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Giving the cold shoulder to laborers
Revoking the ABC licenses of area convenience stores, confiscating bicycles and removing pay phones along Elden Street are but a few suggestions recently offered by Herndon Councilman Dennis Husch in an effort to "make Herndon unwelcoming to illegal aliens."
In a July 16 memo from Husch to Herndon Mayor Steve DeBenedittis and other council members, Husch outlined his intention to reduce the numbers of day laborers who congregate near the intersection of Alabama Drive and Elden Street.
"When action is taken to reduce their numbers, they will seek employment elsewhere," he wrote in the memo.
At least three other council members – who along with Husch make up a majority of the seven-member council – agreed.
In e-mails obtained by The Times, Vice Mayor Connie Haines Hutchinson and council members Bill Tirrell and David Kirby all voiced agreement that the issue should be addressed.
"Enough is enough," Kirby said in an e-mail addressed to the mayor and other council members. "I believe it is time to insist on our HPD Officers get out of the cruisers and walk or ride bicycles (save gas and bring back 'walking the beat') in that area and show their presence."
In a subsequent July 21 memo, Husch suggested several measures that "would contribute to the reduction in the number of day laborers."
"The list was a summation of suggestions I received from my constituents and deserves to be vetted by their elected representatives," Husch told The Times.
Among them are assigning a police officer and zoning inspector to the area; establishing a room rental permit program and a "pedestrian safety zone" that would prohibit standing along Elden Street between Herndon Parkway and Sterling Road; revoking the ability of "all quick marts in the area" to serve alcohol; establishing a town policy to confiscate all bicycles that are chained or tied to trees or sign posts in public rights-of-way; and removing pay phones along a section of Elden Street and other areas.
Dennis O'Donnell, a sometimes day laborer who was hired for nearly 50 day jobs at the Herndon Official Workers Center before it was closed last September, is a Gonzaga College High School classmate of former Herndon Mayor Mike O'Reilly.
O'Donnell said some of Husch's suggestions are "the right idea but the wrong approach." He said removing pay phones from the area is overkill because laborers only use the phones to receive job offers.
"All you would have to do is render them incapable of receiving calls," he said.
O'Donnell also said workers congregate at the Alabama Drive location because "illegal organizers undercut the wages" of laborers who congregate at the Alabama Drive Park location that was set up after the closing of the worker center last fall.
The hell with a cold shoulder. HOW ABOUT ENFORCING THE LAW!!! If they broke the law arrest them, prosecute them, and, if found guilty, punish them. After that, ICE can deport them. I pay my taxes and I demand the rule of law be enforced. Enough of the nonsense; ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL.
Posted by Gbaxter
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"Establishing a town policy to confiscate all bicycles that are chained or tied to trees or sign posts in public rights-of-way"? Goodness, what is the evidence that this would discourage day laborers? I live in a neighboring community and have a lot of errands in Herndon. When it's practical, I use my bicycle. Often, the only place to lock it is in the public right-of-way. I am careful not to obstruct pedestrian traffic or create hazards for motorists or parked cars. I'm having a hard time imagining returning to find a missing bike and wondering whether it was stolen by a thief or the town I parked it in. In the context of expensive fuel, a growing concern for 'green' alternatives, and the significant increase in bicycle transportation, this policy would not seem to reflect well on Herndon. But I can take my business elsewhere, if it becomes necessary.
Posted by D.Royal
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