| Jeff Parker, Florida Today |
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Isabel M. Estrada Portales
Washington's Voz
08/19/2005
More than ten hours of testimony and the Herndon Town Council was as ready as they ever be to vote on the day laborers center that have created such a controversy and generated national attention to the small town.
And the Council voted 5-2 on Wednesday in favor of building the center, which will be situated behind the Herndon Police building, and should be in operation by mid-September.
That, if the court efforts of residents opposed to the measure fail.
Councilman Dennis Husch and Councilwoman Ann Null voted against the proposal, arguing that it amounts to participating in violations of federal immigration laws, and would negatively affect the surrounding neighborhoods.
“The Major ran in support of the labor center, and I ran in opposition,” said Null in a radio interview. “I think the Major is the one pushing this the hardest. My emails are running 85 to 90 percent opposing the building of the center.”
Around 130 speakers, more or less evenly divided in favor or against the site, made public comments.
Fairfax County will provide the $170,000 grant for the facility, something that infuriates the opposition because they see as tax payer money supporting illegal activities.
Tim Freilich, from Virginia Justice Center testified at the public comments session.
“Whether or not we build the center there would be day laborers gathered,” said Freilich. “You want a regulated or a non-regulated site? We want to have it both ways: use the immigrants as cheap labor, without giving them any of the benefits that our society has to offer.”
The position of several supporters goes along those lines. They see the center as a way to put order in the chaos, where some 150 laborers gather on daily basis in a 7-Eleven parking lot, to the discomfort of customers, businesses and residents.
Project Hope and Harmony, a group of church leaders and volunteers, will be in charge of the site, and is raising more funds to that end.
Some try to push the charity to check for the migratory status of laborers, but that was a non starter on the negotiations. Jerry Kilgore, Republican candidate for Governor of Virginia, has also expressed his opposition to these centers, unless there are guarantees to verify the legal status of every worker. |
