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Post by Mike Rosseel on Nov 16, 2009 17:15:29 GMT -5
today as i was driving down Throckmorton St i noticed a group of workers cutting trees and doing a general clean up! The group was wearing yellow shirts that said Latino Volunteers, does anyone know what this is about? Who is this group or where did they come from? just curious
(Thread title edited by admin)
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Post by admin on Nov 16, 2009 17:39:30 GMT -5
The cat is out of the bag. This is an initiative lead by Casa Freehold and a couple of other interests. I believe this is the second time within the past couple of months that the group has done this. I have know about it for a little while and have actually received feedback from fellow residents who were wondering and happy about the clean ups.
It is no secret that I have been very critical of Casa Freehold. But, I always give credit where it is due and they are doing a good thing here. I just wish they had been doing these sort of things all along.
Outside of Casa Freehold's involvement, I have also received some really good feedback about the actual day laborers who have been helping. Supposedly, many of these guys are really interested in helping and promoting a better perception. This type of initiative is perfect. It give people the opportunity to earn respect.
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Post by Mike Rosseel on Nov 16, 2009 22:06:10 GMT -5
Admin
Agreed...just hope there doing this for the right reasons and not to make some point down the road. i think the group as a whole has alot to do to gain freeholds trust
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Post by admin on Nov 17, 2009 7:09:56 GMT -5
Admin Agreed...just hope there doing this for the right reasons and not to make some point down the road. i think the group as a whole has alot to do to gain freeholds trust Your last line says it all. With their past history, CF does have a lot to do to earn the trust of the residents of this town. |
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Post by admin on Nov 17, 2009 7:38:35 GMT -5
I did receive some additional information to share. First, I have to ask Freeholdboy-would you mind if I took the liberty and changed the title of this thread so that it is easier to reference in the future? Your decision. This clean up initiative was helped out by borough residents Jeffery Friedman and Andrew Kiely. I believe these two gentleman are the ones who pushed for this idea. With Casa Freehold, they were also able to get businesses to donate some funds to assist with costs such as gloves, bags, water and other necessities. With the upcoming improvements on Throckmorton from the FCP, County, and Borough, this is certainly a good place for the clean up initiatives. Monday was actually the third clean up they have organized. There is a desire to continue these efforts and to bring them to other parts of town. The plan is to continue this in the spring and do these clean ups on the week ends in order to bring about even more community involvement. In previous posts, both Freeholdboy and I have expressed reservations about Casa Freehold. I know that we are not alone and since the start of this thread, I have received emails from readers who also are skeptical and have reservations. But, that aside, I have to say good job to Jeff and Andrew. Many times I have said on this site that there is dialog that has to take place and concerns that have to be addressed. Even in the past election, neither of the two parties wanted to touch these issues, which are at the top of voter minds. It is for that reason I give Jeff and Andrew credit. They are taking a lead where others should have. Some will recall that Jeff is a registered participant on this site. Here is a link to his very first post. freeholdvoice.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=anythingfreeholdborough&action=display&thread=4752It is a thought provoking and well said post. Clearly Jeff is like me and many other people who realize that we need to stop with the stagnation on these issues and start dealing with them. I doubt that any one person is going to agree with everything that will be written or said, but I think people will agree that we need to move forward in a way that addresses legal resident concerns, business owner concerns, and the concerns pertaining to dealing with the day laborers in a humane way. I have also written that who ever takes the initiatives to push things forward will dictate the pace, direction, and agenda associated with all of these issues. Right now that belongs to Jeff, Andrew, and Casa Freehold. I will say that these clean ups are a very good first step. (This is the part where Casa Freehold really needs to pay attention.) This is how the day laborers can earn respect. In the past the activists have marched on our streets, waving foreign flags, and at times, demeaned the genuine concerns of the legal residents of this town. Not one of those actions have done anything to help the illegal immigrant and day laborer populations earn respect. If anything, those actions have had an opposite affect. Lets hope that this community clean up initiative is all the beginning of a new chapter in Freehold Borough. It gives us reasons to bring all people together for the right reasons. Unity in our community is what we should be striving for. |
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Post by Mike Rosseel on Nov 17, 2009 10:04:17 GMT -5
Admin,
Please feel free to change the head of this thread.
i have a few questions. Its good to see these residents taking the controls and getting involved, with that being said, what is this organization doing to help or guides these people into following the proper steps and channels to become legal citizens? Its nice that they are doing the work and trying to show a good faith to the people of freehold but is it a smoke screen? Weither you support day laborers or not there are still a few issues that need to be adressed; 1. the contractors that are using these gentlemen are cheating the system which in the end cost all the residents. Do these contractors take out taxes? Are there insurance covering these workers or the peoples homes they are working on? 2. Are the day laborers being educated to why the people of town have an issues with them? Do they realize that they are making us pay for them? 3. Are the day laborers incouraged to keep doing things in freehold which will make people see they care as much as the rest of the residents do about freehold? 4. What does Casa Freehold really stand for? i mean really!
I feel that this is a nice effort but truth be told Casa freehold needs to do more then stick up or protest for these gentlemens rights. Cutting some trees and raking some leaves is nice but doesnt help with our schools being over crowded or these workers not paying taxes. Maybe Casa Freehold should make themselves availible for the residents to meet with them to find out what there teaching these gentlemen, are they showing them the steps needed to become LEGAL working citizens? this is were my reservation is for Casa Freehold. Not sure we should be praising them yet! not sure this isnt a smoke screen!
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Post by admin on Nov 17, 2009 13:23:19 GMT -5
Admin, Please feel free to change the head of this thread. i have a few questions. Its good to see these residents taking the controls and getting involved, with that being said, what is this organization doing to help or guides these people into following the proper steps and channels to become legal citizens? Its nice that they are doing the work and trying to show a good faith to the people of freehold but is it a smoke screen? Weither you support day laborers or not there are still a few issues that need to be adressed; 1. the contractors that are using these gentlemen are cheating the system which in the end cost all the residents. Do these contractors take out taxes? Are there insurance covering these workers or the peoples homes they are working on? 2. Are the day laborers being educated to why the people of town have an issues with them? Do they realize that they are making us pay for them? 3. Are the day laborers incouraged to keep doing things in freehold which will make people see they care as much as the rest of the residents do about freehold? 4. What does Casa Freehold really stand for? i mean really! I feel that this is a nice effort but truth be told Casa freehold needs to do more then stick up or protest for these gentlemens rights. Cutting some trees and raking some leaves is nice but doesnt help with our schools being over crowded or these workers not paying taxes. Maybe Casa Freehold should make themselves availible for the residents to meet with them to find out what there teaching these gentlemen, are they showing them the steps needed to become LEGAL working citizens? this is were my reservation is for Casa Freehold. Not sure we should be praising them yet! not sure this isnt a smoke screen! Thank you, I did change the topic name. This way it will be easier for people to find this topic if they look it up in the future. You do bring up a lot of very good follow up questions. Here is an old APP article on Casa Freehold: NICK PETRUNCIO The Associated Press contributed to this story. Nick Petruncio: (732) 308-7752 or npetruncio@app.com
FREEHOLD BUREAU
A comprehensive immigration reform policy in a country by, for and of the people needs to come from those who will be affected by the policy, an immigrant rights group believes.
The group, Casa Freehold, hosted a forum Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street during which the approximately 20 attendees devised a list of principles they believe must be included in any immigration reform bill that comes out of Congress.
"It is the direct involvement of people in government policy, we feel, that is the essence of democracy, that it's not from the top down, but from the bottom up," said John Leschak of Howell, who is involved with Casa and will be attending law school at Hofstra University on Long Island in the fall.
The principles call for:
An end to raids and deportation
An expansion of the work and family visa program
Reform of the Guest Worker Program
Legalization now
Immediate unconditional amnesty Decreased border militarization
Protection of immigrant-worker rights
Union benefits and workers' compensation for foreign workers that is equivalent to that of U.S.-born workers
Protection of families and family unification
Support for a part of the immigration code known as "245 I," which allows an immigrant to apply for a change in legal status while he or she is still in the country.
Leschak also said those at the forum endorsed the Dream Act, a bill that would make foreign-born people with legal residency eligible for the same higher education benefits as native-born residents. There is a state version of this legislation in the Assembly now, he said.
He added that immigration, because of its very nature, needs to be multinational and that the system could be greatly improved if the U.S. worked with other countries instead of using the current approach.
The group is calling on everyone inside the U.S. borders, citizens and noncitizens alike, to come together and support these "humane" principles and to contact their legislators.
Current and proposed methods of handling the immigration situation in this country that include "militarizing the border" promote hate, racism and division, according to Teresa Gutierrez of Queens, a member of the May 1 Committee, another immigrant rights organization.
She said an electric fence along the U.S.-Mexico border will cost $20 million to build and $1 million a day to maintain when that money could be better spent on initiatives such as funding cash-strapped local schools. Some parents in the Freehold School District blame illegal immigrants, who they say do not contribute to the tax base, for the district's funding and overcrowding problem.
"It's a lie that immigrants rob services," Gutierrez said.
Immigrants pay taxes every time they make a purchase, and they also pay income and property taxes, according to Gutierrez and to Casa-provided literature citing the National Academy of Sciences, Cato Institute, Urban Institute, and the Social Security Administration.
"We have to ask ourselves why the anti-immigration hysteria is rearing its ugly head around the world," she said.
Gutierrez noted that people migrate to other countries out of desperation and, in the case of the U.S., because of that and because of failed economic policies such as the North American Free Trade Agreement.
She said, immigrants in part made this country a superpower and they still contribute to this country.
"People have to ask what kind of society do they want to live in," she said.After reading the above article, it is evident that Casa Freehold is less about Freehold and more in tune with a bigger, more national agenda. Of course, this web site has a wondeful archive. Here is a very good write up from a couple years ago. freeholdvoice.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=anythingfreeholdborough&action=display&thread=2920And here is a good look at who praises Casa freehold: www.workers.org/2005/us/freehold-0714/ |
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Post by Mike Rosseel on Nov 17, 2009 13:31:55 GMT -5
"The principles call for:
An end to raids and deportation
An expansion of the work and family visa program
Reform of the Guest Worker Program
Legalization now
Immediate unconditional amnesty Decreased border militarization
Protection of immigrant-worker rights
Union benefits and workers' compensation for foreign workers that is equivalent to that of U.S.-born workers
Protection of families and family unification
Support for a part of the immigration code known as "245 I," which allows an immigrant to apply for a change in legal status while he or she is still in the country.
Leschak also said those at the forum endorsed the Dream Act, a bill that would make foreign-born people with legal residency eligible for the same higher education benefits as native-born residents. There is a state version of this legislation in the Assembly now, he said."
admin it seems to me like a hidden agenda! Sure lets rake the leaves and make frrehold look better but we dont care bout freehold, SMOKE SCREEN!!!!! Seems to me like casa freehold is looking for the goverment to hand out free passes, that IS NOT what needs to be done. If Casa Freehold was making these people take the proper steps in becoming citizens i would applaud it but it doesnt seem like thats whats going on. I work in construction and 1 out of like 25 pay taxes, that is a joke
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bergsteiger
Full Member
War is simple, direct, and ruthless
Posts: 1,189
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Post by bergsteiger on Nov 17, 2009 13:40:08 GMT -5
You don't get a gold star for cleaning up the mess you made
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