Costa Mesa merchants in immigration debate (video and pics)

Orange County Register ^ | 3/23/06 | By KIMBERLY EDDS

[Ladycalif]

Costa Mesa merchants in immigration debate Some businesses plan to protest the city's stand on proposed changes in enforcement.

COSTA MESA – Every Thursday for the past few weeks, a group of hairdressers, auto mechanics and restaurant owners has quietly gathered to talk about lost dollars and customers. They say a move by Costa Mesa lawmakers to become the first city in the nation to allow local police to enforce federal immigration laws is to blame.

The group, which has swelled to 50 members, plans to take its meetings public this morning, to City Hall.

[Ladycalif]

[Ladycalif]

http://media.putfile.com/Pot-Holes

http://media.putfile.com/Wacko14

http://media.putfile.com/brokebutt_border

http://media.putfile.com/Wackos_Disrespect_Americans

http://www.immigrationwatchdog.com/?page_id=531

[starbase]

a group of hairdressers, auto mechanics and restaurant owners has quietly gathered to talk about lost dollars and customers.

Oh no, hairdressers are losing dollars! Quick! Destroy America!!!!!

[janetgreen]

BTTT for California patriots!

Mayor Mansoor should be given the medal of honor for doing what's right. We sure don't hear a lot from any of the other California "leaders", do we? Are they "hiding in the shadows", the same place where they claim the illegal aliens reside?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Do either of you (or anyone reading this) know which businesses these folk own?

I could drive there to shop, ya know....all but the hairdressers. :)

[seastay]

If they are so concerned about city business, then why dont they protest the illegal immigrants for stopping patrons from doing business at an Irish restaurant owned by someone connected with the cities new policy? On Fridays the illegals have hurt this business, by scaring away people. Its not the policies of the city in this case for poor business, but the policies of the illegal immigrants .

[1lawlady]

I wonder whether those hairdressers take food stamps? One way or other those illegals are having their hair done on my dime, while I go around looking like a shaggy dog between appointments b/c my budget isn't big enough to encompass more than an every other month hair appointment.

It's bad enough that they get dialysis free and I have to pay a lot of it, or that they get on the kidney transplant list ahead of me--now they've started to mess with something that's really important--my unalienable right to have my hair done. Darn it! I'm really angry now. Let the revolution begin. Deport now!

[cripplecreek]

Some businesses plan to protest the city's stand on proposed changes in enforcement.

They could always close their doors to protest if they need the illegals that much.

[janetgreen]

I'm in the L.A. harbor area, Gramma. I'll ping someone who might know the answer.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Thanks....after reading all of these comments, though, I'm wondering if I took it wrong....

I want to reward the businesses/city/mayor for what they're doing.....NOT the other way around.

[clawrence3]

I thought the boycott would "never" work?

[clawrence3]

I thought the boycott would "never" work though?

[cripplecreek]

There's a big difference between a boycott and an embargo. If the idiots can't operate without illegals, I say let them prove it by closing their doors. We'll see who can out last who. LOL

[clawrence3]

LOL indeed - I guess we would even argue about which came first, the chicken or the egg - bottom line is that Costa Mesa businesses are losing money just like I told you they would and you folks insisted they would not. I know I have not shopped at South Coast Plaza since then. According to the story, 50 business owners say their customers - fearful of being questioned about their immigration status if they head for Costa Mesa shops - are spending their money in Santa Ana and Garden Grove. Some business owners report as much as a 40 percent drop in business. Hispanics make up a third of Costa Mesa's population.

I also noted this from the story:

"Across town, members of the Minuteman Project, who oppose illegal immigration, have paced the sidewalks outside El Chinaco Mexican restaurant the last two Fridays. They waved signs accusing owner Mirna Burciaga, an El Salvador native, of being a racist for speaking against the policy."

Interesting.

[clawrence3]

Please add me to the El Chinaco PING list.

Any comment on the following:

"Across town, members of the Minuteman Project, who oppose illegal immigration, have paced the sidewalks outside El Chinaco Mexican restaurant the last two Fridays. They waved signs accusing owner Mirna Burciaga, an El Salvador native, of being a racist for speaking against the policy."

[cripplecreek]

We're going to be calling them felons in the future. LOL

[clawrence3]

Perhaps you missed the part where Sensenbrenner is offering to take out the change from civil offense to felony? Nonetheless, my bigger concern with HR 4437 is that the Church giving one hot meal to an illegal alien could be prosecuted.

[cripplecreek]

The tiny squeaking minority continues to squeak.

[tertiary01]

PING

[clawrence3]

It's a legitimate question: do you think that the Church giving one hot meal to an illegal alien should be prosecuted? If so, do you think that the Church giving Holy Communion to an illegal alien should be prosecuted?