It's sad how hateful people in this community really are.

Classy.

Web Link

Based on the reported experience of prior and current neighbors of the Day Worker Center, The only thing the residents of Escuela Avenue have to fear is fear itself.

Day Worker Center is a euphemism for "illegal immigrant employment hall". If it were not, it wouldn't be much of an issue, and we surely wouldn't have the extreme left-wing "sanctuary city" folks defending them so vigorously. These arrogant people insist on deciding for the rest of us that certain laws they don't agree with -- federal immigration and employment statutes, in this case -- are to be subverted using everyone's taxes and the power of city government.

As illustrated by the very first comment here, the left has no real arguments to offer, but can only vilify their opponents as haters who should just shut up.

We're not haters -- and we won't shut up. Get used to it.

Americans and the children of legal residents are receiving 3 class education, since our schools have had accommodate millions of children of illegal foreign nationals mandated by Federal law. My son is crammed into a school, where the English language is a dead as archaic Latin.
It's time we place all our social services for our own legal population? It seems like every time we read the newspapers, our politicians are catering to illegal immigrants? We have amassed poverty in our own nation, yet we allow millions to come to America annually, which taxpayers underwrite for employers in medical services, education and other advantages. Our immigration laws have been tainted for the sake of monetary gain, which includes dropping E-verify, so illegal aliens can still appropriate jobs in this dire economy.

This editorial says it all, that children of illegal immigrants live in abject poverty, because Americans have allowed the special interest lobby to dictate to our legislators. Within immigration laws their is a clause, that anybody sponsored must be financially secure, or the sponsor must be able to financially support them. In the majority of cases this never happens, which causes a liability on US taxpayers. Then we have the distorted law of a child borne here, becomes an instant citizen? Nowhere else in the world will this happen, owing to fact the mother is--by law--an illegal alien. The original law was written for the benefit of the emancipation of slaves after the Civil War. More than any "Rule of Law" immigration laws have been corrupted, dumped or just plain ignored. So goes, E-Verify, Real ID, Federal program 247(g). All have been lobotomized for corporate welfare, US. Chamber of Commerce, ACLU and the radical ethnocentric organizations. Taxpayers have yet to realize hundreds of billions of their dollars are diverted to anti-sovereignty, open border cliques. Find facts at NUMBERSUSA, JUDICIALWATCH, CAPSWEB.

To all you people out there who are enamored with the idea of Mountain View hosting a “day workers center”…..if you love the idea so much why don’t you offer up your front yard as a gathering spot and “safe haven” for the day workers? While you are at it, pay for it out of your own pocket and don’t expect tax payers to fund this likely unlawful activity. If you are not prepared to offer space or money in support of a day workers center then go stand in front of a mirror and say to yourself “I’m all talk…no action” and then feel free to shut your pie hole.

One need look no further than the intelligent argument offered by "tbone" to understand the mindset of opponents of this plan:

"" if you love the idea so much why don't you offer up your front
"" yard as a gathering spot and safe haven for the day workers?
"" While you are at it, pay for it out of your own pocket and don't
"" expect tax payers to fund this likely unlawful activity.

The DWC is privately owned and privately funded, so I'm glad to see "tbone's" concerns are satisfied; no government involvement. Though, I'm not sure the same could be said for those begging intervention from the federal government.

Wow!!! Some of you need to take Xanax. First off Brittanicus, the editorial above say no such thing about children of illegal immigrants. Did you just cut-n-paste that rant from the inside cover of your upcoming book "I hate immigrants and blame everyone else because my life is miserable".

And RM, there are many, many good reasons to have a day workers center. Just ask our Governor, which I am guessing you voted for. You see, republicans, democrats, and moderates of all parties see valid reasons for addressing this issue, not just turning your back on it.

And Tbone, do some research and tell me what tax dollars are being spent on this project. Concerned residents are putting up their own money!

Before you all hi-jack this topic for your own personal soapbox rants, just remember that no one likes or listens to hateful people.

AB -

Can I conclude from your above comment that you are not offering your front yard or money from your pocket...if not, then please refer to my note referencing the mirror and the pie....

I sat through a community meeting when the day workers center was moving into a church on Mercy Street and representatives from the city stated “this is partially funded by the City of Mountain View”…

By the way, I'm not opposed to a day workers center (even one partially funded by the City)…what I am opposed to is “ramming it down the throats” of homeowners who don’t want it in their neighborhood. A day workers center belongs in an industrial neighborhood such as the Sears parking lot or the lumber yard off of San Antonio….it does not belong (and should not be forced into) a residential neighborhood. These neighbors have every right to oppose the center without being called hateful or cowardly for protecting their property values.

Again, if you believe the day workers center is so valuable, then host it at your house.

I wonder if (in)JudicialWatch is the organization that does the mass immigrant-bashing posts on every newsgroup in the country when issues like this get posted. Anyone who reads them knows that there are like 2-3 people posing at 5x that many.

As usual, anyone with the temerity to complain about illegal immigration is tarred as anti-immigration or racist. Yawn. Next story.

(Daniel, nice bit of CYA there, but if the MV police do not ask about citizenship and are not even supplied with the forms to report illegal immigrants, then the end result is really the about the same as "sanctuary".)

Anybody following this story knows that I approve of the Day Worker Center of Mountain View. I just think they belong in a commercial area rather than a residential neighborhood. It's better for everybody. That's why Mountain View has zoning ordinances. The neighborhoods stay residential, the DWC will do more business in a location with more exposure, and the people who hire them will have easier access. That's a win-win-win situtation.
I am not a hater and I hope this can all be resolved gracefully. The writer of the article made it sound otherwise.

Mr. Keller,

Thank you for your clarification. One question, did you contact Judicial Watch?

DEAR BRITTANICUS (or should I say Chris Farrell?):

It's interesting that you would name yourself after a prince of the Roman Empire, and spell it incorrectly. I can only assume you don't live in the Castro City neighborhood either, or in California for that matter. After a quick Google search, I found myself reading your ridicules comments in blogs and news stories across the country.

In your web postings, you call yourselves American patriots who are trying to stop the travesty of our immigration laws. You may be an American, but a patriot you are not. That term or notion is not one you get to claim. You don't get to bestow it upon yourself like you did with your cute username.

Don't bother coming to visit Mountain View. Spread your delusional paranoia and holier-than-thou propaganda somewhere else. By the way, Britannicus never came to power in Rome and was murdered by his brother just before his 14th birthday. Great username. What, was "hatemonger" already taken?

Keep your hate out of my town.

Hey Paul -

Nice slogan. I have another one for you.....Keep your day worker's center out of my neighborhood.

Everyone deserves a better life!, I think its wonderful we the loving bleeding hearts of Mountain View are doing what we can to help everyone! I say lets invite all the immigrants to Mt.View and feed, educate, and house everyone that comes to our town! But please, keep them over on Escuela ave. I wouldn't want my property value to go down. Thank you

I see this purely as a lack of proper outreach and communication on the part of the Day Worker Center to state their value to the community and their legal legitimacy.

I support the idea of having a center to help disadvantaged people and people of insufficient financial means. However to move into a neighborhood without explaining what the center is about or even whether it has the legal right to exist is to expect confusion and distrust.

I don't see this as a non-winnable situation. However I would prefer the parties representing the DWC to step forward and state their case in terms of how the DWC will be a net-win for the neighborhood. I see this as their burden of proof. It's otherwise regrettable that the neighbors-to-be are to be forced to examine the legal bearings themselves, taking it upon themselves to bring in third-party legal experts. To call these new neighbors "racist" for exercising this right is to pull a sensationalist-ic trump card for doing their civic duty. (I don't endorse any racist comments from above postings.) Even worse, calling these new neighbors "racist" merely alienates the neighbors you're otherwise trying to win over. Is this really the impression you want to make before moving into the neighborhood?

I don't see any of the bigots who are targeting this day worker center performing any kind of outreach demonstrating their value to the community or their legal legitimacy.

RM Thank you for your comments, as a long time MV resident I have see the changes a lax view of immigration law have made. I have no issue with legal immigration, it has made this counrty great. Illegal immigration is a crime and should be viewed as shuch by the police.

Robert,

No one called anyone a racist. You and USA are the only ones that used the term, assuming someone made the accusation. No one did.

Good point on the outreach though. I know there was some outreach done and you can never have too much. The DWC has been around for a while, albeit not in this neighborhood, and has had a very positive impact on the community. The benefits were discussed quite a bit at the numerous public meetings.

I have no problem with the DWC as long as it operates within an appropriately zoned area of the city and follows the law. I think that is reasonable and should be expected of any business in the city. Right?

The problem is that DWC flunks both of those.

The DWC is located in a residential area while there are plenty of empty commercial buildings in industrial zones that could be had for cheap.

Every business by law must verify that its employees have the legal right to work. As a small business owner, I know that paperwork is one of the easiest to deal with relative to the stack of other paperwork I need to do just to get through the month. I think is if fair that the DWC also follow the law. Will it? This is what the DWC website has to say about in their FAQ: Web Link

Q: Could I get in any trouble for using a worker who does not have proper documentation?

A: Information about employers who hire workers at the Center of employers is private and will never be shared with any government agency.

You can sugar coat this all you want, but it does not change the fact that the DWC is nothing more that a shelter for illegals AKA workers without proper documentation.

JO, let's take a look at the comments so far.

Fran: It's sad how hateful people in this community really are
Jo: ... no one likes or listens to hateful people
Paul: Keep your hate out of my town

Well, you certainly have the talk points down well -- "Free speech" is anything we like. "Hate speech" is anything we disagree with.

Sorry, but I think that illegal immigration is a crime and should be viewed as such by the police. That doesn't mean I am a "hater" or that I am doing some sort of bigot outreach program to skinheads.

Odd how the wheels of history turn.

The proposed site for the day worker center is just across the street from what was, as recently as the 1950s the heart of the Castro's family's land holdings. The Castro's, for those who don't know, were the *Mexican* family who saw thousands of American immigrants illegally occupy their land. What wasn't taken illegally they sold, often to pay off the fees of their American lawyers who were working to prove their land claims after our country successfully invaded, what was then, Mexico. What is now Rengstorff Park was the last piece of land they were able to hold on to.

I'm not saying illegal immigration is a-okay, but knowing this region's history, I just can't muster up the enthusiasm for booting an immigrant-resource like the day worker center out of this neighborhood or Mountain View. I'll leave that to the brave crusaders of Judicial Watch. Protecting us from the scary brown aliens who work the jobs that even in this economy, most Mountain Viewer's teenage kids would turn their noses at.

But enough of ancient history, eh?

Here's what I know about the dayworker site:

1. It's in an old laundromat
2. It's next to the train tracks.
3. It's across the street from an empty lot.
3. It's in the midst of the apartments many immigrants live in.
4. It's in a residential neighborhood, yes, sure, technically, but industrial uses have always kinda lined up against the tracks in this neighborhood. As recently as 1995 the JASCO chemical plant was just around the corner at 1710 Villa Street (it's still an empty superfund site today..) Until 1986, a giant Printing Press right next door.

Nevertheless, I was willing to hear the neighbors out on their concerns over the location since it would be a significant change of use.

But if these are the same neighbors who are bringing a group like Judicial Watch...a group that would have no qualms wasting the City's time and our tax-payer money defending lawsuit that has more to do with larger federal immigration policies, well, those neighbors shouldn't be surprised to see respect for their concerns rapidly go down the drain in the larger community.

For information on the case Judicial Watch is handling in Laguna Beach, CA go to www.betsyrosspatriots.com and look at the Documents section. You will find most of the court documents from that case. Pay close attention to the Statement of Facts. Unfortunately, the courts decided against us in this case. We appealed to the CA Supreme Ct. and they refused to hear it. The fight continues. Contact me if you need anything else.

YES. I totally agree. It's illegal. And that doesn't matter what so ever.

This entire country was built by illegal immigrants, from the skyscrapers of NYC, across the nation’s railroads, to the Golden Gate Bridge. Hell, slaves even built the White House. This isn't a question of legality. It's a moral issue. No one's mad at you because you oppose the DWC. It's your right as an American.

But I am upset with hateful tone of the conversation. Chances are, your parents, grandparents, or someone in their immediate family was an illegal immigrant. If not, then realize that other 90-percent of Mountain View, your neighbors, falls into that category. Also realize that illegal immigrants are mowing your lawn, picking your fruit, cooking your food, and fighting in our wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan while earning a path to citizenship, mush like many of our ancestors.

Now let's take it to a local level. Did you know that day workers get stiffed on a regular basis? They work a full day with no food and get dropped off in the afternoon with no pay or partial pay. Some of us Legals apparently think it okay because they won't call the police if they're not suppose to be here. Someone please explain to me how we allow this type of human indecency into our neighborhoods. Please explain why we should ignore it, or blame it on the illegal immigrant as if they got what they deserved.

Go to this website to see of our fallen soldiers from Iraq --> Web Link

Read their names and tell me Latinos and their relatives, near or far, don't deserve to be treated with respect. The DWC gives a voice to a part of our community that is here, whether you want to acknowledge it or not, whether you call them illegal or not. The DWC protects day workers and the community by getting everyone off streets.

Bottom line: They're still your neighbors. Nobodies leaving and it's time to face reality. Please do something helpful, or at the very least show some humanity if you disagree because your words affect the lives of other people.

[Post removed due to disrespectful comment.]

Illegal immigration is a story of poverty. All those illegal migrants have come here to better their lives. Most of the time they are illiterate. Not even having a basic middle school diploma. Hence if they were educated they would come through legal visas like people from India.

Those that come have no need for education since their only here to fill up low skill paying jobs that dont require a high school diploma. THis is were the link is brooken. Too many prefer to go about ignorant and feel less apart of this country. That is why when they first wanted to fight for immigration reform, you only saw mexican flags. As soon as the "smart" people saw no american flags they reached out to them and told them they must show respect for this country.

By not understanding that they must assimilate to American culture they create an isolation from mainstream society. That is why most Latino children join gangs and do not finish high school. Like their parents, kids follow in their footsteps. Although there are always exceptions to anything, the amount of Latino kids that follow these steps if much greater then those who do succeed. MOre often then not the media has to focus on all the negative portrayals of Immigration.

Illegal immigrants help the economy. But if they become legal, the economy and America would benefit greatly. The only problem is that there must be education and integration by illegal immigrants and legal migrants to America. And America must accept them as well. Once this is done, problems can begin to heal between both sides.

JO - You are using inaccurate rhetoric when you state that "This entire country was built by illegal immigrants.."

The status of anyone at a certain point in time is entirely relative to the law (if any) in effect at the time. Until 1965, there were very few laws that described or determined the legal status of any person within the United States. Therefore, all the 'hot air' about how our predecessors 'stole' the land from the true owners (the Native Indians), or were here illegally from Europe, is just a bunch of nonsense. Native Indian history clearly positions that they did not believe in ownership of a particular piece of land and roamed freely across their territory. When European settlers began arriving here and developing a new culture, they were not here 'illegaly' - as there was no centralized or formal government in place - and they formed the core of what is now the United States.

As a matter of interest, the U.S. has always been, and continues to be, the most accepting country in the world for LEGAL immigration.
The issue in this discussion is to the legal status of the persons who are 'in need' of the DWC.

Those of you who support actions that provide for a better life for persons who are in this country illegaly are either ignoring the 'bigger picture', which is - do we obey the current laws that say these people are here without lawful permission. Just imagine if you came home from work and found someone sleeping on your porch,
drinking from your sprinkler hose, using your bushes as a bathroom, who at some point in time began to demand that you provide a blanket, some food, to use your phone, etc. - simply moving in to your home without your permission. What would you do? Let them stay or call the police. IF you say let them stay...you are either lying (to yourself) or intentionally ignorant. IF you let that person move into your home, they will tell their friends, who will come to your house to live...these people will tell their friends, and so on and soon on...

That is why a modern nation MUST control the entry of persons into it. Otherwise, any person who is from a 'have-less' country will come to the U.S. and expect to be taken care of by the 'haves'.

Stop and think people....get real and stop yelling racism when people who are simply showing concern over the future of their country voice their opinions. If you cannot address the isses, stooping to invective only weakens your position.

UNKNOWN - no, the U.S. must NOT accept illegal aliens. Otherwise, we should simply drop our laws and allow everyone and anyone into our country. Laws are in place for a reason - and in this case it is to protect the society.

Yes, the major reason for these people to come is poverty. But why is it our responsibility to support them? Perhaps it would be a better plan to make them go back to their country and hope that they can form the same kinds of support groups they have here in the U.S. and foment change (for the better) in their own homeland.

Why do you and I have to make life easier or better for someone who doesn't even show us the respect of obeying our laws?

Well said DB. I would support the DWC if they used E-verify for all the workers that they allow to participate at the center. Is the DWC a non-profit agency? If the DWC is non-profit, don’t they have to allow the public to look at their books and documents? Is there anyone on this blog that can briefly educate the readers about non-profit and access to the DWC info?

JO -- not that it matters but most of my ancestors arrived from Europe in the late 1800s from Ireland, England, Germany, and Sweden. Like most of the immigrants today including the illegals today, they came for the opportunity for better life.

BTW, most illegals had jobs that they left in Mexico. They came here for better jobs and hire pay. I certainly don't blame them for that desire, but I do have some concerns about their methods. Anyway, the bit about being driven by poverty is a red herring. Poverty is thousands of children dieing of starvation in Africa. Poverty is not people with jobs saving up $3,000 to pay a smuggler to get into the US.

Apparently you and others see comments about illegal immigration as not just attacks on the crime but on all immigrants. As we have tried to point out that is not the case, but it doesn't seem to get through. What is clear, though, is that calling people "hateful" is, well, hateful. Ditto for snide comments about Xanax.

for those of you who support illegal aliens being here and want more to come:
why is california in such a mess now?
why is california in 50th place in education now?

california used to lead the nation in education. how sad to see this once great state fall.
my sympathies to those of you still living in the once great state of california who are against this huge invasion by illegal aliens.

ps..i went to disneyland 6 years ago. i will NEVER go back to anaheim. the streets outside of dland were dirty and not safe for families to walk down. when i went there in the 70's anaheim was clean and it was safe to walk to your hotel down the street after dark. not anymore!! although i love california, i will not be spending my tourist dollars there.

Native MVer - thank you for the background information on Castro. It is a sad irony that the Castro's last stand is now a park controlled by Mexican gang bangers.

Maybe you good also shed some light on a related issue. People wandered into the Americas from Asia then fought one another for thousands of years for control. The Spanish took the land from them. The Mexicans then took the land from the Spanish. The Americans then took the land from the Mexican. So, why do Mexicans say "we were here first"? Even those Mexicans with mostly "native" American ancestry seem to have dubious claim on the land.

"It's sad how hateful people in this community really are."

It's sad how moronic people in this comments section are. How about handing over your job to an illegal alien? You're the enabler, then enable them, you care so much. In the meantime, they're laughing at you as they collect welfare and receive all kinds of free social services, paid for by you.

"why is california in such a mess now?"

Prop 13.

"why is california in 50th place in education now?"

...Prop 13.

"california used to lead the nation in education. how sad to see this once great state fall."

Try to blame it on immigrants, but you can thank Prop 13 for locking the state and city's most basic source of revenue, property tax, and forcing us to rely on the economic rollercoaster ride of sales tax and development impact fees.

Immigrants (illegal and legal) have been pouring into CA and MV since the start, but you can trace to rapid decline of our schools to the passage of that proposition.

This lively debate has brought up all kinds of valid concerns and underscores the need for real immigration reform in this country. According to the posts here, immigration of peoples from one part of the world to another, in search of a better life, has existed for centuries and, like most social changes, is accompanied by some angst and varying perceptions. Immigration policy is an important topic that is worthy of polite and civil sharing of ideas.

To clarify, the Day Worker Center of Mountain View is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was founded 13 years ago by a coalition of business, civic, and religious leaders. The purchase of the 113 Escuela property, made possible by generous private donations, will allow the Center to have a permanent home. We believe that the renovation of this long-abandoned building will be an attractive asset to the neighborhood. As we attract more employers (typically homeowners who are in need of affordable casual labor for a day or two) we believe that more workers who currently choose to solicit work from El Camino will instead come to the Center to seek employment.

Regarding the need for community outreach....on May 9, at 7pm at the Community School of Music and Arts (CSMA) the Day Worker Center will present an exclusive screening of the documentary film "Letters from the Other Side" which tells the story of day workers and the families they leave behind. Most of you realize that the reason day workers come to the United States is for one reason --- to seek work in order to support their families.

The screening will be followed by a "meet the filmmaker Q & A" with Austin, TX based filmmaker Heather Courtney, and a reception. We invite all in the community to attend and learn more about day workers and their stories. The event is free but seats are limited, so please contact the Center at 903.4102 to reserve a seat.

The Day Worker Center, located at the corner of Hope and Mercy in downtown MV, is open 7am-2pm, Monday through Saturday, and visitors are welcome. Please stop by to meet our staff, observe an English class, enjoy a hot lunch, and learn about our many community service projects. We would be happy to meet you.

Robin Iwai
Board President
Day Worker Center of Mountain View

HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU LOSE A CASE CONCERNING ILLEGAL CRIMINAL IMMIGRANTS? AIDDING AND ABETTING CRIMINALS NOT AGAINST THE LAW?IS THIS ON LAW BOOKS FOR A JOKE TELL ME I DONT UNDERSTAND?WHEN ILLEGAL CRIMINAL LAW BREAKERS TELL AMERICA TO GO TO HAITI AND GET AWAY WITH IT WOW WOW? JUDICIAL WATCH IS A WATCH DOG FOR REAL AMERICAN LEGAL CITIZENS. DID A.C.L.U. AND NAPOLITANO GET INVOLVED?ILLEGALS IS THE KEY WORD MEANS CRIMINAL IN AMERICA? WHETHER IT BE I.D. OR JUST SNEAKING INTO AMERICA PROSECUTE ? SOMEDAY THERE WILL BE A DAY OF RECKENING THIS JUDGE AND WHOEVER ELSE MAKING WRONG RIGHT WILL PAY FOR THEIR CRIMES AGAINST AMERICA? AN AMERICAN>HOPE ITS SOON>>>

Brittanicus was a member of the Iceni tribe when Southern England was conquered by the Romans. My family is inuit (Eskimo) and came down from the outer parts of Alaska. A Danish Sea Captain befriended an Inuit woman, when Alaska was under the Rule of Russia. She had two children, after she committed suicide after the my great, grand father returned to a whaler. The children were brought to England and suffered the indignities of Ellis Island, New York. My father came to America from England and danced through hoops, even though he holds a chair at Lincoln University In Northern England. The tribes of Inuit were probably here long before the Conquistadors. Long before Mexican land titles. I believe in the "Rule of Law" That means upholding existing laws, including the 1986 Immigration and Control act.

Prop 13 was a desperate attempt to reel-in the out of control spending by cutting back on growth in taxes. Want to get it repealed? Show that you have earned it by showing some self-control.

BTW, CA spends more per student than most other states, so the idea that prop 13 or taxation/spending is the cause of poor performance is just a red herring.

garyrose: Geez dude, crack a book sometime.

Brittanicus: I understand very little of your life story here, or what your basic argument is.

USA: "California remains below the national average in per-pupil expenditures, ranking 29th in 2005–06, according to the National Education Association (NEA) Rankings & Estimates 2006–07. At $8,486, California was at 93% of the national average and ranked in the middle of the five most populous states."

Web Link

I'LL CHIP IN FOR ONE WAY BUS TICKETS BACK TO MEXICO.

There are federal laws against illegal immigration!

It's time to enforce them!

There are 13.2 million unemplyed American workers.

Illegals, using forged, and/or stolen identities, have illegally obtained up to 8.7 million jobs; these are jobs that Americans will do, jobs in food processing, jobs in manufacturing; these are jobs that rightfully belonged to American workers.

MANDATE E-VERIFY, FOR ALL EMPLOYEES, AND FOR ALL EMPLOYERS, AND IT WILL GENERATE 8.7 MILLION JOBS FOR UNEMPLOYED AMERICAN WORKERS!!!

California is ranked 46th worst, among all states, with a 10.5% unemployment rate.

Why would we want to promote anything benefiting illegal immigrants?

The DWC is privately owned and privately funded, so I'm glad to see "tbone's" concerns are satisfied; no government involvement.

Not true. MV had provided funding and it is in the grant budget for next year . Same for other cities and they are all being asked to fund the purchase. LA and LAH have agreed to provide funding.

The richest nation on earth is America and illegal immigration is the fight against poverty. More greedy corporations as well as small businesses look the other way on immigration because they rather benefit from employing someone for less money than gving its citizens regular pay. In America the rich have the most wealth, they also hold the most power. Without the top 1 percent of America there wouldnt be order to this country. They are the ones that guide our everyday lives. Its a coincidence that not everyone makes it to the elite and that not everyone is educated.

Yeah, I learned that scam back in the Boy Scouts. Take a piece of fruit or a fish and drop it on the ground some distance from your camp (such as a near a rival camp) That way the raccoons, bears, and others animals will be drawn away from your camp.

LA and LAH are all too happy to drop a few bucks into the Mountain View DWC. It gets the illegals off the sidewalk along El Camino while still giving them the benefit of the low-cost, tax-free, no questions asked labor. The businesses in Mountain View and surrounding communities are also happy to throw in a few bucks for the same reasons.

HELP STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.......MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD: Web Link

History: The Mexicans aka Aztecs were in Central Mexico and below. Mexico City was built on top of Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital. The Aztecs were not in the southwestern United States until Spain conquered that territory in the 16th century.

Background: The Aztec gods told the Aztecs to create their home where the eagle was sitting on a cactus eating a snake. (The symbol on the Mexican flag is symbolic of the message from the gods.) The Aztecs saw an eagle sitting on a cactus eating a snake in the middle of Lake Texcoco in Tenochtitlan, so that is where the Aztecs built their homeland. The Aztec capital was Tenochtitlan, which is where Mexico City was built after the Spanish drained Lake Texcoco. The Aztec Empire stretched from as far north as Tenochtitlan/Mexico City, and as far south as the Yucatan Peninsula. The Aztec empire did NOT include the southwestern United States.

The Aztecs were very abusive and brutal to their neighbors, so when the Spanish arrived in Tenochtitlan in 1519, the Aztec neighbors/enemies helped the Spanish defeat the Aztecs.

The Spanish also claimed territory in what is now part of the southwestern United States. When Mexico gained its independence from Spain, in 1821, then Mexico claimed the territory that Spain had controlled in the southwestern United States.

The Mexican government treated the people in the southwestern United States so badly that Texas seceded in 1836. (The Mexican government hasn’t changed in over 170 years.) The US went to war with Mexico in 1846 and gained the territories of the southwestern United States in 1848, through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (which Mexico signed). The US also paid Mexico $15 million dollars for the territory.

• Spain controlled the southwestern United States for over 300 years
• Mexico controlled the territory of the southwestern United States for 25 years (1821-1846).
• The United States has controlled the territory for over 160 years, so why does anyone think Mexico or Mexicans are think it is entitled to the southwestern United States?

If Mexico controlled the southwestern United States, then the southwestern states would be part of a third world country and Mexicans would be crossing at a higher latitude to enter the US.

If the United States gave the southwestern United States to Mexico, the Louisiana Purchase to the French, the colonies to England, and Alaska to the Russians, then the US would no longer exist. Where would the Mexicans go for jobs, money, and an education? Furthermore, if the United States did not exist, then the Germans would probably have won WWII, and we would all be speaking German.

Mexico has no more of a claim to the southwestern United States than the French do to the territory of the Louisiana Purchase or the British do to the colonies.

Why don’t Mexicans do more to fix Mexico? Mexico is one of the three top oil exporters to the US, has more natural resources than any country in the world, and is at the doorstep of the world’s largest consumer economy, so why is Mexico so poor? Why do so many Mexicans come to the US and demand rights that they would never demand in Mexico?

The numbers I got on the Census Bureau are from 2005, so a bit dated, but they show CA ranks 25th is student spending and 15th in spending on school administration. Those are not as good as I recall, so I stand corrected. However, the assertion that CA's troubles are due to lack of spending does not hold water.

JO - if Mexicans and slaves are responsible for building the US, then why isn't Mexico a thriving country? Mexico has more natural resources than any country in the world, they are the second largest exporter of oil to the US, and they are at the doorstep of the world's largest consumer market, so why is Mexico so poor? Why isn't Africa a thriving continent if blacks are so disciplined and enterprising? Why is Haiti so poor? Why are so many people in Latin and South America poor and uneducated?

I'm tired of people claiming racism is the reason some groups have not succeeded. If racism held people back, then Asians would not be doing so well and neither would the Indians from India who are darker than the Latinos and the blacks.

People are their own worst enemies and nobody holds anyone back. The individual holds himself back when he blames others for his failures.

We should not enable people who come here illegally. We should enforce our laws. What do you call a bank robbery? An undocumented withdrawal? Would you allow millions of people to rob our banks because they are poor and need the money?

Why aren't more people concerned with US citizens who are poor?
47 million Americans do not have health insurance
30+ million Americans go hungry every day
The US has a $14+ trillion dollar debt (more than the combined debt of all of the countries in the world)
Millions of Americans are homeless
20+ million Americans are unemployed
Our educational system needs immediate help
Our health care system is collapsing
Social Security and Medicare are going bankrupt
Our inner cities are war zones
Our roads and bridges need fixing
We are in the midst of an economic meltdown and our banks/businesses are on the ropes
And the list goes on…

Mountain View is a de facto sanctuary city because it has provided a sanctuary or safe haven for illegal immigrants. Mountain View offers day worker centers, free health care, discourages immigration raids, and the police don't report illegal immigrants to ICE. I think chief Vermeer said his father was an illegal immigrant.

If we would enforce our immigration laws our schools would not be over crowded and we would not have a gang problem.

We need to help poor US citizens and legal residents and employers need to use E-verify.

THE CHURCH IS AT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM, THEY JUST WANT TO INCREASE THE #'S [Portion removed due to disrespectful comment]. NO REGARD FOR THE GENERAL POPULATION.

[Post removed due to disrespectful comment.]

The amount of money spent on California's illegal immigrants and their families is *staggering*. Health care, welfare, child care, Section 8 housing supplements, special education for the "underserved", gang interventions,tutoring/mentoring, uninsured motorist damages,prisons. In addition to the Mountain View City funds and energy being spent on the DWC, what about the $$$ for the child care center? Do they check documents there? I doubt it. How about those served by organizations such as the Community Services Center? Yes, it's sad that people are poor but they do manage to send many, many millions of dollars back to Mexico and build homes and businesses there. And they are able to pay for cell phones, cable TV, shopping at Costco. How can governmental officials justify violating federal laws? Do we get to pick & choose which laws we obey? Why is it OK for illegals to steal Social Security numbers? To drive without drivers' licenses or insurance (one out of four in California, according to my insurance agent)? And, no, I don't save money by hiring undocumented workers -- I try wherever possible to *not* do business with those I know are illegals. Oh, and I think *LEGAL* immigration is wonderful.

I find it strange that people who have been living here for many generations can't seem to express their opinions. Why is it always 'hate'? These undocumented and perhaps some of them may be documented here, but it seems they have turned these neighborhoods upside down with their pushcart food stalls and causing danger to pedestrians and the automobiles waiting to turn into apartment complexes. I understand that these migrants are poor and definitely sympathasize with them but it doesn't geive them any right to violate city ordnanaces,this country's rules,laws and regualtions. These migrants and their community should first learn to obey all the rules,laws of this country if they want to make it here. Crimes and gangs have mutiplied so much in these neighborhoods that the long term residents and senior citizens are in real danger. It is time the Police crackdown these bad elements and make it safe for everyone.

I totally agree with the following from Brad.........."Anybody following this story knows that I approve of the Day Worker Center of Mountain View. I just think they belong in a commercial area rather than a residential neighborhood. It's better for everybody. That's why Mountain View has zoning ordinances. The neighborhoods stay residential, the DWC will do more business in a location with more exposure, and the people who hire them will have easier access. That's a win-win-win situtation".

Excuse me, commenters that live nowhere near the DWC. Maybe it should be moved to your neighborhood community instead, then let's see how you feel.

Alright Jo!!!!

I was not going to write, but now I will.
1. When the day labor center moved 1 block from me, many were concerned about loitering, messiness, etc. It has been the opposite. The church they occupy during the week looks more well kept than it has in years - churches are low on money like everyone else - I'm not blaming them.The only time I see people around there is Sunday morning or during the week, when the laborers are cleaning, gardening, even sweeping the STREET. I for one, will be sad when they leave. I wish they would stay in MY neighborhood, because mine is a nice neighborhood that they have made even better.
2. I don't believe in mixing politics and neighborliness. I don't know a lot about many of my neighbors and their status - I don't know if they pay taxes or obey laws, or even if they are legal. They are my neighbors. I don't need to agree with everything they do to be civil to them.
3. I fear that the protesting neighbors will soon turn on each other - have you checked the Megan's law for sexual predators? Are you sure that they all pay rent and their taxes, thus insuring that yours does not go up higher? I would suggest that you really think long and hard about what you want in a neighbor. The trouble with hate is that it doesn't stop with one group. Soon you are eyeing everyone with suspicion. I would not want to live in a neighborhood with suspicious people.
4. Does anyone remember years ago when the police participated in an INS sweep and they mistakenly arrested a descendent of the historic Castro family (obviously from a long heritage of US citizens and also a lawyer who was walking her child to school because her car broke down.) They took her child into protective custody and put her in jail because she didn't have her ID with her. It was not pretty. Be careful how you look at hispanic people.
5. Finally, I adopted three children from Russia several years ago. My husband and I are US citizens (as were our parents and grandparents). We followed the protocol and there was no reason for INS to deny their citizenship - they were already adopted. The INS lost our file 3 times, accused us of not coming to an appointment of which we were not notified, and told us that if their Citizenship Certificate (what adopted aliens get instead of a Naturalization paper) was ever lost or destroyed, the child would automatically be deported. There is no way to contact INS, there is no bathroom in the building in which we often had to wait for 4 or 5 hours to see someone. We had two congressional inquiries. Finally a woman I met told me she had dressed like a lawyer and gone into the backroom to get help because the same thing happened to her. I do not believe that every one who does not have legal status is illegal. I think the system is broken - my own children would not be citizens if I were not white, middle class and very bull headed. (Just in case you think we should have adopted locally, we were told that we would have to wait for 5-10 years to get a baby of matching ethnicity (half Greek 1/4 Norweigan and 1/4 Estonian) because they could not give us a child of another origin, so we went abroad).
6. I am not going to get into any argument with anyone about this,but this is what I think. Keep your politics and your personal life separate. How you treat people should not be based of what you think about the group they belong to.

The zoning along Escuela Avenue allows for multi-family, churches, and community centers in a 4 block long street with 49 buildings of which only about a dozen are single family residences. A few residents along this street oppose a vacant lot and an abandoned laundry building being converted to a place where undocumented workers can try to find work, register, learn English, and try to fit into a community. Distorting facts and misleading others in an effort to stop a program that helps solve a problem situation is shameful. Now the City of Mountain View will have to start spending money to defend themselves against an organization based in Washington D.C., that is a well-financed conservative think tank backed by the Mellon oil and banking fortune and the Olin chemical and munitions fortunes.

These outspoken residents have never gone to the Day Worker Center to meet these wonderful, caring, hard working people and see how well they run the place. Instead they judge all undocumented workers based on the few that have become problems. Judging an entire population by the actions of a few has been wrong throughout history. Immigration is a problem that this nation has argued about for decades. This problem is here in our cities right now and will not go away for a long time. What are you doing to help the situation?

It just amazes me how the dominant white culture in this state is in the long, slow process of eliminating itself through illegal immigration and all that celebrate diversity stuff. Hispanics will soon be the majority and more illegals entering this country, with their high birth rate, will soon outpace all other cultures if unchecked. I'm fine with it. Afterall, I'm Hispanic. Even though I don't agree with illegal immigration, I'll admit I'm envious to know that my grandchildren will live in a society where the tables are turned.

Sancturary in the church, all welcome.

It's terrible the remarks they make about gringa women, I don't dare walk at night. It's bad enough in the daytime. Why does'nt the INS do thier job?

Ernesto -- Sorry but there are a number of countries where a powerful minority rule over a majority. Take a look at the demographic breakdown on the school scores to see where we are headed.

The solution is very simple: photograph the vehicles of those offering employment at this slave labor auction place and report those employers to the authorities, most especially those authorities involved in collecting taxes. Hiring illegal aliens is illegal. Make the employer pay the price.

HIRE AMERICAN!

Justme, I'm sorry, but rational, intelligent and thoughtful commentary has no place here.

I gotta say, I think that the proposed location for the Day Worker center is a poor one-- not so much for the residents, but for the center itself. I would rather they were able to locate in a highly trafficed central location at or near El Camino or San Antonio.

Unfortunately I have reached an age where I am now retired (limited income) and am no longer able to do hard physical labor for myself.

Please inform me if there are resources for hiring LEGAL workers for several hours that won't break my budget, and would be willing to do that type of work.

I did offer the job to a newly unemployed neighbor (approx 20 years old). Apparently he preferred to make $ 0.00 an hour instead of the $12.00 I offered. That or the work was considered to be too hard, for he injured his arm on the day he was to show up for work and couldn't do any.

I turned to the DWC who provided me with a cheerful, courteous young man who was obviously accustomed to hard work for he did it rapidly and efficiently. Whatever I pointed to he performed-- digging, hauling, cleaning. I was most grateful.

How about a class action lawsuit against the INS, damages would be lower property values due to illegal aliens ruining neighborhoods. INS needs to enforce the immigration laws as other countries do.

The solution is simple, just put the DWC at Lozano's car wash.

In the present instance, the zoning regulations of the city must be enforced. The DWC is in violation, then no dice.

Regarding illegal immigrants - America must enforce its laws. It cannot be a free for all. Every place has a finite carrying capacity and California has far exceeded its limit. I do not want America to become a third-world nation. Too many people born here take it for granted.

Note that I am neither white nor anti-immigrants (since I am one myself). I simply want this to be the nation of laws it once was.

If things get much worse, you won't have much problem finding a neighbor or someone from the Unemployed American Day worker center being formed now, to do anything from gardening to fixing/updating your computer. I know several people who would LOVE to work for 12-16 bucks an hour cash. Let's keep it local people.
Documentation? no problem.
Speak and understand me? no problem.
Do I really know who you are? Sure, I'm the Little League coaches' son from down the block.
Oh yeah, your Granddad was My Dad's Science teacher.
See, it has to come home again. It just has to. That is what a community is all about.

Just try to go to mexico and get a job or start a work center. It would be a suicide mission. Why should we patronize them, so they can ruin our town. They really don't like American's they just want to see what they can get.

Police Chief Scott Vermeer told the Voice in June 2007 that local police have "no role enforcing federal immigration laws ... unless the safety of the general public is at stake."

The COPS are already committing FELONIES by violating FEDERAL law..

The MV leadership are doing the same...

My big question: Since obeying the LAWS of this country are out the window, why should I obey any of the laws that MV has? It looks like the MVPD wants to turn MV into EPA.

You have been warned of the consequences of your behavior. Enforce ALL laws or expect NONE to be followed.

The rest of the country is watching....

Re: Ex MV resident

I think it may be time to take the medication that has been prescribed to you....

[Post removed due to disrespectful comment]

Face it, the people using the Day Workers Center (DWC) are exploiters. The heart of the matter - some people are not willing to hire "legal" workers that would require them to pay at higher rates. Because of this "need" - the DWC has a market -- workers that are willing to take less pay. It's not a skin color issue or who was here first issue -- it is a simple economic issue.

Why don't we tap into another market - prostitution. It's essentially the same thing. Workers willing to sell sex to others willing to pay for it. If we're gonna use tax dollars to fund "workers centers", let's use it on something that's going to really bring in some dough into city coffers to help pay for Kevin Duggan's $251K salary! Poor baby isn't gonna even get a $20K raise this year! Talk about Criminal!!!!

Re: The Reactionary Fringe.
Your name states it all: Reactionary. Obviously you have no idea what the city manager does. For the stuff that he has to deal with he should get twice as much.
Oh!I get it: you would rather we pay a city manager less and have that new city manager run the city into the ground with incompetence? (You get what you pay for.)

Before you post a reactionary thought, maybe you should think first....

Unknown Says,

"That is why most Latino children join gangs and do not finish high school."

This is a blatantly racist comment and completely false. Go push your bigotry elsewhere, or at least have the stones to leave your name.

I posted some more information on my blog about Judicial Watch's lawsuit against Laguna Beach for its support of a day worker center. Web Link

Swine Flu another issue that is relevent to illegals trashing our dear town.

See the day worker van all painted up from the parade parked in st. joes parking lot facing castro st. I told you the church is behind this wrecking our town with illegals.

Due to repeated violations of our Terms of Use, comments from this poster are automatically removed. Why?