Freeholder urges boycott of illegal workers

[admin]

www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070926/NEWS03/709260374/1004/NEWS01

Freeholder urges boycott of illegal workers
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 09/26/07
BY BOB JORDAN
FREEHOLD BUREAU

Monmouth County Freeholder Robert D. Clifton, a Republican, said he wants to ban the county from conducting business with contractors who "knowingly hire illegal aliens," though Clifton said he is not aware of that practice occurring.

"I think we need to be proactive," Clifton said Monday. "Bridges, for instance, are vital structures that we want safe. We want the best-skilled labor working on them. Many of these folks who are undocumented seem to be not as skilled as people who have been trained here and have worked here, according to what labor leaders have told me."

Stephen Schueler, a Democratic candidate running against Clifton in the Nov. 6 elections, said Clifton's idea "sounds good," but said he will hold off on embracing the idea "until it's in writing."

"I'd like to see what it says," Schueler said. "I haven't been impressed with much of what (Clifton) comes up with or the process he takes. Some of it appears to be OK, but then you look at the goods and it falls flat."

Clifton said Pickens County, S.C., and Suffolk County, N.Y., have rules similar to what he will propose in a resolution when the freeholders meet Thursday. The proposal will call for Monmouth County to refrain from conducting any business with contractors, bidders, or other entity that employs undocumented workers as part of their work force or through subcontracting.

The measure will include a statement that "we do not discriminate against minority contractors," Clifton said.

Clifton said penalties and a requirement that employers pay prevailing wages will be included in a future resolution.

Clifton, who is seeking his second three-year freeholder term, is running with Marlboro Councilman Jeff Cantor. Schueler, who is Bradley Beach's mayor, is joined by former Freeholder John D'Amico. Two seats are at stake. Freeholder Anna C. Little, a Republican, is not seeking re-election.

Cantor said he backs Clifton's proposal "because we need to take a lead on this. Quite frankly, the federal government is letting us down with its immigration policy and there's also not much from the state government. It's got to start somewhere."

Bob Jordan: [phone]

[fbrepublican]

I am surprised that nobody has commented on Frank Argote Freyre's letter in yesterday's APP. For some reason it is not on their web site.

Our pal Frank was quite disturbed by Clifton's idea of not using contractors who hire illegals. His letter was a pathetic attempt at discrediting the notion.

Just more reason's to vote for Miller, Beck, and Clifton on election day.

[Libyan Sibyl]

I did not see it and cannot find it online. Do you have a link?

[admin]

The News Tanscript has this letter in this weeks addition.

Freeholder knows county has no say on immigration
It is the season of political pandering. The best recent example of this is the recent declaration by Monmouth County Freeholder Robert D. Clifton that he wants Monmouth County to ban contractors who "knowingly hire illegal aliens."

According to a published report in the Asbury Park Press on Sept. 26, Freeholder Clifton followed that statement with the astute observation that the practice may not even be occurring. So then why do we need county legislation or policy to stop a problem that does not exist?

Answer: Because Freeholder Clifton is running for re-election and rather than present any substantive ideas, he wants to touch on a hot-button issue to inflame voters in his favor. He knows the county has nothing to do with immigration, but that won't stop him from trying to draw undocumented immigrants into his campaign. He does not care if he fans the flames of a divisive issue as long as he can get a few votes out of it.

The pandering was evident on the Web site of the Monmouth County Republican Committee, which recently promoted the Asbury Park Press article.

Almost as shameful was the response by Democratic freeholder candidate Stephen Schueler, who instead of pointing out the small-minded pandering of Freeholder Clifton, responded that his idea was "a good one."

If this latest instance is any indication, the voters of Monmouth County will truly have to hold their noses when casting their votes this year. One can only hope that in the final weeks we will be treated to a debate on more relevant issues.

Frank Argote-Freyre

Director Latino Leadership Alliance

of New Jersey Monmouth Chapter

Freehold Borough

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2007/1017/Letters/044.html

[admin]

admin said:

The News Transcript has this letter in this weeks addition.

Freeholder knows county has no say on immigration
It is the season of political pandering. The best recent example of this is the recent declaration by Monmouth County Freeholder Robert D. Clifton that he wants Monmouth County to ban contractors who "knowingly hire illegal aliens."

According to a published report in the Asbury Park Press on Sept. 26, Freeholder Clifton followed that statement with the astute observation that the practice may not even be occurring. So then why do we need county legislation or policy to stop a problem that does not exist?

Answer: Because Freeholder Clifton is running for re-election and rather than present any substantive ideas, he wants to touch on a hot-button issue to inflame voters in his favor. He knows the county has nothing to do with immigration, but that won't stop him from trying to draw undocumented immigrants into his campaign. He does not care if he fans the flames of a divisive issue as long as he can get a few votes out of it.

The pandering was evident on the Web site of the Monmouth County Republican Committee, which recently promoted the Asbury Park Press article.

Almost as shameful was the response by Democratic freeholder candidate Stephen Schuyler, who instead of pointing out the small-minded pandering of Freeholder Clifton, responded that his idea was "a good one."

If this latest instance is any indication, the voters of Monmouth County will truly have to hold their noses when casting their votes this year. One can only hope that in the final weeks we will be treated to a debate on more relevant issues.

Frank Argote-Freyre

Director Latino Leadership Alliance

of New Jersey Monmouth Chapter

Freehold Borough

newstranscript.gmnews.com/news/2007/1017/Letters/044.html

I have been too quiet on this one. I agree with FBREPUBLICAN, this is a pathetic attempt at discrediting a very valid issue.


Frank calls it pandering. This is far from the truth and here is why.

When a government agency has a job to do which requires an outside contractor, most of the time it has to be put up to bid for the purpose of fairness. To put it in the simple terms, the lowest bidder who will deliver the needed service will get the contract.


With the above in mind, how is it fair if contractor A, who uses legal labor and obeys the law, has to compete with contractor B who cuts costs in the labor pool by violating the law? The clear answer is that it is not fair and this is an example of how people who break the law should not be rewarded.

I would be very surprised if contractors have not used illegal labor in the past while on government jobs. The Freeholders are right to look at this and this is far from pandering. It is a realization that our county, not just our town, has a problem that must be addressed.

This is not a Latino Alliance issue. This is one of law, fairness, economics, and accountability. All things the LLA has fought against.

I will not have to hold my nose when I pull the lever for Clifton. This is all a continuation of people and politicians waking up and realizing that illegal immigration is a serious problem and needs to be addressed at all levels of government in any way that is legal.