The Day Worker Center should be in an industrial area where it would be useful and not where it is a liability to homeowners. With all the available and relatively cheap space further east, why put it so close to El Camino?

The property values will not drop because of the center. The old location of the Day Worker was 2 blocks away from this location. When the center moved to downtown MV, the move had no affect on the property values either way. I do live in the area, and the Day Workers center were good neighbors the whole time.

Put the Day Workers Center next door to Kevin Duggan's (City Manager)house.

I use the Day worker center for my business and they are very helpful. This center is an asset to the City.

I live near the church where the day worker center is now located. The Day workers have been very helpful in their activities in this location and they have in no way affected the neighborhood in a detrimental way. They deserve their own location. Patricia Corral

The last time I checked, it was the bankers and the mortgage lenders who ruined homeowners' property values, not day workers. On the contrary, day workers have helped to improve and expand residential properties all over the south bay, raising home values. Why don't these home owners ask the city council to issue a report every 4 months for a year on the benefits and drawbacks of having the day worker center in the neighborhood? Perhaps this would alleviate any of the concerns.

The Day Worker Center is an excellent asset to Mountain View, with a great track record. That's not the problem.

The problem is negative perception of the name "Day Worker Center." Whenever I discuss this, the first comment that people make is, "That will hurt your property value...don't let them do it." And in Real Estate sales, perception IS reality. I will have to disclose its presence when I list my house for sale (I'm a neighbor) and it WILL have a dampening effect, no matter how cleanly it is run.

The activity of putting workers and employers together is commerce. If they would drop this activity, and change their name to something more neutral, I would have no objection, and a good cultural community center would be a good neighborhood asset.

Alternately, if they want to do business, they would be more successful in a storefront on El Camino, with good signs and better access for their clients and customers. The location at the end of Escuela is virtually hidden from the commercial world. A commercial location would be in line with zoning, and a win-win-win solution for the DWC, the neighborhood,and the City.

Brad, I agree that some people will believe that the proximity of Day Laborer's is bad. But, their perception is not based in reality. Any real estate professional who spreads these kind of lies is incompetent.
It is not the role of any government to protect you from stupid customers! So, why should the city of Mountain View do this?

I'm fine with there being an offical center for day workers but if that's the case then the MVPD and LAPD need to patrol El Camino to get the loitering day workers to go to the center. I'm tired of seeing these workers playing cards and standing around waiting for someone to pick them up. It's an eyesore.

[Post removed for being both inflammatory and irrelevant]

I'm really interested in hearing more about how The Day Worker's Center provides help to the community. I drove by the official-looking sign many times wondering what it is. I'm assuming it's a business that is legitimate and meets requirements of California work laws. Can someone post a link to a website that explains what they do?

If The Day Worker's Center is a business, it seems that this discussion should address having a business in a largely residential area; list of concerns then focus on whether having this type of business inside the neighborhood and so close to residents is something neighbors feel comfortable with... Relevant issues then become: (1) who uses the services and is this a burden on the community?, (2) what is the traffic burden? (3) what is the resultant increase in noise level? (4) what are the tangible benefits to the community (I've heard reference to this but it probably bears itemizing.) 5) what are the tangible burdens to the local community?

Your right....if you put up a day labor center then the police departments need to get the loiters off the street. It looks like the front of a Home Depot. Oh that is right...that is where the Home Depot was suppose to be....my bad. The police will never chase the day labors off the El Camino or San Antonio. It is not politically correct....sad. Put the day labor somewhere...anywhere and get the day labors inside, documented and signed up to work. If the local cops are not up to getting the loiters off the street then maybe INS should. Yeah that's right....I said it. Come on MVPD and LAPD...do your job. Our neighborhood stopped going to San Antonio Shopping Center because of the labors. Los Altos is getting my business.

Your right....if you put up a day labor center then the police departments need to get the loiters off the street. It looks like the front of a Home Depot. Oh that is right...that is where the Home Depot was suppose to be....my bad. The police will never chase the day labors off the El Camino or San Antonio. It is not politically correct....sad. Put the day labor somewhere...anywhere and get the day labors inside, documented and signed up to work. If the local cops are not up to getting the loiters off the street then maybe INS should. Yeah that's right....I said it. Come on MVPD and LAPD...do your job. Our neighborhood stopped going to San Antonio Shopping Center because of the labors. Los Altos is getting my business.

I believe loitering laws have been found unconstitutional just like the law that required you carry an id. I doubt the police can "make" anyone stop gathering in public unless it is an unlawful assembly (think riot).

Sure the police can. They get the shopping center management to kick them off the property. Then they can sign trespass notification for those that continue to loiter on the property. Then the police can cite the problem labors when they step on the property to make their deals with those hiring under the table (which if I am not mistaken is illegal too). Something call taxes, visas, etc... That is how I got the police to assist in keeping the regular transients off my property who were loiting for hand outs and then going next door for alcohol. They don't loiter on my business property any more and I get more customers too (They thanked me even).

The Day Labor Center is a COMMERCIAL enterprise. It is NOT a community center.
Furthermore, you also have to conform to County, State and FEDERAL laws when operating such a center.
That means if that ILLEGAL ALIENS ( the PROPER LEGAL TERM ) use this center, The Ciy of Mountain View is AIDING and ABETTING illegal activity.
That may have FEDERAL CRIMINAL repercussions.
Furthermore, claiming IGNORANCE was a defense used during the NURENBERG trails; that defense didn't work. It shouldn't be used here.

Time to face REALITY. Time to support the U.S. CITIZEN, U.S. TAXPAYER and the U.S. HOMEOWNER.

Three cheers for U.S. Citizens, Taxpayers and Homeowners. OK at least the first two...

The Day Worker Center of Mountain View is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was founded 13 years ago by community, business, and religious leaders. Please see our website for more information (see below) and see this week's Mountain View Voice for an announcement about our recently awarded grant from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation.

If you'd like to find out firsthand what the Center is, please stop by the Center any Monday through Saturday, 7am to 2pm. We will be happy to show you around, let you observe an English class, and offer you a hot lunch cooked onsite. The Center is located at Trinity United Church at the corner of Hope and Mercy in downtown Mountain View.

Also, we will be showing a documentary film "Letters from the Other Side: A Documentary film about day workers and the families they leave behind" on Saturday evening, April 25th at the Community School of Music and Art on San Antonio at California Street. More information will be posted on our website soon about this event.

Web Link

Robin Iwai
Board President
Day Worker Center of Mountain View

Our documentary film event "Letters from the Other Side" has been rescheduled to Saturday, May 9, at 7pm at the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA).

This event will feature an exclusive screening of a 70-minute documentary film that tells the story of day workers and the families they leave behind. There will also be a "meet the filmmaker Q & A" with Heather Courtney of Austin, TX, followed by a reception and live music.

All in the community are invited to attend. Admission is free but seating is limited. Please call the Day Worker Center at 903.4102 to reserve a seat.

Thank you, and we look forward to meeting new friends at our film event or at the Center.

Robin Iwai
Board President
Day Worker Center of MV