your rules, we will follow your laws, but we will never assimilate,” Lopez said.
He added that unlike Eastern European immigrants who came to escape Stalin, communism and socialism, the current generation of immigrants planned on visiting their home countries, so retaining the language was essential.
Amilcar Arroyo told council there were “numbers you should consider before you vote.”
He noted the city’s Latino population had ballooned from 1,600 in 2000 to over 11,000 today and the number of Hispanic businesses had skyrocketed from four to 70.
“That’s $8 million every month,” Arroyo said. “Where does that money go? Yes, some of it goes out of the country, we all know that. But them majority of it is spent here – in supermarkets, at car lots, buying clothes … it’s economics.”
Former York city councilman Abe Amoros called the proposal “particularly disturbing,” adding it would “start a statewide trend” of “anti-immigrant legislation.”
John Homa, Beaver Meadows, said he spoke on behalf of the group Citizens Opposing Political Suppression, of which he is an officer. But he apparently didn’t read the ordinance, as he said it would stop people from speaking any language other than English in private businesses, which is does not. He added he thought the country should have bilingual signs everywhere.
There were passionate addresses in favor of it as well.
Alter Street Crime Watch Coordinator Gene Cannon quoted Thomas Jefferson concerning uncontrolled immigration. He said there were illegals “willingly, deliberately breaking the laws of our society. This is not about race, this is about law.”
Ed Makuta, McAdoo, grew up in Hazleton. He said his young daughter had asked him about his childhood and what playgrounds he played on.
“But I can’t take her to them because they’re not safe anymore,” Makuta said.
He added that he was “appalled” by what he saw as Arias’ attempt to analogize a missed garbage pickup with the May 10 murder of Derek Kichline. He said the newly formed Hazleton Area Latino Taskforce was “causing the problem,” accusing it of “blackmailing” the city with threats of lawsuits and economic collapse.
“For those who oppose this, I will pay your way to any country in the world, illegally, if you’ll let me know what the penalty is,” Makuta said. “It won’t be as easy as America, because all we do here is send you back.”
Beaver Meadows Mayor Bill Hines also spoke in favor of the proposal.
Before council voted, Mundie referenced Hazleton’s early days as an immigration center. He said immigrants 85 years ago came legally, adding that’s all the ordinance was requiring.
Evelyn Graham’s comments were the sharpest and aimed at Lopez. She noted he’d gotten his seat on the Hazleton City Authority via council action and that council had opposed a purported separate Little League for Hispanic kids because it wanted all kids to play together.
She said she was angry at those who “reject our culture and try to recreate in America the world they left behind.” And she accused Lopez and Arias of racism, saying they were “inciting segregation instead of integration.”
“It is you who are divisive,” Graham said.
She said she believed most immigrants favor “unity over diversity” and condemned those who “misrepresent our actions for their own purposes.”
She received applause to rival Barletta’s.
Nilles said that while the city had “had it with crime,” the proposal broke two federal laws and violated a 1942 Supreme Court decision. He said it was “easy to say ‘yes’ and pass this,” but added he believed provisions would be challenged in court, leaving “the city and taxpayers” to pick up the bill.
Gabos, who voted against the proposal on first reading, said he was satisfied with how the landlords provision had been reworked.
Before council voted, Nilles moved to pull out the section regarding renting to illegals. But the move died without a second.
The ordinance passed afterward and many in the crowd filed out.
As council continued with more routine business, the noise from the crowd outside grew louder.

[phillyskyline]

Man this thing is getting ugly, I would love to see how the city operates once they put this oridance into effect. I'm betting that Hazelton will suffer some economic consquences, although I don't know how severe.

[donybrx]

^^^^Heh...perversely enough, Hazleton has had a tough time for so long that economic reversals are de riguer and are not likely to be noticed much....
Interestingly, although some of the hue and cry has to do with
houses and apartments going un-rented as a consequence of the ordinance, the landlord sector most affected is probably going to be the latinos themselves who have been buying up properties in great quantity, then renting them in turn by attraction/ad/ word of mouth to others particularly from metro New York....I deduce this because I can't help noticing that most of the reported monthly real estate transfers these days bear hispanic surnames as purchasers.
The situation has many facets as there are opinions about it. I'm keenly interested in how it plays out here and elsewhere.

[frank_pentangeli]

How can the mayor say he's recieved 'one' complaint from a local resident when there were several at hte meeting alone???

[vasiliymeshko]

Loui Barletta is DA MAN!

[donybrx]

INEVITABLE:

Barletta will fine-tune illegal immigration ordinance
BY WADE MALCOLM
Responding to outcry from the Hispanic and business communities, Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta will ask city council to amend his recently passed illegal immigration ordinance.

FullText:
http://www.zwire.com/site/printerFriendly.cfm?brd=2259&dept_id=455154&newsid=16954570

ALSO Inevitable::

Voter registration targets Hazleton Latinos
In wake of city’s illegal-immigrant law, national group and area Latino leaders seek big turnout on Nov. 7.

Full Text:
http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/local/15098038.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

[donybrx]

Off topic, but part of renovated historic tower in Hazleton will become new hotel.....nice news....

Text link:http://www.standardspeaker.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2552&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=0

http://www.northeast.railfan.net/captclint/haz_marklebank.jpgazleton will become new hotel.....nice news....

[Ex-Ithacan]

Looks like NE Pa is becoming quite the popular investment target. Yippee.

[donybrx]

:previous: verily, verily......the surprise ( to me at least) is Hazleton. Here's more, involving hundreds of not only developable, but developing industrial acres...wow.


Developer eyes land in Humboldt North
Saturday, 29 July 2006
By JIM DINO
Some new industries will be popping up in Humboldt Industrial Park in the near future, CAN DO officials say.
Joe Lettiere, CAN DO’s vice president for marketing, said Mericle Commercial Real Estate of Wilkes-Barre, a developer that built 11 speculative industrial buildings that were sold to new industries moving into the area, is purchasing four more parcels of land in Humboldt North.
“They are combining the four sites into one,” Lettiere said. “In all, it’s about 100 acres along Oak Ridge Road.”
Lettiere also said two sites in Humboldt North along Interstate 81 were sold to an as-yet unnamed buyer.
As CAN DO is selling land in North – the 700-acre section on the north side of Route 924 and west of Interstate 81 – the area’s industrial and economic development organization is building roads so the new industries can get to their sites.
Philip Wegener, CAN DO’s operations director, said three new roads are being built on the northern end of Humboldt North.
One of the new roads will be Parkview Road, which will give Gonnella entrance to its new plant.
Wegener said Parkview Road, which will also give access to four other sites, will be designed and advertised for bid by the end of the year and built next spring.
Stony Creek Road will be a 2,800-foot road, 34 feet wide – as all three new roads will be – that will access the site where Archer Daniels Midland will build a plant where 200 people will be processing cocoa by mid-2007.
Wegener said a 1,200-foot rail siding will also be built.
The road, which has been designed, will be going out for bid shortly. Construction is anticipated to begin this fall and conclude next spring.
Scotch Pine Drive in Humboldt Industrial Park will also be extended 1,300 feet so that U.S. Cold Storage can access its site.
Wegener said a traffic study has to be done and CAN DO has to get various governmental approvals. He anticipates the project will go out for bids early in 2007 and be built by next summer.
Across the street at Humboldt East – the 200-acre expansion of the original eastern boundary of Humboldt to Interstate 81 – a traffic light installed at its entrance is almost ready to go.
Wegener said the light has been physically installed, but must be tested before it is turned on for good, which will be soon.
CAN DO is also concluding the sewer system for Humboldt North.
Rather than hooking the new section of Humboldt park to that park’s sewage treatment plant, CAN DO decided to tunnel underneath Interstate 81 and connect the new sewers to the Greater Hazleton Joint Sewer Authority system in Valmont Industrial Park.
Wegener said that project is nearing completion as a test of the new system is near. The new system is expected to go into operation next month.
Other projects are the expansion of the sewage treatment plant that serves Humboldt Industrial Park, new water sources for Humboldt and the construction of a sewage lift station at CAN DO Corporate Center in Drums.
The lift station – which will pump sewage uphill and make several more sites in the park usable – is complete. It will be tested later this month and then put online.
Wegener said Environmental Engineering and Management Associates (EEMA) is designing the expansion of the plant from 500,000 gallons per day to 1 million gallons per day.
A new nutrient removal system is part of the expansion project.
EEMA is assisting in completing a grant application for the project.
The expansion will be designed and permitted by the end of the summer and then go out for bids.
The successful bidder will then have 450 days to build the expansion.
While doing all of that sewer work in Humboldt, water is also on CAN DO’s agenda.
Wegener said CAN DO is investigating alternate sources of water for Humboldt Park, including investigating the feasibility of treating water from the Green Mountain Tunnel, digging new wells or purchasing water from the Hazleton City Authority.

[donybrx]

-----------------------------------
Posted on Mon, Aug. 07, 2006

Effects of immigrant law visible, some say
HAZLETON: Council members say many illegal immigrants have left since vote July 13.

By STEVE MOCARSKY smocarsky@leader.net

HAZLETON – - HAZLETON – City council members say the impact on the city – and on the country – they’ve seen since their July 13 adoption of Mayor Lou Barletta’s Illegal-Immigration Relief Act has been largely positive.

“Locally, what I’ve seen and what’s been told to me is that a lot of the illegals have left,” said council President Joe Yannuzzi. “You can notice the difference,”

Councilman Jack Mundie said, “A lot of illegal people have already moved out of town. I heard one apartment cleared right out.”

Bob Nilles, the only council member to vote against the ordinance, said it “might have had an effect in that many of the illegals may have left, but there are no statistics to back that up.”

Councilwoman Evelyn Graham said she has found “a lot of enthusiasm amongst the people for our stance. I hear it constantly. People I don’t even know stop me to say that they appreciate what we’ve done.”

The ordinance punishes employers and fines landlords who employ or rent to illegal immigrants. It also prohibits city documents and signs in any language other than English.

Council members interviewed acknowledged that tension in the Latino community has erupted since the ordinance was introduced. Latino leaders say the ordinance promotes discrimination. Councilman Tom Gabos could not be reached for comment.

Graham blamed the backlash on Latino leaders’ attitude rather than on the ordinance.

“I believe that the self-appointed spokesmen for the Latino community, namely Dr. Agapito Lopez and Anna Arias, are actually fomenting racism or trying to foment racism. I think most of the legal immigrants understand that what we have done is good for all legal residents of Hazleton.

“I think they’re reading into the ordinance something it’s not meant for. Anybody who reads the ordinance will see it as a very simple document not capable of being misinterpreted.”

Mundie agreed, saying the ordinance has “nothing to do with legal immigrants. But in Hazleton, there are legal and illegal immigrants. Some legal immigrants have friends and relatives who are illegal and they want to help them. I feel bad for them, but they’re breaking the law.”

Mundie said it’s “unfortunate that some legal people may be moving out,” because of the ordinance. “We don’t want that. If you’re legal, you should stay here.”

Nilles agreed that the Latino community’s reaction is “unfortunate. I don’t think anybody ever wanted to give the appearance of being discriminatory in any way, shape or form. The ordinance had nothing to do with Hispanics. It was directed at illegals, whether they’re Russian or Italian or German.”

Hazleton gets attention

Yannuzzi said that on the national level “there’s an awful lot of inquiries. Everybody’s asking for a copy (of the ordinance). This is something the silent majority has been thinking about and not saying it until now, until Lou presented it.

“Hopefully, the state and federal governments will do something. And I think we are causing that to happen now, little Hazleton. If you notice, they’re having their hearings. And I think the federal elected officials are getting the hint that something has to be done.”

Graham said she thinks more municipal leaders are realizing “they cannot afford to wait any longer for the federal government to do something about the problem of illegal immigration.

“I think that the politicians just don’t have the courage to do what needs to be done. And fortunately, we have a mayor who is not first and foremost a political beast.”

Mundie said other municipal leaders are “starting to adopt it and stand up for themselves because the federal government is not doing anything about illegal immigration. The federal legislators are bickering about what should be done.”

Nilles agreed that Hazleton’s ordinance has “certainly had some impact” nationally. But he noted that the U.S. House of Representatives already passed an immigration bill. And while the Senate has not, “I don’t think what Hazleton did will change too many senators’ minds, but you never know.”

Multiple economic impacts

Yannuzzi, Graham and Mundie provided similar reasons for their votes on July 13.

“In Hazleton, our resources are strained because of illegal aliens. The police force had been dealing with crime, some of which was committed by illegal aliens, and obviously we arrested some,” Mundie said.

“But that’s not the sole reason we adopted the ordinance. It’s not just the police, it’s health resources, the schools. Look at the ESL budget. Four or five years ago, it was nothing and now it’s (almost) a million dollars,” Mundie said, citing the Times Leader story July 30 about Hazleton Area School District’s English as a second language program.

“It was a little bit of everything,” Yannuzzi said. “It was the type of immigrant we were getting. All of a sudden, it turned into criminals and vicious crimes. The last killing was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

Yannuzzi was referring to the May 10 shooting death of Derek Kichline. Two illegal immigrants – Joan Romero and Pedro Cabrera – have been charged in the killing. Graham said Barletta proposed the ordinance “because he wanted to have a way to deal with the lawlessness that was burgeoning through the city. And it just seemed to me that he found the right answer.”

Challenges may be ahead

Nilles declined to summarize the reasons for his vote because of possible “legal issues.”

During the July 13 council meeting, Nilles said it’s likely the city would be sued because of the ordinance, adding he had received legal opinions “that say we’re on dangerous ground.”

He cited several legal issues with the ordinance, and suggested council address them before approving the ordinance, rather than “in a court of law, where it’s going to cost us and you, the taxpayers, money.”

Mundie said the city received “some inquiries from law firms that said they will help us pro bono, and there might be some national firms, too. … I faxed (the ordinance) out to some law firms; they’re looking at it now.”

Yannuzzi said he’s “not really concerned” about the threats of a lawsuit the city received from civil rights lawyers, including those from the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and the Community Justice Project.

“I’ve been that road before. Years ago, there was a disagreement over whether the mayor or council made appointments to authorities. In my opinion, it was council that makes the appointments,” Yannuzzi said. “It went all the way to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and it was solved that council got to make the appointments, and that settled it for every municipality in the state.

“It’s the same with this law. We feel we have a good case. And if there is a challenge, we feel we’ll be successful. But sometimes you need the courts to decide it. In this case, it will be pretty hard for them to come up with a good argument.”


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Mocarsky, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 459-2005.

[frank_pentangeli]

They told legal people to stay...why stay when all of their friends/connections have to leave?

[Crawford]

They told legal people to stay...why stay when all of their friends/connections have to leave?

Perhaps because it is obvious that this has nothing to do with legal/illegal distinctions and everything to do with racism. Most undocumented workers by definition will be members of Latino groups (especially Mexicans) because the number of citizenship slots is limited by national origin. The number of slots for Mexicans is ridiculously low, while countries like Germany have far more slots than needed.

Not that these buffoons in Hazelton know or care about the citizenship process, but you will often have members of the same extended family with different degrees of citizenship status.

Additionally, many immigrants, while undocumented, are not "illegal", because they don't violate the terms of their stay (they return to Mexico periodoically, per the rules for non-citizens, they work on the books/fill out W-2 forms, etc.).

I hope the Latinos of Hazletucky leave town and go to more welcoming neighborhoods, probably in the NYC or Philly areas. I can't wait to hear Hazleton landlords/homeowners whining about dropping property values. The town will also suffer a significant loss of tax base.

[Crawford]

A more realistic take on the fiasco in Hazleton:

http://www.standardspeaker.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2383&Itemid=9

Hazleton immigration crackdown could prove costly to defend
Sunday, 09 July 2006

Hazleton Mayor Louis Barletta has heard from thousands of supporters across the country – some labeling him a hero – in the month since he proposed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act.

Here’s hoping he’s ready for the negative.

The potential for a backlash was evident when Barletta testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee – which includes Washington heavyweights Sens. Arlen Specter and Edward Kennedy – last week.
Hazleton’s mayor made a forceful, passioned speech to the committee, detailing the problems in the city he called “small town U.S.A.”

Yet, Barletta’s testimony was met with only a smattering of applause from those in the audience at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.

The crowd reacted much more positively to Sylvester Johnson, Philadelphia Police Commissioner, and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who said their cities’ economies and racial and ethnic harmony would be compromised if illegal immigration laws were enforced.

Furthermore, a story about the hearings in the next day’s Philadelphia Daily News was decidedly slanted against Barletta, criticizing him for not providing statistics to back up his claims that illegals have caused trouble in Hazleton.

“He told the Daily News that he did not know how many ‘illegal aliens’ lived or worked or went to school or committed crimes in Hazleton,” reporter Dan Geringer wrote.

“… he could not say how many Hazleton crimes had been committed by "illegal immigrants" and how many by legal residents.

“He said that his small-town budget was ‘buckling under the strain of illegal immigrants’ but that he did not know how many undocumented workers contributed to the city's budget by paying taxes.”

Geringer’s point about crime statistics is valid – Hazleton police should be able to produce the number of illegals they have arrested.

But how does a city otherwise count or track so-called undocumented workers? What Geringer may not realize is that Hazletondoes not have the money or the manpower to do so.

Nonetheless, the article is just one example of the resistance Barletta and his proposal are likely to garner now that they have the nation’s attention.

Lawyers are already on the case ready to fight Barletta’s proposal, according to Dr. Agapito Lopez of the Hazleton Area Latino Task Force.

The Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, a 34-year-old organization that has won civil rights battles for Latinos and others, has had a representative in the city.

If City Council approves the mayor’s initiatives on second and third reading, there’s a good chance PRLDEF – or perhaps the American Civil Liberties Union -- will challenge the action in court.

With Hazleton’s crackdown on illegals getting so much national attention, pro-bono lawyers working for high-powered law firms will likely line up to fight the city legislation, both on principle and for the public relations value the case will generate.

Defending the legislation against all that power and money may prove to be too expensive for “small town U.S.A.”

[donybrx]

Crawford:.... I don't think that you have any insight into what the situaion in Hazleton is...or what small town life is about. To 'whip out' 'racsim' to define any and all situations that defy simple explanation and to do so automatically only serves to water down the real nature of racism.

These little cities have had decades of difficulty getting back on their feet from terrible reversals. The last thing they need as they begin to finally have some successes is to be overwhlelmed by crime, drug trafficking and gang life. If there is a demonstrable connection between drug traffric and illegals for example, then it becomes necessary to tackle the problem. Maybe these circumstances are fine by you in Brooklyn or elsewhere....gun violence on playgrounds that ordinary kids are dependent on but it isn't okay for everybody. The federal goverment has refused to deliver a balanced immigration policy. Consequently, it's gotten out of hand and without federal
oversight, communties have found themsleves drowning & have had to take up the charge for themselves whether it's pretty, justifiable or not. The federal government has become so sloppy with so many issues that I think you'll see states and muncipalities taking up for themselves on various matters because they cannot wait for the feds any longer.

The landlords that are probably going to be affected mostare the more opportunistic hispanic frontmen from the city who buy properties and stuff them with more hapless laborers (who really need help and not exploitation!)need housing and are willing to be abused by both the system at large and by the sharper latinos who know the ropes and hopw to manipulate them for their own gains....
Your charges are not constructive. There are plenty of very decent, welcoming people in hazleton just as there are likely plenty of decent
newly arrived latinos. But a problem exists. It's tough and seems to be a matter of extremes seeking balance..."for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction...:
I am very interested in seeing how this unfolds for all involved as well as for Hazleton.
FYI Riverside, near Philly is one of many communities that has effected similar ordinances..

[Crawford]

^
Yes, and Riverside is quickly returning to its 80's ghost town status.
The downtown, which was revitalized by Brazillians, is again becoming dormant because the locals don't like the newcomers. Stores are closing and the streets are empty. This is what happens when you chase off the newcomers.

It will never again be like the "good old days". The choice for small town NE PA is:

1. Embrace newcomers (immigrants), or
2. Decline

There is no "return to the good old days" option. Those people are gone and won't return.

Donybrx, crime has NOTHING to do with immigration. There is NO evidence of illegal immigration = crime. In fact, I bet you that undocumented workers commit crimes at lower rates than citizens because:
1. They are always working and
2. They know the potential consequences if they are arrested.
I bet you any newcomers in Hazelton commiting crimes are American citizens (white, black or Puerto Rican). Even the Hazlton Mayor admits he has no evidence for his claims.

This is RACISM. I am certain of it, as I (as a white man) hear these blatant racist comments all the time.
Are you denying that race is the primary motivation for this legislation?
Are you telling me you don't hear these ignorant comments?

[donybrx]

whatever you say.....

I think you should follow up on your instincts, contact Hazleton City Hall and offer your help in designing a program to arrange assistance for housing/ employment in NYC to anyone wishing to leave Hazleton ...the number is 570-459-4910

Again, I'm not inclined to side with or against Mayor Barletta in this matter. It's clear that this might be an overwhelming solution to an overwheming influx....and it is overwhelming no matter how you spin it....

I am 100% for the success of these small cities.....and I hope that this plays out in the end with some success for everyone concerned as well as some lessons well-learned in Hazleton and elsewhere....

BTW what is your opinion of Latinos exploiting latinos ? I know it happens. I see it everyday in eastern Long Island....and what about the Latin Kings-- no drugs?

Again, your charges are simplistic and not constructive.....

[Crawford]

BTW what is your opinion of Latinos exploiting latinos ? I know it happens. I see it everyday in eastern Long Island....and what about the Latin Kings-- no drugs?



Latin Kings are Puerto Rican and are not immigrants.

Of course some Latinos exploit other Latinos. This occurs with all ethnicities. Instead of blaming the victim(s), Hazleton should be enacting tougher laws on greedy landlords who violate building codes. Tenant protections should be enacted regardless of citizenship status.

The situation on the East End is different from that of NE PA. In the East End, you don't have these endless sprawling communities full of newcomers fleeing high prices. The new construction is comparatively limited and only affordable to the wealthy seasonal market. This high-maintenance market attracts tons of immigrant laborers.

[donybrx]

new construction comparatively limited? HAHAHAHAH that's rich....

beyond that, you'd be surprised at the network of latinos who buy lower end houses and stuff 'em with hapless laboreres, or deliver fake appraisals to secure mortgages well over value , then walk away pocketing the cash only to buy more and repeat the process...... but yeah, they are yet another wave of those who came for profit and not the beauty of the place....

Hazleton doesn't in any way qualify as "endless sprawling community.....".

Have you set foot there?

As far as the Latin Kings and other gangs go,they have arrived. Where there's opportunity to do drug trading within the burgeoning hispanic community such as Hazleton's, gangs are going to show up.....what wisdom do you have for the city on that score?

Real estate values in Hazleton have tripled over the last few years...that's good for some, but not without chaos.....and no longer low cost....

[donybrx]

Suit against Hazleton 'illegals' ordinance....no surprise......'suits' mayor fine.....will cost moocho dinaro to defend. The next chapter begins.....
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on Wed, Aug. 16, 2006


HAZLETON ORDINANCE
Immigrant law draws federal suit
The plaintiffs say the law is unconstitutional, denying due process and equal protection. Mayor Barletta says city won’t be bullied.

By TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER tmorgan@leader.net

HAZLETON – A 26-year-old woman who was abused by her husband and now faces the prospect of being forced from her home.

A business owner who was forced to close her restaurant and is in danger of losing her grocery store.

A landlord who might face federal sanctions for trying to follow local laws.

They are not the criminals Mayor Lou Barletta says he’s targeting with the city’s Illegal Immigration Relief Act. But they will suffer the consequences of its implementation nonetheless, says a team of attorneys who on Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit challenging the ordinance.

The three city residents are among 11 private citizens and three business and charitable organizations that joined in filing the suit in federal court in Scranton. They are backed by 24 attorneys from three civil-rights organizations and five private law firms who are seeking to get the ordinance declared unconstitutional.

The ordinance, passed in July, makes English the official language in the city. It also makes it illegal for landlords to rent to illegal immigrants, employers to hire them and merchants to sell goods to them.

Landlords who violate it face fines up to $1,000 per day, and employers and merchants could lose their city business permits for five years.

The suit is the first, but it likely will not be the last, to challenge illegal-immigration ordinances that have been passed in several communities nationwide, said Cesar Perales, president of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, one of the groups that filed the suit.

The defense fund was joined in the suit by several branches of the American Civil Liberties Union and the Community Justice Project, as well as the law firms of Cozen O’Connor, Philadelphia, George Barron and Barry Dyller, both of Wilkes-Barre, David Vaida, Allentown, and Peter Winebrake, Philadelphia.

The suit says the ordinance violates multiple federal laws, including those that protect a person’s right to due process, equal protection and free speech and the federal Fair Housing Act. It seeks a court order to prevent the city from enforcing the ordinance, as well as compensatory damages for the plaintiffs and attorneys’ fees.

At a press conference Tuesday, Barletta said he remains confident the ordinance will be upheld, and vowed to take the case to “the highest courts in the United States.” He said is not intimated by opposing attorneys who he said have “boasted they will take us to court and bankrupt us.”

“We’re not going to be bullied,” he said, noting the city has set up a fund to accept donations for the legal defense of the ordinance.

Donations can be made through the Web site www.smalltowndefenders.com or mailed directly to Hazleton City Hall.

Barletta has repeatedly said the ordinance was necessary to rid the city of illegal immigrants, who he says are responsible for much of the crime that has plagued the city in recent years.

But the lawsuit says Barletta has provided no evidence to support that claim, the ordinance is poorly worded, and that it will lead to widespread discrimination.

“If the ordinance is allowed to stand, anyone who looks or sounds ‘foreign,’ regardless of their actual immigration status, will not be able to participate meaningfully in life in Hazleton,” the suit says.

For instance, the suit says “illegal alien” is so vaguely defined that it includes immigrants who are legally allowed to be in the U.S. under federal law – people like the 26-year-old woman, who might be forced to move from her home with her 5-year-old daughter because her landlord is uncertain of her residency status.

The woman, a native of the Dominican Republic who is identified as “Jane Doe 2,” was here on an expired visa when she married a U.S. resident.

Her husband planned to sponsor her for citizenship, but she left him in 2004 after he became physically abusive and he withdrew his support.

The woman is seeking a change in residency status under the Violence Against Women Act, which, under federal law, means she cannot be deported while the application is pending. But under Hazleton’s ordinance, she is considered an “illegal alien,” the suit says.

The suit includes four plaintiffs identified by name, and seven others who are identified as “John or Jane Doe.”

Among the plaintiffs who released their names is Rosa Lechuga, the owner of a grocery store and restaurant that catered to Latinos. Lechuga says she was forced to sell the restaurant because fear caused by the ordinance caused business drop from 45-130 customers per day to six or seven customers per day. The grocery store remains open, but it too has suffered, dropping from 95 to 130 customers per day to 20 to 23 per day.

The lawsuit also says the ordinance puts the burden of determining if a person is a legal resident on landlords, employers and merchants – a determination that is extremely complex and that neither they nor city officials are qualified to make.

Because of that, landlords, employers and merchants could be subject to sanctions under federal law should they deny services to a legal immigrant under the mistaken belief they are not legal.

That’s the fear of two of the other named plaintiffs, Pedro Lozano and Humberto Hernandez. Lozano owns multiple rental units in the city, and Hernandez owns a boarding house.

At Tuesday’s council meeting, the city took some steps to alleviate some of those concerns by passing on first reading a slightly different version of the ordinance.

The new version eliminates a section that could be interpreted to mean it would be illegal for business owners to provide goods and services to illegal immigrants.

The ordinance must be approved on two more council votes, which Barletta expects to happen at next month’s council meeting.

City Solicitor Chris Slusser said the change makes the ordinance even stronger and more likely to withstand a legal challenge.

West Hazleton resident William Walker asked how the ordinance would be enforced.

Regarding the employment of illegal immigrants, Barletta said city officials will not randomly go into businesses checking employees’ documentation. They would approach a business only if federal immigration agents raided such a business in the city, or if an illegal immigrant taken into custody by city police identified a city business as his or her employer.

He said employers will not be expected to take any additional steps other than what federal law now requires them to do to verify an employee’s eligibility for employment.

Barletta also stressed that landlords would not be required to check immigration documents. They would only be required to keep a city-issued occupancy permit on file for their tenants.

A separate landlord/tenant registration ordinance – approved on final reading at Tuesday’s council meeting – requires all tenants who wish to rent or lease a residence in the city to obtain a $10 occupancy permit from the city Code Enforcement Office.

The city will have an opportunity to respond to the suit. It will then go to a judge, who will rule on the ordinance’s constitutionality.

Times Leader Staff Writer Steve Mocarsky contributed to this report.

On the net

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Read the entire suit. Go to www.timesleader.com .


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Terrie Morgan-Besecker, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7179

[wrightchr]

gotta love the ACLU:rolleyes:

[vasiliymeshko]

:previous: Бє.... Повбивав би!!!!

[donybrx]

gotta love the ACLU:rolleyes:

Ironic to have the Bush administration and the ACLU in bed together on this issue.....one seeks to enable the fluid border problem, the other seeks to challenge those who would inhibit the enabling and the after-affects......

[wrightchr]

^ i think eventually, all citizens of this country will be required to carry a national identity card to prove citizenship...and it's a good idea IMO. if your here illegally than you shouldn't have a status at all...and that includes the right to rent property, maintain a job, etc. those profiting off of illegals should be excessively fined. Hezelton's ordinance is right on the money IMO and the sheer lack of any responsibility on the part of the federal government to enforce immigration laws should automatically be passed to state governments and local municipalities.

a recent article in the Pottsville newspapers cited an incident in which state police pulled over and detained several illegals along I-81...only to be released an hour later because there are not facilities or procedures to deal with non-citizens in this country. our immigration laws are worthless if they are not enforced...i think that is precisely the point Hazelton is trying to make. i don't think the ACLU or hispanic groups have a fight here...if anything, they should be supporting a large crackdown on illegals in this country....this whole issue only hurts their image with most Americans.

[donybrx]

Yeah, I tried to make the same point earlier...that Washington's failures/ or rhetorical inaction on this and so many issues have made it necessary for states and municipalities to take charge on their own behalf...and that's not a bad thing...this is a participatory government and it's high time people became fully involved again in their own affairs. I have no problem with the ACLU and any & all oppostion groups engaging this issue because the resultant tension and dialogue will get everything out on the table, the good, bad, ugly, just and unjust so that hopefully a responsible solution to the problems of overwhelming numbers of immigrants can be achieved where problems exist. And problems exist...more noticeably in small cities than in larger ones.

The real shame is that the countries from which the lions' share of illegals originate continue to maintain the political systems that keep such large numbers of people impoverished to begin with. Despicable (pay attention, fellow Amuricans.....). And it appears that Washington has cut a deal with Vicente Fox that gratifies 'big oil' with Mexican supplies in exchange for our accepting Mexican poor from across deliberately elastic borders....

As to the ACLU, I'm aware that the ACLU does some mystifying, even jawdropping things but they aren't always in the wrong and sometimes even benefit the rest of us in terms of civil rights. Surely, their efforts are no more peculiar or unacceptable than what's been coming out of Washington these days......

[frank_pentangeli]

blah blah blah

This is just going to cost Hazelton money. Fucking dopes, they deserve it.

[vasiliymeshko]

^ i think eventually, all citizens of this country will be required to carry a national identity card to prove citizenship...and it's a good idea IMO. if your here illegally than you shouldn't have a status at all...and that includes the right to rent property, maintain a job, etc. those profiting off of illegals should be excessively fined. Hezelton's ordinance is right on the money IMO and the sheer lack of any responsibility on the part of the federal government to enforce immigration laws should automatically be passed to state governments and local municipalities.

a recent article in the Pottsville newspapers cited an incident in which state police pulled over and detained several illegals along I-81...only to be released an hour later because there are not facilities or procedures to deal with non-citizens in this country. our immigration laws are worthless if they are not enforced...i think that is precisely the point Hazelton is trying to make. i don't think the ACLU or hispanic groups have a fight here...if anything, they should be supporting a large crackdown on illegals in this country....this whole issue only hurts their image with most Americans.

Coudn't have said it better myself.

[donybrx]

blah blah blah

This is just going to cost Hazelton money. Fucking dopes, they deserve it.

Sure wish I had all the answers, too ................

[Crawford]

^ i think eventually, all citizens of this country will be required to carry a national identity card to prove citizenship...and it's a good idea IMO. if your here illegally than you shouldn't have a status at all...and that includes the right to rent property, maintain a job, etc. those profiting off of illegals should be excessively fined. Hezelton's ordinance is right on the money IMO and the sheer lack of any responsibility on the part of the federal government to enforce immigration laws should automatically be passed to state governments and local municipalities.

a recent article in the Pottsville newspapers cited an incident in which state police pulled over and detained several illegals along I-81...only to be released an hour later because there are not facilities or procedures to deal with non-citizens in this country. our immigration laws are worthless if they are not enforced...i think that is precisely the point Hazelton is trying to make. i don't think the ACLU or hispanic groups have a fight here...if anything, they should be supporting a large crackdown on illegals in this country....this whole issue only hurts their image with most Americans.

More ignorant comments from a nativist. Turn off the Fox News and the CNN. You do not have to be a citizen to work legally in this country. Ever heard of a Green Card?

The fact is that most immigrants aren't citizens, nor are they illegal. Your failure to grasp this simple fact makes your comments misinformed.

Your attempt at instutiuting some Orwellian "Citizenship Card" wouldn't solve anything, as millions of people are in this country legally, yet are not citizens.

This discrepency (always ignored by nativist yahoos) shows that the "close the borders" crowd is motivated by nothing more than ignorance and hate.

[donybrx]

----------------------------------------------
Posted on Mon, Aug. 21, 2006

Hazleton’s Illegal immigration relief act
Barletta reinforced to defend law
Feds’ ex-chief immigration law adviser to help mayor in legal fight. Legal groups also to aid.

By STEVE MOCARSKY smocarsky@leader.net

HAZLETON – - HAZLETON – The city has hired the U.S. Attorney General’s former chief immigration law adviser to defend the city’s Illegal Immigration Relief Act ordinance in court.

Mayor Louis Barletta said on Sunday that he has also accepted offers of pro bono legal assistance on the case from two nonprofit legal foundations – Mountain States Legal Foundation and the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

Backed by 24 lawyers from three civil rights organizations and five private law firms, 11 individuals and three businesses and charitable organizations filed a lawsuit against the city last week in federal court in Scranton, seeking to have the ordinance declared unconstitutional.

The ordinance, passed in July, makes English the official language in the city, fines landlords $1,000 a day for knowingly renting to illegal aliens, and revokes business licenses of merchants who knowingly employ them.

Barletta said he sought help from Kris W. Kobach, an immigration attorney and professor of law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, and Kobach agreed to take the case.

A graduate of Harvard and Oxford universities and Yale Law School, Kobach was appointed Attorney General John Ashcroft’s chief adviser on immigration law and border security in 2001. After the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Kobach was put in charge of Department of Justice efforts to tighten border security and “return the rule of law to immigration,” according to his biography on the university Web site.

Kobach has testified before Congress many times, usually on questions involving immigration law. He has also testified more than a dozen times before various state legislatures on the constitutionality of proposed legislation.

In a telephone interview on Sunday, Kobach said he decided to honor Barletta’s request to take the case because he’s “been involved in immigration law enforcement for a long time, both in the U.S. Department of Justice, and as a private attorney who believes we need to enforce our immigration laws.”

“When Hazleton took the lead in passing this ordinance, I felt it was important to be defended and wanted to offer my services to do so,” Kobach said.

“I believe that discouraging employers from hiring illegal aliens is one of the most important things that a local or state entity can do to support the federal government in restoring the rule of law in immigration. Jobs are the magnets that lure illegal aliens into this country,” Kobach said.

Regarding the landlord provisions in the ordinance, Kobach said that “for decades, it has been a crime under federal law to harbor illegal aliens. A fundamental component of harboring is knowingly providing housing to illegal aliens. And this local statute reinforces federal law in that respect.”

And regarding English as the official language of the city, Kobach said “more than 20 states already have a law on the books making English the official language of the state. Those laws have been tested in court and they have been upheld.”

Kobach said he agreed to accept reduced rates for his legal fees because “Hazleton is not a big city and does not have legions of lawyers and the kind of tax base to throw tons of money at this. I wanted to help in any way that I can, and one way is to offer a rate that’s less expensive than a Philadelphia law firm.”

Fortunately for Barletta and the city’s coffers, officials from the Mountain States Legal Foundation and the Federation for American Immigration Reform, or FAIR, have offered free additional legal assistance.

FAIR’s Web site identifies it as an immigration reform group whose 200,000 members and supporters fund “research, public education, media outreach, grassroots organizing, government relations, litigation and advocacy at the national, state and local levels.”

The site boasts that FAIR’s publications and research are used by academics and government officials in preparing new legislation, and that the organization has been called to testify on immigration bills before Congress more than any organization in America.

Barletta said Kobach had been in contact with FAIR officials during the weekend, and they have signed on board.

Mountain States, according to its Web site, is “a nonprofit, public interest law firm” that “undertakes nationally significant public interest litigation, throughout the country, without charge on behalf of deserving clients.”

Current high-profile cases in which Mountain States is assisting in the representation of government entities include:

• Maria Gonzalez and others versus the state of Arizona and others – at issue is whether Arizona may require proof positive of U.S. citizenship in order to vote in state elections.

• Forum for Academic and Institutional Rights versus Secretary of State Donald Rumsfeld and five other Cabinet officers – at issue is whether Congress may condition federal funding upon the willingness of colleges and universities to permit military recruiters upon their campuses.

Barletta said Mountain States’ president and chief legal officer William Perry Pendley flew in from Colorado and met with him on Friday to discuss the case.

“I believe this is the best immigration law team we could put together. They’re the top in their field and have vast experience in the issue,” Barletta said.

Barletta said he will continue to solicit donations for the Hazleton Legal Defense Fun through the Web site www.smalltowndefenders.com to cover Kobach’s fees. If the city loses the lawsuit, it could be responsible for paying the plaintiffs’ legal fees as well.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Steve Mocarsky, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 459-2005.





--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

© 2006 Times Leader and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.timesleader.com

[donybrx]

More ignorant comments from a nativist. Turn off the Fox News and the CNN. You do not have to be a citizen to work legally in this country. Ever heard of a Green Card?

The fact is that most immigrants aren't citizens, nor are they illegal. Your failure to grasp this simple fact makes your comments misinformed.

Your attempt at instutiuting some Orwellian "Citizenship Card" wouldn't solve anything, as millions of people are in this country legally, yet are not citizens.

This discrepency (always ignored by nativist yahoos) shows that the "close the borders" crowd is motivated by nothing more than ignorance and hate.


Please steer clear of attacks, everybody. Nothing is gained by not paying attention as this plays out with Hazleton as the national focus, how this evolves and plays out complete with messages and informing dialog for each side of the argument(s).....

Hazleton is actually having some serious problems of some nature. How about staying open to the nature, extent and significance of those problems and offering constructive soultions as they become revealed rather than making attacks?

[wrightchr]

More ignorant comments from a nativist. Turn off the Fox News and the CNN. You do not have to be a citizen to work legally in this country. Ever heard of a Green Card?

The fact is that most immigrants aren't citizens, nor are they illegal. Your failure to grasp this simple fact makes your comments misinformed.

Your attempt at instutiuting some Orwellian "Citizenship Card" wouldn't solve anything, as millions of people are in this country legally, yet are not citizens.

This discrepency (always ignored by nativist yahoos) shows that the "close the borders" crowd is motivated by nothing more than ignorance and hate.

since your comments are an obvious attack on my thoughts...i'll forgive your ignorance if only because i see your from cambridge/brooklyn. it explains quite a bit! your obviously one of the haters on this forum....so i'll ask you nicely to just keep your negative comments to yourself.

to get back on topic, the entire argument over illegals in this country isn't focused on those here legally...ie: with green cards like you explained. it isn't focused on those who follow immigration regulations when they enter the country and isn't focused on the thousands of non-citizens who serve in our nations armed forces. yes...you don't even have to be a citizen of this country to serve in the military. it's a privilege to be a citizen of the united states and i think millions of Americans take it just a seriously. that said...the fact remains that most of the immigrants in this country are here illegally. estimates range anywhere from 10 to 15 million illegals in the US at any one time. that's roughly 2% of our population. this represents a huge problem for cities like Hazelton...which have surcome to an overwhelming rise in population directly resulting from the migration of illegals.

[frank_pentangeli]

Do you realize a ton of illegal immigrants have simply outstayed their visas because of the connections they've made in their circle of life?

[donybrx]

Actually estimates go as high or higher than 20 million illegals and the criticism is that pre-existing laws haven't been enforced at all . People have become concerned that the trend will escalate unabated and become unhandlable at some point, maybe soon. People are also very conflicted....most are empathic to the overwhelming poverty driving immigration, but are also unwilling to be presented with unmanageable burdens here at home.
Hazleton, of all places, is the focus of efforts, perhaps clumsy, to get a grip
on the matter, especially since the rise in immigration there has set off a corresponding rise in violent crime...and it has...it's documented.

I'm no strident law & order guy....I grew up aound people who went out of their way to not offend their neighbors, laws were mostly respected, enforcement wasn't so necessary....times have changed..there's a sense of lawlessness in the nation, from speeding to drugs, greed, self serving attitudes...... I see a crying need to pull back from this crap and
draw folks back into doing their best.....and soon. If not, the USA stands to lose competitively and in world esteem irreparably. We used to be strong, brave, generous, and a model for fairness. We are now being seen as greedy,
self-serving and a cash cow for the rest of the world as they buy our debt,
run our ports and industries, pour into us to grab what they can and watch as we become a fully consumer nation.

The return of our relative 'greatness' starts in our communties....the Hazletons.......their community health, purposefulness, orderliness and integrity are that foundation. The illegals warrant assitance especially those who aren't criminalistic (beyond illegal entry)...but there's got to be a better solution for them here and preferably in their countries of origin....

[donybrx]

The next round begins: momentary 'truce', but mobilization begins..........

1)on the pro-illegals, anti-Hazleton ordinance side:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on Sat, Sep. 02, 2006

Truce reached over illegal-immigrant law
Hazleton won’t enforce ordinance and opponents won’t seek injunction.

By JOHN DAVIDSON jdavidson@leader.net

HAZLETON – Opponents of Mayor Lou Barletta’s Illegal Immigration Relief Act agreed Friday not to seek an injunction against the city in exchange for a written guarantee from the city not to enforce the ordinance as it is currently written.

But even as a consortium of attorneys led by the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund trumpeted the city’s withdrawal as a victory, Hazleton Solicitor Chris Slusser said the city agreed to the truce only in order to tweak the law’s language.

“The previous ordinance was defensible but this makes it bulletproof,” he said. “We’ve always had a ship that floats but now we’re putting an iron cladding on it.”

The ordinance has been revised three times since it was passed in July amid fierce controversy; the latest version will go before city council for a vote next week.

In a court conference Friday, attorneys for the city and Puerto Rican fund struck a deal before U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley in Scranton. The agreement states the city won’t enforce the current ordinance, which punishes landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and employers who hire them, and also penalizes merchants who sell goods to illegals. The law also makes English the official language in the city. It was supposed to take effect Sept. 11.

Specifically, Friday’s signed court order mandates a 20-day waiting period to enforce the revised version after it passes in order to give opponents time to review it and, if they choose, file another lawsuit or seek an injunction to stop enforcement.

Slusser said the new version of the Illegal Immigration Relief Act simply will change some language but retain key provisions of the original. In a statement Friday, Barletta said he “won’t back down” from challengers and that Friday’s hearing will “have no affect on what the City of Hazleton will do.”

Foster Maer, a spokesman for the Puerto Rican fund, called Friday’s agreement “a great step forward” for opponents of the act but declined to comment in detail about future litigation, saying only if the city seeks to enact an immigration law similar to the one it passed in July, his group would file a federal suit.

“Obviously we think any law that a locality passes that attempts to create its own immigration policy is a violation of federal law and violates the constitution,” Maer said. “We would seek to stop it going into effect as we did before.”

Last month, 11 private citizens and three business and charitable organizations joined in filing a federal lawsuit in federal court in Scranton. They are backed by 24 attorneys from three civil-rights organizations and five private law firms who are seeking to get the ordinance declared unconstitutional.

Since it passed in July, Hazleton’s illegal-immigration ordinance has drawn national attention and prompted a host of municipalities across the country to look into enacting their own illegal-immigration laws.

Slusser said the reason for the multiple revisions of the ordinance is due to mounting anticipation that the case will wind up in the United States Supreme Court.

2)..............and on the pro-Hazleton anti-illegals side:

09/03/2006
Hazleton gets more legal help
BY WADE MALCOLM
STAFF WRITER

The publicity of a high-profile legal battle has opened doors for Hazleton in its effort to defend the controversial Illegal Immigration Relief Act.

A nationally known immigration lawyer contacted Hazleton, offering to work at a reduced rate. Two advocacy groups have lent services free of charge. And donations from supporters across the country, according to Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, have flowed into Hazleton’s bank account.

Now, the city embroiled in debate national over illegal immigration policy has help from a more traditional source: its insurance policy.

Scottsdale Insurance Co., carriers of Hazleton’s liability insurance policy, has appointed a Philadelphia law firm to help represent the city against a federal lawsuit filed on behalf of several plaintiffs by a group of advocacy groups and local attorneys.

Hazleton will receive through its insurance policy free legal help from Deasey, Mahoney & Bender Ltd., a firm known for defending against civil rights litigation, according to City Solicitor Christopher Slusser.

The city notified its insurance provider shortly after the lawsuit was filed, Slusser said, and the counsel was assigned to Hazleton at no additional cost.

It is also the city’s hope that insurance will cover damages if Hazleton loses the suit.

While the insurance company has not explicitly told Hazleton it would do this, Slusser said the city anticipates that will be the case, considering Scottsdale’s willingness to provide legal help. The company, though, could offer legal help while limiting the damages it will cover.

“But at this time, it appears Scottsdale is offering us coverage for this claim,” Slusser said.

Attorneys at the law firm did not return phone calls Friday.

The Philadelphia firm will team with the rest of Hazleton’s established legal team: law school professor and former counsel to the U.S Attorney General Kris Kobach; national advocacy group the Federation for American Immigration Reform; and the Mountain States Legal Foundation.

“Typically in large cases like this, you need division of labor,” Kobach said. “The more hands, the better.”

That statement is certainly also true of the plaintiffs’ stocked legal lineup, which includes the American Civil Liberties Union, the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, other advocacy groups and several local attorneys. On Friday, the two sides signed a procedural agreement in federal court. The city agreed not to enforce illegal immigration ordinances passed in July and August, while the plaintiffs agreed to file an injunction against those ordinances.

Hazleton City Council is expected to pass a new, more-intricately worded ordinance this month, against which the plaintiffs could, and likely will, file an injunction.

wmalcolm@citizensvoice.com

[Ex-Ithacan]

Wow, I guess this is going to heat up before it ever fades away.

[donybrx]

UPDATE on Hazleton:

1) Amended Illegal Immigrant Law passes

http://www.standardspeaker.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2851&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=0

but it isn't all serious and contentious as Hazleton par-tays with 100,00 people

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/local/15490039.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

and to a Latino beat!!!

http://www.standardspeaker.com/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2880&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=0

[donybrx]

Law drives up English class attendance
Thursday, 19 October 2006
By KENT JACKSON
Standard-Speaker
The arrival of immigrants and an ordinance that makes English the official language of Hazleton’s government has created a waiting list of people hoping to take classes in English as a second language.

Lisa Levitsky said about 35 people are learning English, and 20 more are waiting to enter the program that she coordinates through Catholic Social Services.
To teach more students, Levitsky wants more tutors to volunteer.
She scheduled training classes for tutors on consecutive Saturdays, Oct. 28 and Nov. 4. The training will be at the offices of the United Way of Greater Hazleton, 134 S. Wyoming St., from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lunch will be provided each day.
Clergy in the Hazleton ministerium asked members of their houses of worship to volunteer.
So far 21 people signed up, including one person who called while Levitsky sat for an interview in her office Wednesday afternoon.
When students ask to enter the program, Levitsky asks why they want to learn English.
To some, the question is silly.
“Why wouldn’t they want to?” Levitsky said they tell her.
Others say they want to help their children with homework.
Since Hazleton proposed an English-only ordinance that was signed into law on Sept. 21 Levitsky said she has been hearing a different answer: “Because I have to.”
The Hazleton law pertains to forms, ordinances and official documents used by the city government.
Outside of government, the ordinance has no effect so people can speak and post signs in any language that they want to use around the city.
Levitsky said life gets easier for the students after they learn English.
“Many have been able to get through life, but it’s always been a struggle. It will open many doors that were closed before,” she said. “Now they can do whatever they want to – further careers, go to school, many of the things we take for granted, go to a store. How about knowing what you’re buying? Even when a child comes to you and says, ‘Dad, what’s this word?’ It’s a sense of pride and accomplishment.”
Students and tutors have been getting together since organizers including Barbara Sugarman, James Reinmiller, Herb Nash and Elaine Bartlinski formed the Hazleton Area Literacy Volunteer Program, which Sugarman directed from 1990 to 1997.
Initially, the program helped people learn to read, write, or earn a high school equivalency degree, but it expanded to offer English as a second language.
Students are 17 and older; the oldest now is in his 60s, Levitsky said. They have hailed from several countries, although most of the recent students speak Spanish. Typically, they meet with their tutors once or twice a week for an hour to 90 minutes each time and stay in classes until they meet their goals.
Laurie Tevlin-Klemow of the Jewish Community Center ran the program from 1997 until June when she handed it off to Levitsky at Catholic Social Services.
“With the need in the community, it needed an agency that’s open more. Catholic Social Services is open from (9 a.m.) to 5 (p.m.,)” Tevlin-Klemow said.
She continues to volunteer as a tutor, and taught one teenager from the Sudan. When he was 9, after his father and uncle were killed, he walked to Kenya with his brother, who died on the trek, and a cousin. For nine years, he lived in a United Nations refugee camp before a church group brought him to Richmond, Va.
In Richmond, he saw an advertisement for the Keystone Job Corps Center in Drums and enrolled. Through Keystone, he was paired with Tevlin-Klemow who helped him learn English and earn a high school diploma.
“He’s back in Richmond, working as a cashier at Wal-Mart. He’s doing OK,” said Tevlin-Klemow, who now has a new student: an accountant from Colombia.


Volunteers who want to take the training course to become tutors can call Levitsky at 455-1521 ext. 337.

[donybrx]

The next step in the process. Wonder how all this will eventually play out.........?


Posted on Wed, Nov. 01, 2006
Hazleton ordinances-- Immigrant laws’ debut is blocked
On eve of laws taking effect, restraining order issued through Nov. 14.

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press Writer

ALLENTOWN — A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the city of Hazleton from enforcing a pair of ordinances targeting illegal immigrants, just hours before the measures were to go into effect.

The measures, approved by City Council last month, would have imposed fines on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants and denied business permits to companies that give them jobs. They also would have required tenants to register with City Hall and pay for a rental permit.

U.S. District Judge James Munley ruled that landlords, tenants and businesses that cater to Hispanics faced “irreparable harm” from the laws and issued a temporary restraining order blocking their enforcement.

“We find it in the public interest to protect residents’ access to homes, education, jobs and businesses,” he wrote in a 13-page opinion.

Hispanic groups and the ACLU sued Hazleton on Monday, contending that the laws trample on the federal government’s exclusive power to regulate immigration.

The plaintiffs include the Hazleton Hispanic Business Association, landlords, a restaurateur and several illegal immigrants facing eviction, including children who attend public schools.

Dr. Agapito Lopez, a leader in Hazleton’s Latino community, said Tuesday he was “overjoyed” at the news of the injunction. “All the Latinos here have been very expectant and have been calling me about this.”

Lopez said most Latino-owned businesses have suffered since the ordinance became an issue. One plaintiff in the lawsuit, Lopez said, had to close his restaurant because of lost business.

Mayor Lou Barletta, who spearheaded the crackdown, has argued that illegal immigrants have brought an increase in drugs, crime and gangs to the city. The city’s lawyers on Tuesday cited a 10 percent increase in crime between 2004 and 2005 as a reason why the ordinances should be enforced.

Munley, however, wrote that the city “offers only vague generalizations about the crime allegedly caused by illegal immigrants, but has nothing concrete to back up these claims.” The city also failed to provide statistics on the number of illegal immigrants living in Hazleton, he wrote.

Furthermore, Munley wrote, the plaintiffs have a “reasonable probability” of getting the laws declared unconstitutional.

Hazleton’s crackdown, which was announced in June, has spurred other towns to pass similar laws. Municipal officials view the Hazleton lawsuit and a similar one in Riverside, N.J., as test cases.

Witold J. Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, hailed Tuesday’s decision as an important victory.

“I think what’s important is the judge recognized that this ordinance has the potential to cause real harm by costing people their jobs, their houses and requiring children to leave schools,” he said.

The judge’s restraining order expires Nov. 14. He indicated that he will schedule a hearing on the ACLU’s motion for a temporary injunction.

Lopez said the Hazleton Area Latino Taskforce, which he helped form to fight passage of the ordinance, will now work to get a permanent injunction until the case is decided in federal court. If the group can’t get a permanent injunction it will continue seeking temporary ones, he said.

“I am very confident that the lawsuit will prevail,” he said. “I think it will go to the Supreme Court because this will set a precedent for the rest of the nation.”

Barletta said he is convinced the courts will ultimately uphold the law. He noted his lawyers had only a few hours to prepare for Tuesday’s hearing and said he is confident they will “prove our right to defend and protect our citizens.”

“I’m not discouraged. They may have delayed enforcement for now, but this too shall pass,” Barletta said. “We have only begun to fight.”

Times Leader staff writer John Davidson contributed to this report.

[frank_pentangeli]

LOL, I called it.

[donybrx]

And how wonderful are you? lol

Actually, I think that it was anticipated that the legalities would process out in just this way FP......it's still playing out...and will be for awhile...

BTW how's things in poor old Reading.....??? Recent headlines not so hot...what's your take on all that? Is crime that rampant. Can it be relieved?
What's the problem there?

[donybrx]

A segue, for sure, but Hazleton's other claim to fame.... tough guy/actor/Oscar winner Jack Palance died yesterday..........Just a couple of weeks back a huge three day auction of the contents of his 'farm' in nearby Conyngham Valley was held......

[donybrx]

Gang Unit in the works.........


More Cops Coming to Hazleton

Tuesday, December 12, 11:00 p.m.
By Bob Reynolds

Ten new police officers will be added to the police department in Hazleton next year, according to officials at city hall. They hope more cops will mean a safer city.

There are 30 police officers on the force in Hazleton, and ten more will be hired next year to serve and protect residents. They will be in uniform and undercover. The mayor says the new officers will help battle the city's rising crime.

"The purpose of the gang unit will be to identify different gangs who are trying to locate here and establish their turf," Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta explained.

Last year, police converged on a sporting goods store in Hazleton. Several armed men had attacked employees, pistol whipped some of them and made off with guns.

Some in Hazleton are glad the police force will be increased.

"They needed more help more coverage in town and it's always good to have more police on hand and even for back up when they need them," Tom Wagner said.

"To think that they'll have 10 more cops in 2007, that is just fantastic!" added Blaise Greco.

The mayor said some high profile crimes have pushed the police budget in the red because of overtime. The mayor said the funding for the police salaries will come from dredge material that will be put one area of the city. The city will be getting two dollars for every ton.

"The city is seeing a deficit as we speak right now. There's nothing more important to me than making sure that the people of Hazleton are safe," Mayor Barletta said.

[donybrx]

Potential political shift in Hazleton as the situation evolves........


02/26/2007
Five Hispanic political hopefuls on ballot for Hazleton offices
BY WADE MALCOLM
STAFF WRITER


HAZLETON — Sparked into action by the city’s efforts to curb illegal immigrants, five local Latino citizens plan to seek elective offices this year.


Business owners Amilcar Arroyo and Luisa Sandoval, as well as Anna Arias, a family outreach coordinator for Catholic Social Services, announced they will join retired eye doctor Agapito Lopez in running for Hazleton Area School Board seats.

Real estate company owner Rudy Espinal, a Democrat, also declared his intention to run for one of two City Council seats open for election this year.

The Latinos still hope to find candidates for the other council seat and to challenge Republican Mayor Lou Barletta in his bid for a third term.

Council President Joseph Yanuzzi and Councilwoman Evelyn Graham, both Republicans whose terms expire at the end of the year, are seeking re-election.

The Latinos announced their intentions during a gathering Friday at a local restaurant, where about two dozen people met to hear them.

All four School Board candidates said they plan to cross-file for Democratic and Republican ballot spots in the May 15 primary election.

With less than two weeks left to file nomination petitions, the local Hispanic population is still a loosely organized group, lean on political experience. Despite the uphill climb they face, they say they said they are jumping into politics for the good of their community. As a large part of the population, Latinos should have representation in local government, the candidates said.

Their distaste for Mr. Barletta’s ordinances targeting illegal immigrants spurred their decisions.

Ms. Arias, a member of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Latino Affairs, said she did not agree to run for School Board until shown a campaign sign Mr. Arroyo made for her.

“The community wants me to do it, and I owe it to the community,” Ms. Arias said. “We have to try to change things.”

The meeting was held at the Crystal Barbeque on East Broad Street, one of many new Hispanic-owned businesses dotting the downtown.

Contact the writer: wmalcolm@citizensvoice.com



©The Times-Tribune 2007

[wanderer34]

Sharing my two cents here on Hazleton and teh "illegal" immigrant situation. I would rather welcome the Dominicans, Colombians, and Mexicans to Easton, PA or to Phillipsburg, NJ than to freakin' Hazleton. That mayor is making all of PA look bad, IMO. I hope that city goes into some type of recession for his deeds, similar to what's going on in Riverside, NJ. In other words, we don't need this, but then, you reap what you sow!!!

[Halovet]

Sharing my two cents here on Hazleton and teh "illegal" immigrant situation. I would rather welcome the Dominicans, Colombians, and Mexicans to Easton, PA or to Phillipsburg, NJ than to freakin' Hazleton. That mayor is making all of PA look bad, IMO. I hope that city goes into some type of recession for his deeds, similar to what's going on in Riverside, NJ. In other words, we don't need this, but then, you reap what you sow!!!On the contrary, The Mayor is getting tons of support from a great deal of people all over the US.. THANK GOD FOR LOU DOBBS!:banana:

[frank_pentangeli]

Lou Barletta does not need facts to believe what he feels in his gut about those brown peoples!

[donybrx]

^^^^^^Yes. he should follow Reading's example.......

One thing the discourse does not need...the New Jersey (yes NJ) KKK's muscling in....the case was heard last week- all week- in Scranton and the judge will render his opinion in a while...not shortly.....a matter of months, I hear.

Barletta has emphatically rejected any KKK presence.in Hazleton.....
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on Tue, Mar. 27, 2007

OUR OPINION
KKK’s intrusion in debate over immigrants worrisome


THE KU KLUX Klan’s desire to demonstrate in Hazleton should alarm every area resident, no matter where they stand on the immigration debate.

The KKK spreads a message of hate. Historically, its members have condoned, and in some cases, committed, acts of violence such as beatings and killings.

When broadcast from the streets of a Luzerne County city, the KKK’s distorted views will serve only to stoke the fears of people with a thin grasp of immigration policy and the U.S. Constitution. Rather than discuss ways to resolve a complex issue, those people will become more prone to lash out at individuals with an opposite viewpoint – or a different skin tone.

In the process, Latino individuals born and raised in the United States of America might very well become the target of ethnic slurs, intimidation and other forms of discrimination.

That sort of bad behavior is un-American.

And illegal.

[frank_pentangeli]

He created a wedge issue to garner fame and votes. Period.

Why you would bring up Reading is beyond me, except that you can't defend Barletta's complete lack of evidence, statistics, or research. He went on gut feeling. Guts don't prove anything except to people already willing to point the finger at an underrepresented minority population for imaginary or overblown problems.

[donybrx]

because you never have anything constructive to say beyond critical, condemantion. So, I thought I'd tap you to find out what things Reading is doing that Hazleton might emulate to improve it's overall status suspecting that Reading is a relative mess...relative to the days when it was a thriving middle class city. Nothing would make me happier to see Reading, Hazleton and the rest of these old burgs returned to productive vitality but it will take a lot of leadership, wisdom, time, energy and in particular the will of the residents to make it happen. I don't see Reading setting that kind of example and I doubt that the will of the resident population is cohesive enough....and becoming less so with time....

As far as Barletta is concerned I'm definitely not in complete agreement with him but not willing to call him 100% opportunistic in the way that you do with a thundering period so as to close the discussion. That's the kind of tactic you accuse Barletta of practicing.......

This matter isn't simple as I've noted before...the solution is in the process, the process is ongoing.......

...and it's worth noting that within the property transfers (over $50,000) published by the Times-Leader among all Luzerne County municipalities---and there are many.....Hazleton had the largest number of transfers for the month; most of the purchasers havs hispanic surnames......so the anti-illegal activities haven't hampered the in-migrant interest in Hazleton particularly.

My sense of it is that with all the pending jobs in the Hazleton area, by virtue of the various new facilities on the boards---Coca Cola, ADM, etc.,, plus the (shaky) prospect of a giant cargo ariport) there are those who will invest in local real estate in order to take advantage of the growth and of the illegal laborers (the ones who truly do suffer the most at the behest of the business interests who pay them poorly to service their own profit sheets).

[frank_pentangeli]

Reading is a city with a lot of divergent opinions and agendas, just like any city in the nation. And you want it to 'lead' on some made-up issue about immigration? I see firsthand how the lowest on the totem pole live in our fair state, and it's not good. That's not each city's individual fault, that's not the specific fault of anyone, that's just the way the cookie has been crumbling. Market forces are not some thing that can magically change because of one mayor's initatives. It takes decades to decline/prosper through the collective will of the people(which can't happen with so much diversity in thought). Either that, or you need a corrupt son of a bitch like RIchard Daley. And who REALLY wants to give up democracy?

I'm not really sure what you're going for here, and still don't get why you brought up Reading. I still believe it was a 'look over there, you guys suck worse' talking point. FWIW, crime is down 35% in Reading in 2007 after being down 8% in 2006, there are many new jobs coming into the city, and property values are up. The abnormal rate of auto thefts made it the most dangerous city in the state, when it actually had lower rates of violent crime than several other cities.
BUt all of that means very little. It could've been the result of a concerted effort by the mayor's office, city council and the county commisioners. Or it could've been a police crackdown on drug flow. Or it could just be random shit luck. No one ACTUALLY knows, and to pinpoint a reason for the success is just stupid, just as it makes no sense to try and pinpoint one huge 'reason' that a city is struggling(i.e. Barletta with Hazelton).

Huge sweeping forces are much more powerful than we individuals could ever be. Our little reasons why certain citie are failing are almost moot. The simple fact of westward migration in the past 60 years has done in Pennsylvania. We can't really stop either of these things because people in the US have been taught to search for greener pastures constantly, whether they need it or not. People moved west. That's all there is to it. We have to move past the past and forget what cities used to be. Those cities are gone.

[donybrx]

Whatever the case, you should consider starting a serious Reading thread since it's Reading that you know ....

Hazleton is another matter in some ways, smaller but poised for anything from a sea change to little more than mega warehousing district......and it'll take time to see how it unfolds......I have patience....

[donybrx]

Hazleton going national ....should be a lulu, eh?

Dobbs to broadcast live shows from Hazleton

SUGARLOAF TWP. – CNN anchor Lou Dobbs and his crew will be in the Hazleton area on Wednesday to broadcast two live shows on immigration issues, and Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta will be a featured panelist.

CNN will first broadcast “Lou Dobbs Tonight” from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Penn State Hazleton campus. A live town meeting focusing on the impact of illegal immigration in the Hazleton area will follow, airing 8 to 9 p.m.

Barletta and the city garnered national attention and have remained in the spotlight ever since the mayor proposed and council passed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act last summer.

The act and a related ordinance would fine landlords who rent to illegal immigrants, suspend the licenses of businesses that employ them and require all city tenants to show proof of legal residency status. The laws’ constitutionality was challenged in court and a decision is pending from a federal judge.

In addition to the focus on Hazleton, an expanded dialogue will look at the effects of illegal immigration on cities and towns across America. A panel of experts will discuss border security, community activism and the effect of corporate complicity on illegal immigration.

Dobbs will facilitate discussion among the panelists, who, in addition to Barletta, will include:

• George Grayson, a professor at the College of William and Mary

• Robert Rector, a senior research fellow with the Heritage Foundation

• Kris Kobach, a law professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Hazleton’s lead counsel for the Relief Act trial in March

• T.J. Bonner, president of the National Border Patrol Council

• John Trasvina, president of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund

• Brent Wilkes, national executive director of the League of United Latin American Citizens

• Russell Pearce, an Arizona state representative

• Sheriff Ralph Ogden, of Yuma, Ariz.

A live, invitation-only audience will also participate in the dialogue.

Penn State Hazleton Chancellor John Madden said the campus “is here to provide an opportunity for the exchange of ideas. It is my hope that work that has been and is being done out of the media spotlight emerges through this forum,” he said.

[Hoplite330]

I met Barletta once we bought a property from him a year ago. When I met him he was wearing dirty jeans and tee shirt and very casual so it's funny to see him all professional looking on national news. He named a road in Hazleton after himself. He is kind of weird.

[donybrx]

Fairly Big News at this juncture. nation will be watching:

Hazleton's illegal immigration ordinance decision expected tomorrow
07/25/2007

Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta is cutting a family vacation short and planning a press conference in anticipation that a federal judge will issue a ruling on Hazleton's illegal immigration ordinance tomorrow afternoon, the mayor
said.


"We've waited a long time," said Barletta, who plans to speak at 4 p.m. in the Hazleton City Council chambers. "I'm anxious to hear the decision and move on one way or the other."

Hazleton has been at the heart of a national debate ever since July 2006 when it passed an ordinance punishing landlords and employers for doing business with illegal immigrants. A separate ordinance makes English the official language. Hundreds of municipalities around the country - and at least two dozen in Northeastern Pennsylvania - passed or considered copycat laws.

The American Civil Liberties Union and several other advocacy groups sued the city in federal court on behalf of several residents and community groups, arguing the ordinance infringed on the civil rights of Latinos and the federal government's sole authority to regulate immigration.

A nine-day trial was held in March at the William J. Nealon Federal Building in Scranton.

Tomorrow's anticipated decision could set the legal precedent for whether local governments can pass laws dealing with illegal immigration.

[donybrx]

Hazleton Immigration Ordinance Struck Down

Thursday, July 26, UPDATED: 1:55 p.m.

Hazleton's illegal immigration law, which has drawn national attention, has been struck down by a federal judge in Scranton.

In the ruling issued Thursday afternoon, Judge James Munley declared the Hazleton's Illegal Immigration Relief Act unconstitutional on grounds that the federal government has authority over immigration issues.


Hazleton passed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act in July 2006. It was intended to crackdown on illegal immigrant in the city by punishing landlords who rented to illegals and businesses who hired them. Because of legal challenges by immigrant rights groups, the law was never enforced. The case went to court in March in a trial that lasted nine days.

Newswatch 16 has a crew at the federal courthouse in Scranton and a crew in Hazleton. We will have complete coverage on Newswatch 16 beginning at 5 p.m.

The question next becomes, who compels the Feds to enforce exisitng laws which since not having been enforced have put other jurisdictions in an awkward postion to take action......? Or at least to review those laws and refine them, as fitting?????



Send questions or comments about this web site to webmaster@wnep.com.
All content © Copyright 2002 - 2007 WorldNow and WNEP. All Rights Reserve

[Halovet]

Hazleton Immigration Ordinance Struck Down

Thursday, July 26, UPDATED: 1:55 p.m.

Hazleton's illegal immigration law, which has drawn national attention, has been struck down by a federal judge in Scranton.

In the ruling issued Thursday afternoon, Judge James Munley declared the Hazleton's Illegal Immigration Relief Act unconstitutional on grounds that the federal government has authority over immigration issues.
Which means Lil Bush is in charge of protecting our borders. I believe he also picks Federal Judges. NICELY DONE!:koko: :hell: Honestly, he (Bush) is like a little kid in a Fucking Candy store. Straight Reckless. The Feds are just giving the sovergnty of this country away to Mexico. I guess the thought of cheap labor and authentic Tacos on every corner is just to attractive to give up on.
It's going to get to the point where folks are going to resort to "hometown justice" and Racial tension really does grow, and all because This administration is turning a blind eye to securing our borders and stemming the flow of illegal immigration. All I know is, THEY GAVE HIM A 2ND TERM! UNREAL!:goodnight: :stunned:

[Evergrey]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07224/808851-178.stm

Mayor, known for immigrant stand, may run for Congress

Popular with voters in Hazleton, Louis Barletta eyes campaign against Democratic Congressman

Sunday, August 12, 2007

By Milan Simonich, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Hazleton, Pa., Mayor Louis Barletta, whose visibility is unusually high because of his campaign against undocumented workers and their families says he will decide by January whether to run for Congress in 2008.

http://www.post-gazette.com/images4/20070812mf_hazelton1_230.jpg

"I'm giving it serious consideration," said Mr. Barletta, a Republican. "I like being mayor, but everybody knows I've been disappointed by Washington's inaction on immigration reform."

Rob Gleason, chairman of the Republican Party of Pennsylvania, said Mr. Barletta is probably the only challenger who could unseat Democratic U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski, who has represented a Northeastern Pennsylvania district since 1985.

"We like Lou a lot. He'd be a great candidate, and I've been urging him to run," said Mr. Gleason, of Johnstown.

Mr. Barletta in 2002 lost to Mr. Kanjorski by 22,000 votes out of 164,000 cast. But Mr. Barletta is much better known today because of attempts to drive undocumented workers and their families out of Hazleton through city ordinances.

U.S. District Judge James Munley last month struck down the Hazleton laws as unconstitutional, saying immigration enforcement is the federal government's job. Hazleton plans to appeal.

One ordinance would have required every renter in Hazleton to obtain a residency permit from city hall. Another would have punished businesses that hired undocumented workers and landlords who rented to them.

Mr. Barletta said Hazleton's ordinances would have supplemented -- not supplanted -- federal immigration law.

Local immigration ordinances have been springing up all over the country, but Hazleton's law was the first to go to trial and the one that commanded national attention. Mr. Barletta, 51, was featured on "60 Minutes" and has become a semi-regular on television talk shows, such as "Lou Dobbs Tonight" on CNN.

"Before, nobody outside of Hazleton knew who Barletta was. I don't know too many mayors who have gotten on TV the way he has," said Cesar Perales, president of the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, and one of Mr. Barletta's toughest critics.

The mayor said Hazleton, a city of 22,000, is being ruined by undocumented newcomers. During the trial, he testified that violent crime, drug dealing and street gangs were on the increase, all of which he tied to a surge in undocumented immigrants.

Two immigrants from the Dominican Republic were arrested in a Hazleton murder in May 2006, a fact Mr. Barletta mentioned in every media interview. The charges against both suspects were dropped last month by the district attorney of Luzerne County, but Mr. Barletta has not relented.

"We know they're the right guys," he said in an interview last week. "The gun that was used was found in their house."

His message about immigrant lawbreakers hurting small cities has pumped new life into his career. Mr. Barletta's detractors, though, say he is guilty of distortion.

"He's a demagogue. He has exaggerated the problems his city is dealing with, and he's got zero evidence that undocumented immigrants are the cause of the problems," said Vic Walczak, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and lead attorney in the lawsuit that toppled Hazleton's ordinances.

Mr. Perales, whose Puerto Rican Legal Defense Fund also was a party to the suit against Hazleton, said Mr. Barletta's campaign against undocumented immigrants is damaging the country.

"Rather than using his bully pulpit as mayor to bring people together, he is dividing them. This same prejudice that he is fueling was used against his own ancestors," Mr. Perales said.

In Hazleton, the mayor's detractors are hard to find. Residents re-elected Mr. Barletta to a third term in May. He received 94 percent of the vote in the Republican primary election, and he won the Democratic primary as a write-in candidate.

Mr. Gleason said the immigration issue has given the mayor name recognition throughout the state. Just as important to those in politics, Mr. Barletta has proven his ability to raise money.

Ordinary citizens from around the country have donated more than $300,000 to Hazleton so it can finance its court case without tax dollars. Mr. Barletta said about half the money was spent at the trial that ended in defeat. He is busy raising more for the city's appeal to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Though Mr. Barletta had predicted victory at the trial, he now says he expected to lose in Judge Munley's court. He said his side never had a fair chance.

"I was not surprised by the judge's ruling, but I was disappointed," Mr. Barletta said. "When you have no opportunity to cross-examine the people who have sued you, you are not going to win."

Judge Munley allowed four undocumented immigrants to anonymously join the suit against Hazleton, a decision that Mr. Barletta said he believed could be one basis for a successful appeal.

The judge said he shielded the identity of people who were in the country illegally for a simple reason: They could have been injured or intimidated if their identities had been revealed during the emotionally charged debate over Hazleton's ordinances.

Kris Kobach, a University of Missouri-Kansas City law professor who represented Hazleton at the trial, said Judge Munley was inconsistent in deciding who can sue the government anonymously.

Days after the Hazleton ruling, Judge Munley dismissed a lawsuit by two anonymous plaintiffs against the Pleasant Valley School District. The school suit was aimed at a teacher who purportedly had been unprofessional during classroom lectures.

"In my experience as an attorney, I've never seen a judge issue two opposing rulings on this issue, especially in such close proximity," Mr. Kobach said.

But Mr. Walczak said Judge Munley's rulings made good sense, given the circumstances of each case.

"Apples and oranges," Mr. Walczak said. "There is nothing inconsistent in what the judge did."

Everybody in Hazleton and everybody who sued Hazleton expects Mr. Barletta to follow through with the appeal.

Mr. Perales said the court case will keep Mr. Barletta in the spotlight for at least another year or two, regardless of whether he runs for Congress. He recalled a television appearance with Mr. Barletta in which an aide said the mayor was like "a rock star who came out of nowhere."

Mr. Barletta, a native of Hazleton, said he moved against undocumented immigrants for one reason only -- to save his city. With America's borders unsecured, he said, Hazleton has been transformed for the worse.



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Milan Simonich can be reached at msimonich@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1956.

[frank_pentangeli]

christ

[donybrx]

Probe of immigrant office eyed
At local press conference, Voice of People USA urges Kanjorski, Carney to investigate.
By Steve Mocarskysmocarsky@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

Greg Griffin, legislative director for Voice of the People USA, calls on area Congressmen to push for a crackdown on illegal immigrants
Frank Scavo, chairman of the board for Voice of the People USA, calls on area Congressmen to take action to protect America’s borders
Voice of the People USA founder and president Daniel Smeriglio speaks about federal inaction on illegal immigration
WEST HAZLETON – Officials of an immigration reform group on Tuesday called for two area congressmen to investigate the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in light of recent local events related to illegal immigration.

“Our elected officials failed to act on our request and our demands &hellip to stop amnesty,” Voice of the People USA founder and president Daniel Smeriglio said during a press conference outside the borough building.

“All we can do is try to lobby our elected officials to do the job they were elected to do. And if they fail to do so, if they fail to hear the voice of the people that voted them into office &hellip they will hear our voices again come election time,” Smeriglio said.

Officials chose the borough for the press conference because an illegal immigrant charged in the stabbing death of a New York City police officer’s brother was apprehended there on Aug. 8.

Greg Griffin, legislative director for Voice of the People, provided copies of letters that he sent to U.S. representatives Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, and Chris Carney, D-Dimock Township, on July 27.

He said neither congressman has yet responded to the letters.

The letter to Kanjorski states that members of the group were troubled by the dismissal of murder charges against two illegal immigrants suspected of shooting to death 29-year-old Derek Kichline in Hazleton in May 2006 partly because a witness – Cesar Ariel Jacquez – was inadvertently deported.

Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta has said the Kichline homicide was “the straw that broke the camel’s back,” prompting him to propose the city’s Illegal Immigration Relief Act, which a federal judge last month struck down as unconstitutional. The act would have fined landlords and suspended the licenses of businesses that rent to or hire illegal immigrants.

Griffin noted that immigration officials deported Jacquez despite notification from local law enforcement that he was a witness in the murder case.

“We can logically conclude that the (Bureau of Immigration and) Customs Enforcement has failed to responsibly carry out its duties and we are asking your office to initiate an investigation and even conduct congressional hearings if necessary,” the letter states.

The group asked that Kanjorski find out if the bureau is properly staffed and funded and has the necessary resources, and what plan of action the bureau has for “conducting additional raids at work sites employing illegals.”

“As far as Congressman Kanjorski goes, he claims to have all the right answers and do this and do that. But he’s failed to prove (or) provide anything. &hellip On behalf of the people, we’re demanding answers. &hellip We’re asking for justice &hellip safety (and) real homeland security, which has been lax and non-existent,” Smeriglio said.

Gretchen Wintermantel, Kanjorski’s press secretary, said the congressman was away on vacation.

Neither Kanjorski nor anyone from his office returned a call to comment on the letter or statements made at the press conference.

Kanjorski told a reporter on July 9 that his office was “looking into” Jacquez’s deportation, but that an investigation at that point would have been “premature.”

The letter to Carney states that Voice of the People was gratified that Carney asked for investigations and hearings into why the federal government was not hiring enough border guards and because Carney advocated training of local law enforcement to help with the apprehension of illegal immigrants.

“Yet since these announcements in the newspapers, there has been no action taken. Why?” the letter asks.

Griffin goes on to state that as chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee for Management, Investigations and Oversight, Carney is aware of the dangers of illegal immigration and unsecured borders, and asks him to “act now.”

April Metwalli, Carney’s chief of staff, said his subcommittee held hearings about six weeks ago and looked into the need for hiring more border guards and taking measures to prevent the loss of such guards to private security contractors.

She said a “great first step” was passage of a bill in June that provides a nearly $800 million increase in funding for customs and border protection and a $322 million increase above 2007 levels in funding for the bureau.

“Progress is being made. Obviously, there’s more to be done. The congressman continues to push for that,” Metwalli said.

Frank Scavo, chairman of the board of Voice of the People, said that since U.S. District Judge James Munley said in his opinion striking down Hazleton’s illegal immigration ordinance that immigration enforcement is a federal responsibility, Carney and Kanjorski should “take the lead in protecting our citizens.”

He urged them to push for the establishment of an ICE field office “here in Northeastern Pennsylvania, in Hazleton.”

Renee Butts, executive secretary for Voice of the People, said the group wants the federal government “to start addressing its employers – the citizens of the USA, who we’re here speaking on behalf of.”

“We want to know what ICE is doing and we need to know what our local representatives are doing. If our welfare isn’t their concern, they’re not going to be reelected. People are not fools, and we’re done being played for fools,” she said.

TO LEARN MORE
IF YOU GO
Check out video clips from the press conference at www.timesleader.com. Learn more about Voice of the People at www.voiceofthepeopleusa.com.

Voice of the People USA has immigration reform rallies in support of Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta and the Illegal Immigration Relief Act scheduled for noon on Aug. 26 at Freeland Public Park and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sept. 1 on the steps of the state Capitol building in Harrisburg.

Steve Mocarsky, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 459-2005.








Find this article at:
http://www.timesleader.com/news/20070815_15_Voice_SM_ART.html
© Copyright 2007 The Times Leader. All Rights Reserved.

[donybrx]

Financial Punishment for Hazleton.

Lawyers. Feh.


Attorneys seek $2.4 million in IIRA case
Saturday, 01 September 2007
By WADE MALCOLM
Staff Writer
The potential cost of Hazleton’s fight to expel illegal immigrants came into focus Friday, and the final bill could be steep.
In a 28-page document filed Friday, the attorneys who successfully challenged the illegal immigration ordinance in court asked a federal judge to force the city to pay their legal fees and costs totaling nearly $2.4 million, which would equal about a third of the city’s 2007 budget.
The city will challenge the amount of fees sought by the American Civil Liberties Union, other advocacy groups and private attorneys representing the plaintiffs, Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta said, calling the $2.4 million total “absurd.”
“Their goal was to bankrupt the City of Hazleton,” said Barletta, whose city operates on a tightly constrained $7.9 million budget. “I think it is very obvious that the ACLU exaggerated their bill. We don’t believe that a judge will award that amount.”
ACLU attorney Witold “Vic” Walczak, however, blamed Barletta and the city for driving up the fees.
Since adopting the first-of-its-kind ordinance in July 2006, Hazleton passed at least three additional versions of the ordinance in an attempt to improve its chances of winning the lawsuit. The often unexpected changes made the case more labor intensive and expensive, the plaintiffs argue.
“Hazleton has used this Court as its laboratory,” the fee petition reads. “Defendant’s experimentation over the past year comes at a price.”
U.S. District Judge James M. Munley declared the Illegal Immigration Relief Act unconstitutional in a 206-page opinion released July 26, ruling it violated due process rights and infringed on the federal government’s sole authority to regulate immigration. In federal civil rights cases, prevailing plaintiffs can ask the judge to force the defendant to pay for their legal fees.
Munley has the discretion to award a higher or lower fee total if he wishes. The city has appealed Munley’s ruling to the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The city won’t have to pay any fees until the case is resolved, which could take years if the case is appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court as both sides have vowed to do.
Walczak defended the fees as reasonable, arguing in the petition that they were reduced by $500,000 from what could have been requested.
“We didn’t bill for all the lawyers in the courtroom,” he said.
Barletta has solicited donations totaling about $400,000 to legal defense funds from across the country, the mayor said Friday. As of late July, the city has already spent more than $200,000 of that money defending the case, according to account records provided by the city.

[donybrx]

Hazleton Mayor Re-elected

http://www.standardspeaker.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6203&Itemid=2

Barletta, team win re-election
Tuesday, 06 November 2007
By L.A. TARONE
Staff Writer
Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta swept into his third term by a wide margin and running mates Joe Yannuzzi and Evelyn Graham retained their council seats by campaigning closely with him.
With all wards counted unofficially, including absentee ballots, Barletta culled 3,530 votes, while Libertarian challenger John Medashefski polled 405.
Barletta becomes the first three-term mayor since Joe Conahan.
Yannuzzi was the top vote- getter in the council race with 2,729. Graham was close behind with 2,709.
Democratic challengers Dickie Cusatis got 1,245, while Maureen DeCosmo-Pozzessere got 1,240.
Barletta arrived at his victory party at the Elks Club just after 9 p.m. Flanked by his wife, Mary Grace, and daughters, Kelly, April and Lindsey, Barletta thanked his family for support, adding he’d been “blessed with a great family” who had “sacrificed so much so I could serve this city.”
Barletta also thanked his personal secretary, Cherie Homa, whom he called “incredible,” and the rest of his administration, calling them “the best any mayor could ever have.”
Barletta then launched into a speech filled with fighting metaphors and descriptions.
“We have fought to change Hazleton from the inside,” Barletta said of himself, Graham and Yannuzzi. “We have struggled to right the sinking ship and we have succeeded.”
He added the three had fought to “stem the increasing tide of drugs, gangs and senseless violence.”
And, of course, he mentioned the issue which has given him a national profile: illegal immigration.
“We’ve seen what illegal immigration has done to our small town quality of life and we have said, ‘No! We will not let this happen,’” he said. “We will fight!”
He said the three had “changed Hazleton from a statewide punchline to a nationwide leader,” adding “other cities are now following Hazleton’s lead.”
“We’re not on the right track, we’re the engine that leads the train,” he roared. “We are not only moving forward, we’re racing ahead!”
Both Yannuzzi and Graham took the podium after Barletta to make brief remarks.
In his, Yannuzzi thanked Council Vice President Jack Mundie, adding that “without Jackie, we couldn’t have accomplished everything we did.”
Before addressing the crowd, Yannuzzi said he was pleased with the results.
“I feel good. It’s always good to have the public speak in your favor, and that’s what happened,” he said. “What we’ve been doing in Hazleton, we’ll just continue to do.”
“I think Joe and I have concentrated on what we saw as problems in Hazleton,” Graham said. “People responded in kind.”
Graham said her campaign polled local voters and found illegal immigration was the top issue, followed by crime, drugs and violence.
“Everything else was registering just about 1 percent in importance,” she said. “So I think people saw us as trying to address those issues people were worried about.”
Cusatis and Pozzessere were magnanimous.
“It was a pretty good turnout, so obviously people made a choice they’re comfortable with,” Cusatis said. “So I hope Evelyn and Joe and Lou will work together to make life for the people of Hazleton better. But congratulations to them.”
“I wish them well, I really do,” Pozzessere said. “We thought we could make a few little changes, but voters didn’t agree. I hope they (Yannuzzi and Graham) can take a look at some of our ideas and take something from them. But the people spoke and that’s the democratic process.”
Turnout citywide was just under 40 percent – a tad higher than expected.
While Medashefski lost by about a nine to one margin, he garnered considerably more votes than the most recent third-party candidate. Socialist Workers Party candidate Tim Mailhot pulled just 300 votes four years ago.

[Mr. Rochester]

God I wish that man was the NY governor.

[Ex-Ithacan]

^^Don't ya just love lawyers. :rolleyes: