Posted on 11/24/2007 6:10:35 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Despite all his tough talk about securing borders and immigration reform, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last month signed AB 976, making California the first state in the union to prohibit landlords from asking tenants about their immigration status.
Talk about your dubious distinctions.
Not a single Senate or Assembly Republican voted in support of the bill, but the governor -- never one to fret over party loyalties -- signed anyway.
The governor's approval of the bill made Bakersfield Assemblywoman Jean Fuller so mad, she fired off a letter to The Californian's editorial page, blasting the bill for "making it easier for illegal immigrants to stay" in the United States.
"I was really angry on the floor when this passed," Fuller said. "Part of the reason I was so upset is the second part of the bill really trespasses on landlords' right to protect their businesses."
The bill prohibits cities and counties from enacting ordinances requiring landlords to determine the immigration status of potential tenants and booting out those here illegally. Such an ordinance was enacted in the city of Escondido, where landlords who failed to comply would have been subject to substantial fines or the loss of their business licenses. The Escondido bill was challenged in court and quickly rescinded.
So it's doubtful any city council that reads a newspaper would try that again, but Assemblyman Charles Calderon, D-Industry, penned the new bill anyway, slamming the Escondido ordinance for targeting "people of color." It didn't. It targeted illegal immigrants, but such rhetoric surely grabs at the hearts of landlords who fear the threat of possible legal reprisals.
The problem now is Calderon's bill actually forbids landlords to even ask prospective tenants about their citizenship status.
"The point of asking is so landlords can protect their financial assets from someone who is more likely to flee the country," Fuller said. "This bill is a special protection to a person who does not have legal status and is breaking immigration laws."
Oddly enough, the Apartment Association of California Southern Cities and other apartment owner groups were among the measure's main supporters.
Malcom Bennett president of the association, said the bill does, in fact, allow landlords to ask for the documents they need in order to protect their businesses.
"We're not forbidden to do it, we're just not required to do it," Bennett said of citizenship inquiries. "We can verify a person's identity and credit history. We (landlords) know what we can ask for."
Maybe so. But the don't-ask-don't-tell policy established by this bill sends yet another message to California's illegals that there's no rush to pack their bags just yet.
***
Schwarzenegger may not have the final word on SB 777, the bill he signed banning anything in public schools that could have "a discriminatory bias" against homosexuality, bisexuality, transsexuality or "other alternate lifestyles."
Laws that protect all children from harassment are already in force, but, in October, Schwarzenegger signed the ambiguously worded bill anyway.
Californians voted several years ago to define marriage as between a man and a woman, but heaven forbid a teacher say so in the classroom. Unbelievably, the California Teachers Association and the California State Parent Teacher Association were among the supporters of this extremist piece of legislation.
Now, some pro-family watchdogs are calling for a referendum to prevent the implementation of the bill, which goes into effect on Jan. 1. The Capitol Resource Institute must collect over half a million signatures to qualify for the June 2008 ballot and they need to do it quickly.
They're looking for like-minded individuals and groups to help collect signatures. To find out how to help, visit www.saveourkids.net.
Gee, thanks RINOld!
Any conservatives left in California have my sympathy. Arnold’s a real gem, isn’t he.
ping
California isn’t really part of the United States anymore. Is there any reason why the rest of us should continue to pretend that it is? We’ve lost California. We lost it because neither political party saw any profit in protecting our borders. “Market forces” demanded serfs and market forces got them. Its that simple. The same thing is going on with oil. We have no energy policy because neither party wants one. Market forces are at work, the backers of both parties are getting fabulously rich and this winter people will freeze or die of carbon monoxide poisoning because they can’t afford heating oil.
Now, to the extent that a “free market” and fabulous wealth is important, I suppose we should continue on as we have. We do, however, need to remember that it will likely mean that a large chunk of this country will be part of Greater Mexico and such economy and population as is left in the NE and upper Mid West will pretty much disappear.
Good old Arnie. True to his wife, the niece of the Senator that drowns women.
Yes but a landlord can ask for a S/S#, DL# and a deposit for a credit and background check. That should be able to tell a landlord what’s up.
FYI
Schwarzenegger may not have the final word on SB 777...
Now, some pro-family watchdogs are calling for a referendum to prevent the implementation of the bill, which goes into effect on Jan. 1. The Capitol Resource Institute must collect over half a million signatures to qualify for the June 2008 ballot and they need to do it quickly.
They’re looking for like-minded individuals and groups to help collect signatures. To find out how to help, visit www.saveourkids.net.
This is a very irritating policy decision.
QFT
I’m a California voter. I’ll sign it.
Amazing that out State “leaders” now require that we join their conspiracy to help illegals violate immigration law.
"The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a Republican Form of Government,
1. The act of invading; the act of encroaching upon the rights or possessions of another; encroachment; trespass.
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Time to build a fence between California and America.
“Yes but a landlord can ask for a S/S#, DL# and a deposit for a credit and background check. That should be able to tell a landlord what’s up”
Yep that ought to tell him if 2 or 20 people will be living
in the 2 bedroom apartment : )
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."?
If so, can we plan on using this section before November '08?
"The President, Vice President and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."
btt
Nobody is going to be impeached.
The key is electing folks who actually believe that the Constitution is more than toilet paper.
Some communities in Cal are looking to limit what they call mini-dorms. The practice of putting as many college students in a home as possible and making a lot on rent. I don't know of any limits that have passed or gone to court.
“I don’t know of any limits that have passed or gone to court.”
Neither do I.
“Nobody is going to be impeached.
The key is electing folks who actually believe that the Constitution is more than toilet paper.”
That would certainly help!
“Nobody is going to be impeached.”
That really is a shame; an impeachment for failure to uphold the constitution and allowing, indeed abetting, an invasion might serve to “encourager les autres”.
“The key is electing folks who actually believe that the Constitution is more than toilet paper.”
Senile old me! Here I thought that’s what I did the last two times around. Any ideas on who that might be in ‘08...who is running I mean!
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