Post by Marc LeVine on Nov 16, 2006 12:20:04 GMT -5
The Mayor thought we might like to post his Monday night "Settlement" Speech on PEOPLE. Here are his words:
It would have been a lot better if the plaintiffs had not jumped the gun on us and tried to declare victory when what we have is a proposed settlement in which they have lost on the major issue that they sought-a muster zone to be sponsored by the Borough of Freehold. We in Freehold are the innocent citizens required to accommodate persons who have entered our country illegally. A little respect for the law-abiding citizens of Freehold would go a long way toward making our residents more understanding of how we can resolve these hard questions that are caused by national immigration policy. Let us tonight attempt to address these questions in that spirit of understanding. There are no winners in this situation.
As you know, we have authorized a settlement of the Federal Lawsuit against the Borough. There has been a lot of grandstanding by certain self proclaimed advocates who obviously care more for the headlines than building better relations in the community.
I found the plaintiff’s statement to be inflammatory and self serving as well as factually incorrect. The truth of the matter is that the plaintiff’s got nothing more than that to which anyone and everyone in this community is entitled.
They wanted…a special place to gather to look for work. They didn’t get it – the original muster zone is private property owned by Conrail who has made it known that they are not authorized to gather there. They have no right to a muster zone.
They wanted…. To stop our attempts to enforce our housing code. They didn’t get it – instead, the Borough used the process to develop enhanced protocols for housing inspections that will better protect the health and safety of our residents.
They wanted…to stop our police form enforcing the law. They didn’t get it – instead, we established better methods of evenly and fairly enforcing all laws – against all violators, regardless of their ethnicity. Day laborers and the contractors who pick them up MUST abide by the law just as everyone else. And the Borough will continue to vigorously enforce those laws. Nothing in the agreement limits the Borough from lawfully enforcing all statutes and codes.
The Borough had on its books and old loitering ordinance. The Supreme Court ruled that local government entities, including municipalities, cannot enact ordinances curbing or regulating loitering. This ordinance was generally only used to downgrade more serious charges. But when it was pointed out that it was prohibited by the Supreme Court, the Borough immediately rescinded same and agreed to reimburse fines to those who were convicted of or pled guilty to this ordinance, provided it wasn’t a downgrade of a more serious charge. The other reimbursements apply ONLY to those convicted of code violations – other than overcrowding-where the protocols were not strictly followed. There is only a 60 day period to make a claim for such reimbursement and prove your qualifications.
Unfortunately, those who most benefit from this lawsuit are plaintiff’s lawyers who received 8 times more than the fund established for the clients they supposedly represent.
So, when all is said and done, the Borough remains steadfast in its efforts to protect the quality of life for all of its residents. We will not be thwarted from carrying out our duty to enforce the law against all, for the protection of all.
Mayor Michael Wilson
It would have been a lot better if the plaintiffs had not jumped the gun on us and tried to declare victory when what we have is a proposed settlement in which they have lost on the major issue that they sought-a muster zone to be sponsored by the Borough of Freehold. We in Freehold are the innocent citizens required to accommodate persons who have entered our country illegally. A little respect for the law-abiding citizens of Freehold would go a long way toward making our residents more understanding of how we can resolve these hard questions that are caused by national immigration policy. Let us tonight attempt to address these questions in that spirit of understanding. There are no winners in this situation.
As you know, we have authorized a settlement of the Federal Lawsuit against the Borough. There has been a lot of grandstanding by certain self proclaimed advocates who obviously care more for the headlines than building better relations in the community.
I found the plaintiff’s statement to be inflammatory and self serving as well as factually incorrect. The truth of the matter is that the plaintiff’s got nothing more than that to which anyone and everyone in this community is entitled.
They wanted…a special place to gather to look for work. They didn’t get it – the original muster zone is private property owned by Conrail who has made it known that they are not authorized to gather there. They have no right to a muster zone.
They wanted…. To stop our attempts to enforce our housing code. They didn’t get it – instead, the Borough used the process to develop enhanced protocols for housing inspections that will better protect the health and safety of our residents.
They wanted…to stop our police form enforcing the law. They didn’t get it – instead, we established better methods of evenly and fairly enforcing all laws – against all violators, regardless of their ethnicity. Day laborers and the contractors who pick them up MUST abide by the law just as everyone else. And the Borough will continue to vigorously enforce those laws. Nothing in the agreement limits the Borough from lawfully enforcing all statutes and codes.
The Borough had on its books and old loitering ordinance. The Supreme Court ruled that local government entities, including municipalities, cannot enact ordinances curbing or regulating loitering. This ordinance was generally only used to downgrade more serious charges. But when it was pointed out that it was prohibited by the Supreme Court, the Borough immediately rescinded same and agreed to reimburse fines to those who were convicted of or pled guilty to this ordinance, provided it wasn’t a downgrade of a more serious charge. The other reimbursements apply ONLY to those convicted of code violations – other than overcrowding-where the protocols were not strictly followed. There is only a 60 day period to make a claim for such reimbursement and prove your qualifications.
Unfortunately, those who most benefit from this lawsuit are plaintiff’s lawyers who received 8 times more than the fund established for the clients they supposedly represent.
So, when all is said and done, the Borough remains steadfast in its efforts to protect the quality of life for all of its residents. We will not be thwarted from carrying out our duty to enforce the law against all, for the protection of all.
Mayor Michael Wilson
