Making an Oregon county free of 'illegal workers'

Residents Of St Helens (OR) Debate Immigrant Ordinance

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PORTLAND, OR 2007-07-18 Now that Congress has failed to overhaul US immigration law, local governments are under pressure to do something about the issue on their own. Wednesday in St.Helens, county commissioners heard testimony on a local ordinance to place signs declaring Columbia County to be "illegal-worker free."

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Wayne Mayo is the local construction contractor who wrote a letter to the editor last week on illegal immigration. He outlined a proposed ordinance to have sheriff's deputies run Social Security checks on construction crews. He also wants fines for landlords who rent to undocumented workers and a complaint line for citizens to name immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally.

After the hearing, Mayo said wants the county put up signs that read "illegal-worker free county."

Wayne Mayo: "Those signs would say that Columbia County is a county ruled by the rule of law, that we simply want people to be here legally. We're not opposed to the color of their skin. We're not opposed to their ethnic background, to their country of origin. What we want is the proper paperwork in place."

But supporters of Mayo's proposed ordinance were outnumbered at the meeting. Members of the group "Columbia County Citizens for Human Dignity" appeared en mass to testify against it.

more at link: http://publicbroadcasting.net/opb/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1115886§ionID=1

What's the symbol?

I actually like the idea of fining employers. I do not like the idea of forcing landlords to determine status, and the complaint line idea just reeks of Nazism.

Additionally, one of the county commissioners was a good high school friend.

I grew up there, my mom still lives there, and it is one very weird place.

But aside from my interest, I'll bet this story blows up into something bigger soon.

Putting up signs, in Wayne's world, will save us from illegal immigration; he wants the Sheriff's Department to enforce it, despite the fact that the Sheriff's levy has been voted down several times, they are chronically understaffed, and I'll bet Wayne voted against it.

Tick tock.

That's certainly not very republican.

He is probably being underbid by contractors who hire illegal workers, And I'm sympathetic to his situation but I think the county's finances would not permit sheriff's deputies running around to construction job sites checking sociaal security numbers.

And unfortunately I suspect that many of the county's citizens would oppose this also as they take advantage of the lower costs afforded by those contractors using the illegal workers.

It's my home turf. You are right on every count.

Bravo.

I would add that Wayne is an extremely RW social conservative, so even though he says that he's not opposed to brown people, Columbia County is 95.4% white, 3.3% Latino, and 0.5% black.

Oh the stories I could tell....

you can be pretty sure its about skin color at least partly.

...and sure enough, to date no blue helmeted soldiers in UN tanks have rolled down US 26 to invade the place. Maybe Mr. Mayo will have similar success. Sigh...

I don't live in the aforementioned county anymore, and I don't plan on moving to Columbia County soon, not because I'm an illegal, but just because...well, you get the picture I'm sure.

Sheesh!

:toast:

Beautiful, wild, and ... very Republican.

:)

Beautiful, true--and in my ten years there I came to know a few what you might call fairly reasonable people. But let me tell you, it's more than "very" Republican over there. I could write a book, but it would require me to revisit those ten years, and I'd just as soon not drive myself crazy all over again. I did find DU while still there, and that was my anchor in the midst of all the nuttiness around me. Oh, make that "perceived nuttiness". This is just IMHO, right?? Don't wanta get on the wrong side of those folks. I've known a few who have, and it ain't pretty! One thing's for sure--I didn't dare put my "Democratic Underground" bumper sticker on my car. Not that brave!

Cheers back atcha!

Tired Old Cynic

And Ted Ferrioli. And Kam Wah Chung.

It is definitely a unique place.

I've visited many times, usually on my way to somewhere else. But I managed to have my DU sticker on and not get shot the last five years.

:hi:

and seeing Strawberry Mountain and the valley spread out below it (from the viewpoint with the big old covered wagon). I spent many years of my life involved with Kam Wah Chung activities/issues (only place like it in the world, as far as we know--a true Oregon Treasure). Won't comment about Senator Ted (interesting guy!), and will just say I'm glad you never got hammered (that would be your bumper with some blunt instrument) for displaying your DU sticker. Actually takes a bit more than that to get shot, even in Grant County!


:hi:

I'm sure they're just being bombarded with those dirty mexicans. :eyes:

Good for those who protested these idiots. It's time to shut them down.

have more than a few undocumented workers....and they brought that damn mexican food with'em!
You cant swing a dead cat without hitting one of those delicious-er-damn taco stands!
:sarcasm:
mmmmm....carne asada....

Im way out there I suppose...I think we should just open the border and let it all flow back and forth. What difference does it make in the long run?

Haven't heard a one of 'em propose putting up signs or narking on Latinos to the Sheriff's Department.

Coos and Columbia counties' problem is TWEEKERS.

Now that's something I could get behind .... :hi:

...species...:scared:

the same thing with Northern California!

stop worrying about the Mexicans and the pot growers, go after the thousands of clandestine meth labs that are freaking everywhere.

they are the walking dead, you should see the Phoenix varieties... not fun!

The Democratic party is the party of the worker. Illegals take jobs from our true base, and lower wages of those that do still manage to work. I don't want them here, even legally. I'm not a 'cheap labor Conservative'.

The US gov't should help them stay in their own countries, by establishing industries (owned by natives, not investors) in their own countries.

Illegals hurt Democrats and help Republicans (cheap labor Conservatives).

The general consensus around here is just plain wrong.

Would putting up signs declaring your county, city, town, community "illegal-worker free" help ANYONE?

Did you even read the original post or link?

And, to say, "The US gov't should help them stay in their own countries, by establishing industries (owned by natives, not investors) in their own countries."

You didn't read it.

Try again.