(Los Angeles City) Council creates Office of Immigrant Affairs

LA Daily News ^ | March 3, 2004 | Rick Orlov

[FairOpinion]

With more than 40 percent of Los Angeles residents having come from foreign countries, the city on Tuesday created an Office of Immigrant Affairs to help newcomers adjust to their new home.

The City Council voted unanimously to create the office under Mayor James Hahn's jurisdiction. The office will be staffed with two employees who will help put immigrants in contact with existing community service and support organizations.

The $125,000 cost to operate the office will be covered by federal grants during the first year and included as part of the mayor's operating budget in future years.

"This is not an office that is designed to encourage people to break the law by moving here illegally," Hahn said at a City Hall news conference. "What we are doing is recognizing the needs of the immigrant community that make this city so great."

Councilman Eric Garcetti, who introduced the proposal, said it was long overdue.

"In my district alone, there are more than 100 different languages spoken," Garcetti said. "Los Angeles is a city fueled by immigrants' dreams and visions. The time is now to dedicate a branch of our city government to welcoming immigrants to our city."

Garcetti said New York, Chicago and Houston have similar operations.

"We can't look at immigrants as people who just came here yesterday," Councilman Tony Cardenas said. "We have to look at the past, the present and the future contributions."

Rick Oltman, western director of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, questioned the need for the office.

"It's not the money they're spending, it's the symbolism," Oltman said. "Those immigrants who are in the country legally don't seem to have a problem getting along. I'm not sure if this is just another government entity looking to help promote illegal immigration."

[FairOpinion]

Well, what can we expect with a Dem Mayor and Dem City Council.

But why are they getting Federal funding for this?!

[farmfriend]

Who is running a ping list for these things?

[farmfriend]

But why are they getting Federal funding for this?!

It is all part of the plan!

[FairOpinion]

"Who is running a ping list for these things?"

==

I think it's JustPiper, but she got mad at me for pingin her on some pro-Bush immigration related articles.

You can probably ping her.

[farmfriend]

Thanks, will do.

[farmfriend]

Are you running an imigration ping list?

[NormsRevenge]

Federal grant money, no less? Great!

[longtermmemmory]

So will this town start offering visa's on their own too? Their own ID for "undocumented" residents.

It is a good Idea IF it is a convenience issue and is available to LEGAL immigrants.

[farmfriend]

Going after that hispanic vote.

[longtermmemmory]

It may not be all bad. Especially if the goal is assimilation and teaching English.

[NormsRevenge]

amazing how readily a government will support cutting its own throat and just shrug it off as paranoia when someone says something.

[FairOpinion]

That's why I keep trying to explain to people that Democrats are a thousand times worse than any Republican.

This didn't and wouldn't have happened, while Riordan was Mayor of LA.

People need to focus on the real enemy: the Democrats.

[NormsRevenge]

True, it may not all be bad.

There are a lot of legal immigrants too, but considering, most of the folks that will probably use this "service" will probably not be legal. we'll see.. maybe it's a sting. ;-}

America is a grand experiment, even today.

[Joe Hadenuf]

$125,000 cost to operate the office will be covered by federal grants

There's that word, "federal" again...

[RedMonqey]

"Los Angeles is a city fueled by immigrants' dreams and visions.

Question:

If immigration as it is today is SUCH a great economic boost for America, then WHY is EVERY city that has a LARGE percentage of them an total HELLHOLE?

[NormsRevenge]

speaking of the enemy.. just caught a glimpse of Hitlary chuckling on a Lou Dobbs show snip when asked if she would be a VeeP on the ticket with Kerry.. I wonder how JF'in Kerry would feeel serving under her? ;-]

[FairOpinion]

"I wonder how JF'in Kerry would feeel serving under her?" ;-]


===

I am sure he wouldn't have to for long -- he probably would meet with some unfortunate accident, and Hillary would be crying at his funeral, the way Bill was shedding tears, when the camera was on him, on the Ron Brown funeral.

[GeronL]

The office will be staffed with two employees who will help put immigrants in contact with existing community service and support organizations

What?? no phonebooks in LA??

[GeronL]

Congress approved a billion dollars for cities and hospitals that cater to immigrants last year... its all gotta go somewhere.