Aurora council bars day-labor center
By Hector Gutierrez, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Published July 29, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.
The Aurora City Council passed an ordinance Monday night that would bar a proposed day-labor center from operating in the Old Aurora arts district, where mostly immigrant workers currently gather to meet potential employers.
The ordinance, which passed 7-3, bans day-labor centers within 1,500 feet of each other. A temporary employment office already is open in the area.
El Centro Humanitario Para Los Trabajadores, or The Humanitarian Center for the Workers, had been in discussions with the city about opening a day-labor center for the workers who congregate each morning at East Colfax Avenue and Dayton Street, but those talks abruptly shut down.
A day-labor center would have helped remove workers from Aurora's street corners and shifted them into a safer staging area where employers could be held accountable, supporters said.
"We'll continue to go to corners to work with the workers," said Minsun Ji, executive director of El Centro Humanitario, after Monday night's council meeting.
"They want us to disappear," he said. "We are not doing anything illegal. We have a right to organize workers."
But critics say the proposed day-labor center would detract from the Old Aurora arts district. They also said that by allowing a day-labor center there, the city could be tied to sanctioning an illegal activity.
Aurora, like other cities across the country, has struggled to deal with laborers who stand on street corners hoping to be hired by contractors or property owners who need work done at homes or construction sites.
Some merchants in Old Aurora said they have seen the laborers harass pedestrians and consume liquor. And after the jobs are taken, those remaining often loiter in the neighborhood.
Backers of the immigrant workers said they provide a key and immediate service for employers who drive to Old Aurora looking for workers.
Other supporters said Aurora was engaging in racial profiling because it was trying to remove mostly Hispanic workers.
El Centro Humanitario Para Los Trabajadores operates a day-labor facility just north of downtown Denver.
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July 29, 2008
4:38 a.m.
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rlutzs writes:
Good! Get these illigals off the streets and out of my country!!!!!!!!!
July 29, 2008
5:07 a.m.
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SanctuaryCity writes:
It's about time to clean up the streets. Need to get about 19 million more out of here
July 29, 2008
5:59 a.m.
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Alive writes:
Good news for a change. Very refreshing.
July 29, 2008
6 a.m.
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natasha writes:
"We'll continue to go to corners to work with the workers," said Minsun Ji, executive director of El Centro Humanitario, after Monday night's council meeting.
"They want us to disappear," he said. "We are not doing anything illegal. We have a right to organize workers."
If these day laborers are illegal aliens then you are indeed doing something illegal. Of course I am sure you know that and just don't care.
July 29, 2008
6:14 a.m.
Suggest removal
Mike846 writes:
Natasha, they just don't care. Kudo's to the Aurora council for having the stones to stand up, as opposed to Denver's council who automatically roll over for illegals. Why doesn't the word "illegal" appear anywhere in this article except in the one supporter's quote? Citizens of the Metro area, it's time to TAKE BACK YOUR STREETS AND CITIES. Every chance you get, vote for initiatives that make it harder to employ illegals. Let your representatives at the local level know that you support such actions. Keep their feet to the fire. Since they have no solid arguments, apologists for illegals will call you names. Hey...if that's all they got, so what? Way to go, Aurora!! Mike
July 29, 2008
6:15 a.m.
Suggest removal
18Zwife writes:
The Rocky Mountain News conveniently leaves out the words “illegal alien” in conjunction with the words “day laborer”.
Too bad I.C.E. won’t do its job and arrest the illegal alien day laborers and the people harboring and hiring them.
July 29, 2008
6:57 a.m.
Suggest removal
yeastyc writes:
"Other supporters said Aurora was engaging in racial profiling because it was trying to remove mostly Hispanic workers."
How is it racial profiling--yes, they are mostly Hispanic, but they are loitering on street corners and some are causing problems for the surrounding businesses. If they were a bunch of white guys, it would be a similar problem besides the fact that hiring them would be less of an issue because they would more than likely be legal citizens. Illegal is illegal whether or not you are a good person just trying to get a job. This is not a racial issue, its an issue of law, and if Aurora sets up a place that essentially allows people to hire illegal immigrants, they could easily be sued and cost us all a lot more than the little bit we save for the cheap labor. If you really want to work here, please do the right thing and become a legal citizen, then you won't have to stand on a street corner for a job!
July 29, 2008
7:22 a.m.
Suggest removal
sheepherder writes:
Good for Aurora. Maybe the Aurora cops will be able to arrest them for loitering, then contact ICE so they can be deported. I suggest they start with Ji, the mouth of the illegals!
July 29, 2008
7:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
LingLingfor_prez writes:
Portland, OR has one of these. Having one of these not a good idea. Also the people wear a sign saying what their 'skill' is and how much they charge per hour.
July 29, 2008
7:51 a.m.
Suggest removal
EnoughAlready writes:
Kudos to the Aurora City Council. The legal citzens of your community appreciate your efforts to reduce employment opportunities for illegals in Colorado. If only we could restrict their access to schools, hospitals and other benefits intended for legal, taxpaying citizens.
God bless America!
July 29, 2008
8:05 a.m.
Suggest removal
vet64 writes:
Where is ICE when you need them? maybe the Aurora police can just drive by and fill up a couple of jail buses.
July 29, 2008
8:58 a.m.
Suggest removal
vudumom writes:
So now on top of illegally entering this country, using fake I.D.'s, driving without license and insurance,getting free healthcare,getting free schooling,getting free food and housing assistance,working without a real identification,breaking as many laws in this country as they can, (all in the name of, they want to better their families) it should now be legal for them to urinate in public,drink in public, loiter , littering and causing a problem for businesses in the area so the laws shouldn't be enforced because we are racists and racial profiling?
I have seen many people defend illegals breaking the laws in the U.S. and claiming that it is okay because the illegals are only coming here to better themselves.
I have seen many people defend illegals after they get caught and are deported with the excuse, the government should not enforce our laws because they have done a bad job at it in the past and should not deport people because the government has not deported enough people in the past.
If that is the case then I guess murders could argue they should not be in prison because there are 100's of thousands of murders that are unsolved in the U.S.
A burglar could argue he shouldn't be charged because millions of burglaries are let go each year by police. He could also argue he is only trying to take care of his family by stealing from someone.
If laws are made NO group should be allowed to break them or skirt them because they want to.
Why aren't the people of Colorado and the U.S. in court sueing local,state and federal governments with allowing a specific group of people to break any law they decide is not good for them?
If there were ever a class action lawsuit worthy of filing I'd say it was this one.
July 29, 2008
9:11 a.m.
Suggest removal
yeastyc writes:
The major issue right now is the blind eye of the Federal government allowing these illegals to easily cross our border for too long. If the local police departments went around to round up these guys and put them in prison it would cause a huge domino effect with us footing the bill. The fees incurred for the special police patrol, incarceration fees until ICE did their paperwork, and the deportation itself for the huge number of illegals would likely cause our local, state, and federal governments to pass the massive costs on. How that is dealt with at this point is difficult and could be avoided in large part if these people stopped being invisible and tried to gain citizenship, or at the very least green cards, so that they were pulling their fair share and not passing it on to the rest of us.
July 29, 2008
11:26 a.m.
Suggest removal
LingLingfor_prez writes:
butchm,
How is it strange? Pretty typical for RMN to change some words around and make it sound better.
July 29, 2008
11:41 a.m.
Suggest removal
Brain writes:
The way to deal with illegal immigration is to crack-down on employers that are hiring them. If there is no jobs for these people they will deport themselves.
July 29, 2008
11:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
bubbabeers writes:
You people are typical conservative idiots - brainwashed by the rhetoric of conservative pundits. Do you realize that many of you would not be able to afford the home you now live in and the food you eat without these laborers? They make almost everything we americans consume cheaper including homes, food, even manufactured products. Go ahead, chase them all away and see how much poorer you all become. Luckily the republican polititions are just smokescreening you all - they are smart enough to talk the talk in order to fool you idiots into voting for them - and also smart enough not to mean any of it or do anything about it because they know what I've said here is true....why do you think none of them has done anything except talk about the "problem". Same thing GB did to get all the religious people to vote for him; he bamboozled the christians to get thier vote. Figure it out America - after all these years, all of a sudden illegal immigration is a huge problem in this country? Sure - after we've all become dependent on the lifestyle it provides - its just another meaningless talking point. Nothing will ever come from it except maybe it will help some of you idiots pick your candidate. Its election year politics; both sides do it, just don't be brainwashed people!!
July 29, 2008
12:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
happymike44 writes:
I suggest a new law how about impound the businesses and property of those who knowingly employ illegals.
Then impound the apartment buildings of those who rent to them.
Then let's imprison any person who is involved with committing crimes by aiding them.
This would mean any person who gives them any kind of assitance be prepared to go to jail.
Arizona has enforced the strictest penalities and it has gotten them out of their state.
Why can't every state do the same if you enforce and remove these cockroaches.
Then how can they bleed the life out of our country.
Notice the guy who said nothing is going to keep us from working.
Let's start with these scumbags first,they are flaunting their disrespect for our country.
We don't need these types of people,how do you better a community by destroying it.
No one has figured out they are the me,me,me people and we don't care what you think.
We don't want them turning us into another toilet called Mexico.
where dope dealers are murdering police left and right.
Where child rape is common place and destroys the fabric of the family.
Why because that is the society they want to bring here.
We don't want or need these types of people.
I don't believe when they say they want to better themselves.
Sure they do while all of us pay for it and the quality of our life goes down.
July 29, 2008
1:39 p.m.
Suggest removal
18Zwife writes:
happymike44,
Listen, I live on Ft. Carson and this base is full of Mexican illegal alien day laborers. They do whatever the hell they want on base and get away with it. Why would an illegal alien be worried about what he does when he was hired by military contractors knowing he was illegal to begin with? Understand what I’m sayin’? It’s unbelievable what is happening on this base and other bases throughout the U.S. The DoD (Department of Defense) would rather forfeit the law and our security just to save a dime by hiring these illegal alien day laborers.
July 29, 2008
1:45 p.m.
Suggest removal
MsValeriah writes:
Bravo, Bubbabeers. You've made a point that no one wants to acknowledge - we're dependent on the cheap labor that these people are willing to provide. Yes, PEOPLE - like you and me, who want most of the same things that we want, who are willing to work very hard and be treated like dirt by the bigoted likes of all of you, just to provide for their families. The vast majority of these people are here because they want a better life for their children. The reason so many come here illegally is because it's so difficult to obtain a legal visa to come here, and they're desperate. As I understand it, the government is so corrupt, that unless you know somebody, you have little chance of getting one. HappyMike, these people are immigrating here to get away from the toxic environment you're referring to. It's not "the kind of society they want to bring here".
I thought that as a society we'd moved at least somewhat beyond the kind of bigotry I read in these commentaries every day, by the same negative people, over and over. Does no one have any compassion? I'm ashamed to be white, when I read all of this hatred being spewed by all of you, the majority of which are probably caucasian and claim to be Christian. I gave up on Christianity long ago too because of the hypocrisy most so-called Christians display in their dealings with others. I'm over it. I reckon Jesus probably is, too.
This is a small world we live in. We need to learn to get along with one another instead of thinking about us vs. them in everything we do. There could be enough for everyone.
I know I'm going to get blasted for saying all of this, so fire away.
'Nuff said.
July 29, 2008
2:03 p.m.
Suggest removal
infidel91 writes:
I think I'll go to Colfax and Dayton and hire one of these guys to help me work on my yard. Then, happymike, you can come try to take my house from me, cucaracha!
July 29, 2008
2:14 p.m.
Suggest removal
gr8fuldude writes:
I guess we can now look to the otehr places where these highly skilled, hardworking individuals work, such as Lockheed Martin, IBM in Boulder, Martin Marietta, Avaya, Ball Aerospace, Sun, etc.
July 29, 2008
2:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
fiesty writes:
MsValeriah-
1. This has nothing to do with bigotry, but a long-standing anger over a group of people who consistently flaunt their breaking of our laws along with their attitude of entitlement. Nor is it hate/bigotry to expect our laws to be enforced.
2. I applaud anyone trying to better their life, but that is no excuse for breaking the law or being excused from the consequences when you do. A single parent without health insurance can't rob a bank, and use that rationale.
3. Regarding compassion, Americans are among the most compassionate in the world- do you have any idea how much we give in charity? How many immigrants we take in every year? The sad fact is that we cannot take in the poor of the entire world. Just because we are compassionate does NOT mean we need to let our selves be taken advantage of! Nor is compassion a reason to excuse someone the consequences of their actions!
July 29, 2008
4:15 p.m.
Suggest removal
bubbabeers writes:
Well Bravo ToeNee - thats very noble of you. Now tell the rest of the conservative bigots in your party like Tom Tancredo and all the idiots on this forum to take your lead. My point was to educate the moron consevatives on this forum as to why we can't deport them all (by the way, the biggest moron Tom Tancredo wants to deport them all too so don't say that there are no conservatives who think that way). So educate us ToeNee; how can your wholesome conservative values help us solve the immigration problem?? And don't say by deporting them all because if thats your idea of how to solve the problem your dumber than I thought...
July 29, 2008
4:17 p.m.
Suggest removal
infidel91 writes:
Fiesty --
1. Did you poll this group? What evidence do you have that a majority of illegal immigrants have an attitude of entitlement? Would you have expected the Fugitive Slave Act to be enforced? It WAS the LAW, after all. (And just to head off the inevitable stupidity ((I don't mean you, fiesty)), no, I'm not comparing illegals to slaves. I'm using the Fugitive Slave Act as an example of an unjust, immoral law, to make the point that "It's the law" isn't necessarily a good argument.)
2. See paragraph 1. Also, robbing a bank violates the rights of the bank and its individual depositors. What individual rights do illegals violate by coming here looking for work?
3. I don't think anyone is suggesting that we take in all the world's poor. In any event, such immigration would slow to a trickle as soon as all the unskilled jobs were taken -- it's a problem that the market would correct automatically. And I'm anti-welfare, not just for immigrants, but for everyone. If we weren't handing out freebies, there wouldn't be any reason for freeloaders to come here.
July 29, 2008
4:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
18Zwife writes:
fiesty writes:
“Regarding compassion, Americans are among the most compassionate in the world- do you have any idea how much we give in charity? How many immigrants we take in every year? The sad fact is that we cannot take in the poor of the entire world. Just because we are compassionate does NOT mean we need to let our selves be taken advantage of! Nor is compassion a reason to excuse someone the consequences of their actions!”
Well Said and Thank You.
July 29, 2008
4:32 p.m.
Suggest removal
18Zwife writes:
infidel91:
“What individual rights do illegals violate by coming here looking for work?”
You cannot be serious.
July 29, 2008
5:21 p.m.
Suggest removal
infidel91 writes:
Name one.
July 29, 2008
11:54 p.m.
Suggest removal
happymike44 writes:
The fact of the matter is not one illegal should have a job or drive a car.
They should not be allowed to buy property or open a bank account.
This means if you do not come to this country legally you do not belong here.
I do not want my country destroyed by a group of people who will not and do not care if they violate our laws.
I have been hit by these lovely uninsured motorist who picked up that bill.
I did,not my insurance company me!
So I think we need to start removing these people from our country.
I think we need to enforce a tougher border control.
This means I do not want to read about drug dealers roaming in and out of my country.
I am not the only person who feels this way.
By the way if they did not come here and break our labor laws.
They would not be open to the abuse of employers.
Also those people in Iowa now have the E.E.O.C. are going to spend our tax dollars on these illegal aliens.
When I had a employer terminate me and refuse to pay me the E.E.O.C. refused to help me.
My employer at the time laughed at me and the e.e.o.c.
I hired my own attorney and sued them outcome I got my money.
But my former manager had cheated others and I was the only one who sued.
So now the government will spend our money on a bunch of dirtbag chicken fighting scum of the earth.
Get rid of the scum America for the Americans.
July 30, 2008
8:08 a.m.
Suggest removal
infidel91 writes:
My car was once hit by an uninsured motorist. He was old. So I think we should start removing these old people from our country.
July 30, 2008
11:42 a.m.
Suggest removal
bubbabeers writes:
happymike44 writes:
"I have been hit by these lovely uninsured motorist who picked up that bill."
Thats great that the uninsured motorist picked up the bill for you mike - after all, thats exactly what you wrote. Try using some punctuation moron!
Judging by your lack of education and the fact that you are using the judicial system to get what sounds to me like a handout, I'd say the scum of the earth that needs to leave this country is you. I've met hard working immigrants who had to work for thier opportunities and siezed them. They are more educated then you, and do not use the court system to pay thier way - and they had a huge disadvantage because of people like you. You on the other hand squandered your opportunities as observed by your lack of communication skills. You seem to be the one using the system to get your share of handouts. The scum of America? Look in the mirror my friend...