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Reply With QuoteWell...I guess now we get see what happens:
A year from now, will Hazelton be better off...or worse off?
City Passes Harsh Law Against Illegal Immigrants
By MARK SCOLFORO, AP
HAZLETON, Pa. (July 14) - The City Council approved a law Thursday night designed to make this small city in northeastern Pennsylvania among the most hostile places in the U.S. for illegal immigrants to live or work.
The 4-to-1 vote came after nearly two hours of passionate debate. Opponents argued it was divisive and possibly illegal, but supporters said illegal immigrants' growing numbers have damaged the quality of life here.
"We must draw the line, and we are doing it tonight," Mayor Lou Barletta told a packed council chambers.
Barletta proposed the Illegal Immigration Relief Act last month as a response to what he said were Hazleton's problems with violent crime, crowded schools, hospital costs and the demand for services.
The ordinance would deny licenses to businesses that employ illegal immigrants, fine landlords $1,000 for each illegal immigrant discovered renting their properties, and require city documents to be in English only.
"The illegal citizens, I would recommend they leave," Barletta said after the meeting.
"What you see here tonight, really, is a city that wants to take back what America has given it," said the mayor, who said he wore a bulletproof vest to the meeting. He said he had not been threatened but took precautions because the issue was so emotionally charged.
Outside City Hall, about 300 people gathered with opponents of the measure, some with signs that read "Bias," separated by a line of police from supporters, some waving American flags.
Anna Arias spoke at the council meeting against the law. She asked the council, "Are any of us ready to support U.S. citizens born of someone who is undocumented?" Several people in the audience responded, "Yes!"
She warned the council that approving the ordinance would make Hazleton "the first Nazi city in the country."
Council Vice President Jack Mundie voted for the ordinance.
"We're against illegal immigrants that are coming here and that are draining the resources of our city," he said.
The Republican mayor's proposal has thrust the city, with a population of 31,000, to the fore of the national debate on illegal immigration.
The number of Hispanic residents in Hazleton, a former coal-mining town about 80 miles northwest of Philadelphia, has increased dramatically in the past six years.
City officials acknowledge they do not know how many are illegal immigrants, whom Barletta has blamed for higher crime rates, failing schools and a diminished quality of life.
Carolina Taveras, a 30-year-old naturalized citizen from the Dominican Republic who moved to Hazleton from New York City a year ago, said before the council's vote that the mayor's proposal has made her feel unwelcome.
A few doors down from where Taveras was getting her hair done at a downtown beauty salon that caters to Hispanic women, restaurant owner George Giannakouros said he is sympathetic to Barletta's approach.
"I agree with the mayor. There is a problem," Giannakouros said. "I work at my business at night. I like to feel safe."
In a letter sent to Barletta earlier this week, attorneys with the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund threatened to sue on the grounds that the law infringes upon the federal government's power to regulate immigration.
The lone "no" vote was cast by councilman Robert Nilles, who expressed concern about the legality of the ordinance.
Nilles tried to amend the law by stripping out a portion regulating landlords, but his motion died for lack of a second.
The law passed the council 4-1 on a preliminary vote last month. A similar measure was approved Tuesday by the supervisors in Hazle Township, which surrounds the city of Hazleton.
Other municipalities across the country also have considered acting to address illegal immigration. Ordinances similar to the Hazleton measure have been proposed in the Florida communities of Palm Bay and Avon Park and the California towns of Escondido and San Bernardino.
To sit down with these men and deal with them as the representatives of an enlightened and civilized people is to deride ones own dignity and to invite the disaster of their treachery - General Matthew Ridgway
Well...I guess now we get see what happens:
A year from now, will Hazelton be better off...or worse off?
And we need a special law for this?The ordinance would deny licenses to businesses that employ illegal immigrants, fine landlords $1,000 for each illegal immigrant discovered renting their properties, and require city documents to be in English only.
These rules should have been enforced by governments at all levels decades ago.
We are a nation of rules and laws. The respect for rules and laws make us unique in the world. Breaking away from rules and laws will make us just like any other "old world" nation.
"Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.
This is exellent news, hopefully other communities will take notice of this and clean the illegals off their streets.
I like it, good stuff...
No man is free until all men are free - John Hossack
I agree completely with this Administration’s goal of a regime change in Iraq-John Kerry
even if that enforcement is mostly at the hands of the United States, a right we retain even if the Security Council fails to act-John Kerry
He may even miscalculate and slide these weapons off to terrorist groups to invite them to be a surrogate to use them against the United States. It’s the miscalculation that poses the greatest threat-John Kerry
That was over the line when that woman said if the ordinanace was passed it would make Hazleton "the first Nazi city in the country".
Hazelton didn't pass an odinance to permit genocide, they just wanted to address the illegal immigration problems that particular town has. By Godwin's Rule, she loses.
But this passed, and I think it's a good thing for the people of the town.
"Prozac Nation moves along at the speed of a Norwegian glacier, yet it provides the observer with nowhere near the pleasure."
so basically what she is saying it is racist or nazi-like to descriminate against criminals? because that is what they are!!! people that are illegal should not be punished???Originally Posted by ProzacNation
does that make sense to anyone?
gee that makes sense, if you dont like criminals and you intend to do something about it you are a nazi
Sometimes things dont end up how they should, a son, a brother, a mentor, a teacher, a cousin, a nephew, a grandson and a god in my eyes.
Who knows what he more could have been...
Christopher Muzykant
April 9, 1976-November 4,2005
My Brother, Always and forever
Points for citing Godwin's Rule
Quite frankly i don't blame them. Yeah its "not nice" but illeagal immigrants can be adrain on the economy. If the governemnt wishes to let them settle, get jobs and pay taxes then I don't see why any town would have an issue from a larger population in the long term but as it stands, it's just a drain.
Often it's these kind of people's only defence, scream "Nazi", because their talking points are usually so full of holes that a child can counter them.
No man is free until all men are free - John Hossack
I agree completely with this Administration’s goal of a regime change in Iraq-John Kerry
even if that enforcement is mostly at the hands of the United States, a right we retain even if the Security Council fails to act-John Kerry
He may even miscalculate and slide these weapons off to terrorist groups to invite them to be a surrogate to use them against the United States. It’s the miscalculation that poses the greatest threat-John Kerry
You guys should come and hang out in California more often. We have a state full of these idiots.so basically what she is saying it is racist or nazi-like to descriminate against criminals? because that is what they are!!! people that are illegal should not be punished???
gee that makes sense, if you dont like criminals and you intend to do something about it you are a nazi
"Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.
What you are proposing is already done. We have an immigration system with rules and laws in place to allow people to come here. The US takes in over 1 million LEGAL immigrants a year. We have no problem with these people. We welcome them.
Then there are those people who are fortunate enough to live just a stone throw away from our border and decided to hop the fence. They did not go through the process. They have no documents. They are ILLEGAL. We have a problem with this.
The problem is a combination of socialist services we provide to our legal residents and the illegals who decide to take advantage of our generosity. They are the drain people are so fed up with.
"Only Nixon can go to China." -- Old Vulcan proverb.
When I become dictator of the world, I shall ban the word "Nazi" from ever being used to describe anything, ever. It is possibly the most over used pejorative on the planet. Not only is it inaccurate and mean, but it disrespects the memory of those who really did experience the horror of Nazi rule.
I enjoy being wrong too much to change my mind.
I'd say "racist" is the most over-used and mis-used. If His Excellency would take care of that one first I'd appreciate it.When I become dictator of the world, I shall ban the word "Nazi" from ever being used to describe anything, ever. It is possibly the most over used pejorative on the planet. Not only is it inaccurate and mean, but it disrespects the memory of those who really did experience the horror of Nazi rule.
im sure wen u becomes dictator of the word you will give all of us here at WAB a nice position high up on the world-political ladder right?When I become dictator of the world, I shall ban the word "Nazi" from ever being used to describe anything, ever. It is possibly the most over used pejorative on the planet. Not only is it inaccurate and mean, but it disrespects the memory of those who really did experience the horror of Nazi rule.
Sometimes things dont end up how they should, a son, a brother, a mentor, a teacher, a cousin, a nephew, a grandson and a god in my eyes.
Who knows what he more could have been...
Christopher Muzykant
April 9, 1976-November 4,2005
My Brother, Always and forever
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