Lake Worth Illegal Alien Hiring Hall
If the Jupiter and Loxahatchee Groves illegal alien hiring halls aren't bad enough, Lake Worth, Florida City Commission voted on January 15, 2008 to proceed with negotiations to officially sanction an illegal alien hiring hall. No opening date has yet been set. Clearly the city will be officially sanctioning the hall which will be located on the city's shuffleboard court.
FLIMEN report on the proposed Lake Worth January 15, 2008 City Commission meeting:
Thanks to the many people who attended the Lake Worth Commission meeting on January 15, 2008 to oppose the proposed Lake Worth Illegal Alien Hiring Hall! Before the hearing on the proposed center we had to endure three hours of many citizen complaints, discussion on lawsuits, discussion on terrible accounting practices, and other symptoms of a troubled city, headed by what many call an atrocious, arrogant city commission.
About nineteen people including FLIMEN VP Caulkett spoke against the proposed center. Only two spoke for it. Jack Oliver, FLIMEN Political Chair spoke on behalf of BridgesAcrossAmerica. It was made clear that the center is a federal felony and Florida misdemeanor.
Commission Jennings, the main promoter of the center, blew off all arguments as not true. The Commission then voted 3-2 to proceed with lease negotiations. Voting For were Mayor Jeff Clemens and Commissioners Cara Jennings and Jo-Ann Golden. Commissioners Dave Vespo and Retha Lowe voted Against the motion but only because they don't like the shuffleboard courts location which is in the town center.
The City Manager called it a "hypocrisy" as the zoning does not allow such an operation in that area and he pointed out that commercial employment centers would be prohibited. Of course, rules are of no concern to the commissioners as they said they will deal with that later.
Citizens are demanding enforcement of immigration laws. Our democratic value of the rule of law deserves nothing less. The proposed Lake Worth Illegal Alien Hiring Hall must not start up.
You are requested to bombard the Lake Worth Commissioners with emails and phone calls to let them know that this will not be tolerated. Call, write, e-mail, fax, or visit:
Mayor Jeff Clemens:Vice-Mayor Retha Lowe:Commissioner Cara Jennings:
Phone: 561-586-1730
Fax: 561-586-1798
E-mail: cjennings@lakeworth.orgCommissioner Jo-Ann Golden:Commissioner Dave Vespo:Mailing Location:7 North Dixie Hwy.
Lake Worth, FL 33460
Agenda items from January 15, 2008 Lake Worth City Commission Meeting:
Newspaper Article:
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/01/16/s2b_lwmeet_0116.html (Expired link):
Lake Worth to pursue labor center, despite objections
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
LAKE WORTH — City leaders repeated their support for a day labor center Tuesday, over the objections of those who said it will encourage illegal immigration.
Commissioners voted 3-2 to begin negotiating a lease for the community building next to the municipal shuffleboard courts on Lucerne Avenue. Commissioners Retha Lowe and Dave Vespo support a center, but wanted the city to consider other locations.
The Mentoring Center Inc. and the Farmworker Coordinating Council have expressed interest in running the resource center, which would match laborers with employers and offer services such as job training and legal advice.
Shuffleboard games could continue at the center, and seniors would share the space with laborers.
More than a dozen speakers, including local residents and leaders of advocacy groups, asked city leaders to reconsider. Many said that municipalities have a responsibility not to violate state and federal immigration laws.
James Avera, a fifth-generation resident of Lake Worth, said the city has a duty to its citizens, not those who are here illegally. Avera said he has to follow all the laws and could even be fined by the city if he puts the trash out too soon.
"People who violate immigration laws and sit waiting for work should be arrested, fingerprinted and sent back to wherever the hell they came from," Avera said.
Others opposed to the location said it was zoned as a park and open space. Some also said they did not want the labor center on one of the main gateways to downtown.
Heads of advocacy groups that oppose illegal immigration asked the commission not to help people violate state and federal laws by hiring workers. Illegal immigration is not a victimless crime, they said, as American construction workers can no longer afford to support their families.
Lake Worth Mayor Jeff Clemens said the example of a labor center is a practical solution that has worked well in other cities.
"I don't live in a fantasyland where we can have our local police enforcing federal laws," Clemens said.