Hazleton PA Mayor Gets Tough on 'illegals'

donybrx · #1 Posted: **Jun 14, 2006, 9:37 PM**

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 · #2 Posted: **Jun 15, 2006, 12:32 AM**

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

vasiliymeshko · #3 Posted: **Jun 15, 2006, 2:56 AM**

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

donybrx · #4 Posted: **Jun 16, 2006, 1:06 PM**

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/times...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 · #5 Posted: **Jun 16, 2006, 3:56 PM**

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 · #6 Posted: **Jun 16, 2006, 6:13 PM**

Quote:

“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"?

Sulley · #7 Posted: **Jun 16, 2006, 10:33 PM**

Shut it, commie.

vasiliymeshko · #8 Posted: **Jun 17, 2006, 2:02 AM**

Who? Me?

Sulley · #9 Posted: **Jun 17, 2006, 4:14 AM**

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

:p

vasiliymeshko · #10 Posted: **Jun 17, 2006, 4:41 AM**

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

donybrx · #11 Posted: **Jun 17, 2006, 12:50 PM**

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 · #12 Posted: **Jun 18, 2006, 12:48 AM**

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 · #13 Posted: **Jun 18, 2006, 12:52 AM**

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 · #14 Posted: **Jun 18, 2006, 2:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrightchr

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!

donybrx · #15 Posted: **Jun 18, 2006, 1:48 PM**

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/printerFri...ewsid=16805693

Joey D · #16 Posted: **Jun 18, 2006, 7:59 PM**

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 · #17 Posted: **Jun 20, 2006, 1:21 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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 · #18 Posted: **Jun 20, 2006, 3:55 PM**

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 · #19 Posted: **Jun 20, 2006, 7:31 PM**

^^^ 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?m...ownews&id=2190

Crawford · #20 Posted: **Jun 20, 2006, 7:42 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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?m...ownews&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.