Posted on 05/12/2007 8:59:40 PM PDT by SittinYonder
FARMERS BRANCH, Texas -- Farmers Branch residents on Saturday became the first in the nation to pass a regulation aimed at preventing illegal immigrants from renting apartments.
Voters in the Dallas suburb approved the measure, which requires apartment managers to verify that potential renters are U.S. citizens or legal immigrants.
The issue had sparked heated protests and debates.
One opponent of the measure likened the decision to segregation.
"This is going to be a black spot on Farmers Branch," Elizabeth Villafranca said. "This is going to be right in the column with the sitting in the back of the bus and not using bathrooms that whites use."
However, supporters said the ordinance helps the city enforce the law.
"I think people like [Villafranca] spread a lot of misinformation. They say a lot of things that aren't true," Councilman Tim O' Hare said. "Farmers Branch is a great place to live. It's a beautiful place. And it's a place that respects the law and wants to uphold the law."
Mayor Bob Phelps solidly opposed the ordinance and released a letter denouncing the ban.
Phelps said that vandals targeted his home with rocks and graffiti this week because of his stance on the ban.
The city plans to enforce the ban beginning May 22, but opponents said they would seek legal action to stop it.
An early voting turnout of almost 25 percent shattered all previous voter turnout records.
The United States Department of Justice monitored the election to ensure polling places were in compliance with the Voting Rights Act.
Council members first approved the ban in November, saying the federal government had failed to address illegal immigration.
The story doesn't say what the vote count was, but there was a "record breaking" 25 percent turnout.
Guess I know where to move now.
DOJ VRA ping ... Protecting the ability of non-citizens and non-residents to vote (and vote twice!) in Southern elections every year.
It's a little long for the water tower, but it'll look good on the city's website.
LMAO
I've had multiple opportunities to watch DOJ folks "monitor" elections under the Voting Rights Act. The best thing that could happen is to let this piece of trash law expire so the federal government can stop abusing Southern states.
The state of Oklahoma passed a tough illegal immigration bill this week. Now, Farmers Branch.
The stone is starting to roll, and it might just roll through Washington, DC and crush a few of the staunch pro-illegals politicians.
The elected in Washington have tended to ignore the voters on this issue. Now, the voters are starting to make the needed changes at the local and state levels. Washington incumbents should be shaking in their incumbencies, if they continue to ignore the voters.
How many votes were cast?
How many for?
How many against?
From here we learn that 68% of the voters voted for the law.
From here we learn that:
More than 3,000 residents out of 14,100 registered voters participated during early balloting, which ended Tuesday. That's about 2,000 more than the total number who voted in each of the past two municipal elections, according to the Dallas County Elections Department.Could it be that the reporters working for TV stations just don't know jack sh!t about reporting? Oh, but they are pretty.
NO, It's NOT! There is a huge difference. Black people were American citizens, and they had rights as citizens that they were denied.
Illegals have NO rights. Deal with it! Go back to Mexico, and you can have rights there!
The DOJ is a friggin joke. Long live my southern friends!
Yes.
From here we learn that 68% of the voters voted for the law.
Thanks.
No kidding! I didn't think there was any place to go where we could have a day without an illegal. ;o)
“Illegals have NO rights”
You would never know it with the Bush administration. Americans must press 1 for English.
I live in Carrollton, Tx. which borders Farmers Branch to the north. The area has a heavy hispanic and asian immigrant population. We just ask that immigrants are legal, law abiding and good citizens regardless of ethnicity. Send illegals home to follow the correct procedures for legal entry. No drug dealers or criminals allowed entry. Listen up Feds...we the legal citizens have spoken.
It don't take no branes ta report sumptin dis big!!!
Silly me! What was I thinking. Of course, you're right. I must have been dreaming. ;o)
Farmers Branch — Rental ordinance
Ordinance to ban people from renting apartments if they cannot show proof of citizenship or legal residency.
For 4,058 67.6%
Against 1,941 32.4%
Precincts reporting Complete returns
Results as of 10:26:45 PM on Saturday, May 12, 2007
BUMP
Agree with the sentiment, although I think “ballot initiatives” are asinine and antithetical to republican (note small “r”) principles.
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