Even hispanic US citizens flee as town cracks down on illegals

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/118825,CST-NWS-illegal01.article

HAZLETON, Pa. -- Elvis Soto's variety store used to make money. But few customers have been walking through his door lately, and his merchandise -- calling cards, cell phones, car stereos, clothing -- is collecting dust on the shelves.
With bills mounting, Soto might have to take another job to stay afloat financially, and may even close the store.

On Wednesday, a tough, first-of-its-kind law targeting illegal immigrants was to take effect in this small hillside city in northeastern Pennsylvania. A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the measure for at least two weeks, but the evidence suggests many Hispanics -- illegal or otherwise -- have already left.

That, in turn, has hobbled the city's Hispanic business district, where some shops have closed and others are struggling to stay open.

''Before, it was a nice place,'' said Soto, 27, who came to the United States from the Dominican Republic a decade ago. ''Now, we have a war against us. I am legal but I feel the pressure also.''

[saigon68]

1. Around here Venal Repuke campaign ads are fueling racial hatred

We are deluged every night by dozens of republican adds showing Hispanic men climbing walls and swimming the river.

[NNN0LHI]

2. Lou Dobbs does the same thing on his show every night

And we have posters here who just eat that stuff up.

Hard to believe people still fall for the crap.

Don

[EFerrari]

4. And that works in Wisconsin?

The ads don't say where that river is?

Has SNL done anything with that one? "Look, Hon. Isn't that Bobby's kid? Better set another place."

lol

[saigon68]

9. And not in "GOOD TASTE" like the swim team below

[EFerrari]

10. I saw a short documentary about this park some folks have set up

in Mexico where you can simulate a nighttime crossing. They charge admission and provide guides and the purpose, beyond making a buck, is to keep Mexican citizens at home. It's obviously not government funded because those asshole don't care whet happens to the people but it's a group of activists that put the whole thing together.

[saigon68]

12. Yes, their Government looks upon its citizens as

Fungible Goods

[EFerrari]

13. Well, there are plantations going belly up all over Latin America.

I'm lovin it. People are going to get hurt and they're going to die but I don't see any other way that these mofos are going to be taken out.

[Deja Q]

3. He's legal. He's not the problem.

[EFerrari]

5. That's right. Xenophobia is the problem and the Thugs

are milking it for all it's worth.

[NNN0LHI]

6. I am legal too. I have Mediterranean features due to my Italian heritage

First motherfucker asks me for my green card will have a problem.

Don

[NorthernSpy]

7. such crackdown policies should include a strong commitment...

... to anti-discrimination measures for citizens and legal residents.

The thing is, neither Soto nor Rubio complains of actually being discriminated against or harassed because of ethnicity (at least, there is no explicit mention of any such thing in this article). The problem for them is that the shops they own are failing because so much of their former customer base appears to have been living in this country illegally. Which is unfortunate for Soto and Rubio.

But there's no help for that -- unless we're prepared to give up enforcing illegal entry laws just so that Soto's variety store and Isabel's Gifts can stay in business.



(edit:proofreading)

[mohinoaklawnillinois]

8. Please define what you mean by "a strong commitment

to anti-discrimination measures for citizens and legal residents"?

Should we have it tattooed on our foreheads or perhaps on our wrists?

Give me a break, what is happening in towns like Hazleton, PA is disgusting.

I didn't realize that it was part of living in America to have to show your passport or "green" card to every moron who asked.

[EFerrari]

11. The inference you draw about the store's customer base

is wrong, typical but wrong. If I knew that district was going to be unpoleasant for me to shop in, why would I go there to spend my money?

And I'd love to see what you'd have to say if Soto and the rest of us withdrew our investment in this economy.

Your whole post misses the point, or at least, I hope it does. The people who drove those Hispanics out wanted to drive out brown people, not uphold the law.

[KamaAina]

14. Which is exactly what Hazleton's ordinance does NOT have

Everyone (except homeowners. How convenient.) will now have to go to City Hall and get a "renter's permit". Can you say "Fair Housing", kids? Mr. KamaAina can! :puke:

[KamaAina]

15. This is not only racist but incredibly shortsighted

Hazleton, PA hasn't appeared on anybody's list of "Top 50 Cities for Growth" or what have you in decades. This is northeastern Pa. coal country. Towns like Hazleton have just slowly been dwindling as the young people leave while the old-timers die off.

Now, along comes Mr. Soto, who actually wants to run a business in Hazleton, rather than board up yet another storefront. If he were white, say, an art gallerist or antiques dealer, this same mayor would give him the keys to the city, and sponsor an Arts and Antiques Festival, too. Instead, the city is running his customer base out of town. Do they think this will somehow magically restore Hazleton to its glory days, i.e. before World War II? Hint: it won't.