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The conservative legal watchdog group Judicial Watch has put Mayor Tom Potter on notice for the city’s plans to spend $200,000 on a centralized hiring site for day laborers.
Thomas Fitton, the group’s president, faxed a letter to Potter on Thursday, two days after the Portland Tribune published a piece surveying Judicial Watch’s lawsuits in other jurisdictions over the same issue.
The letter advised of “serious legal concerns” with using taxpayer money to support day laborers, most of whom are undocumented, according to one recent study. He cites a 2006 study by UCLA and the University of Illinois, which found that 75 percent of a sample of 2,260 day laborers across the country were undocumented.
“By establishing and operating the proposed day laborer site, the city will likely be violating federal law,” Fitton writes.
He further likens the situation to the city running its own “red light” district or illicit drug market so that those participants may have a “safe, orderly and well-regulated environment in which to engage [in] their illicit transactions.”
John Doussard, a spokesman for the mayor, said they had received the letter. "The mayor and the council have a different opinion and continue to move forward on it," he said.
The City Council voted to unanimously to approve the funds for the project, viewing it as a way to help the entire community amid concerns such as loitering around businesses, littering and traffic.
jenniferanderson@portlandtribune.com
Do Potter and the city council understand that federal laws apply to them too? And that they are actually willing to spend the city's cash, which is in such short supply - sheer insanity. I wonder if their personal finances are as messed-up as the city's will be when they're done. Will the city be expected to pick up the legal fees they incur defending themselves?
(email verified)
Thu, Aug 02, 2007 at 08:25 AM
I'm sure Mayor Potter receives much political and financial support from the "undocumented" labor community. He's just supporting his politicaly constituency.
(email verified)
Thu, Aug 02, 2007 at 09:23 AM
There's always the possibility he's grown a pair.
(email verified)
Thu, Aug 02, 2007 at 09:47 AM
So why does Potter love criminals (illegal aliiens) so much anyway? They're not "immigrants" until they come here legally and learn English.
(email verified)
Thu, Aug 02, 2007 at 10:34 AM
Matt-
Grown a pair of what? Illegal Mexicans? Ignoring the warning of a potential Federal lawsuit isn't an indication that "he's grown a pair", it's an indication of the depth of his ignorance......
(email verified)
Thu, Aug 02, 2007 at 12:28 PM
RECALL....IT WOULD BE ROUGH,NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE, BUT GOING TO THE MOON AND BACK WERE TOO.
UNLESS THE "NUMBERS" ARE SO FAR AGAINST THE REAL PISSED OFF PEOPLE OF THIS CITY...WE MUST CONSIDER THIS OPTION. Jack Peek
(email verified)
Thu, Aug 02, 2007 at 12:30 PM
Jack-
I don't think the 'numbers' out-number the rest of us. I do think there would be some difficulty getting everyone's attention focused enough to organize a recall effort. Even though Potter has a real knack for pissing people off, most people either don't care enough, or aren't aware that they CAN do something about him. It's unfortunate that so many of the people that choose the political arena as a career choice are so easilly bought and paid for......
(email verified)
Thu, Aug 02, 2007 at 03:18 PM
unfortunately,i dont think that most portlanders would vote to recall potter because i feel that they love him too dearly.i dont understand why either because he is aiding and abetting criminals which is against the law.i would love to see potter led away from city hall in handcuffs.how potter has such a high approval and popularity rate dumfounds me because the guy hasnt done jack in 3 years in office.i guess portlANDERS LACK BRAINS WHEN IT COMES TO ELECTING politicians with common sense and brains.i am sorry and ashamed at myself that i ever voted for potter.
(email verified)
Thu, Aug 02, 2007 at 04:16 PM
If we have an extra 200k lying around to waste then I would like my I tax money back to the tune of 5k. The way out leaders spend our money they give me the impression we have lots of it to go around.
(email verified)
Thu, Aug 02, 2007 at 04:40 PM
You'd think that there would have been some sort of citizen forum on this. It's the citizens money that will be used to build this thing. I certainly don't want the city spending tax money to further illegal activity. And why hasn't the local contractors association screamed about this yet? The city is fueling unfair competition against legitimate contractors through this move. Absolutely amazing. I hope Potter and the whole bunch at City Hall get Subpoeneas from the Feds to explain themselves.
(email verified)
Fri, Aug 03, 2007 at 12:12 AM
It is so much easier to coddle and cuddle with criminals rather than depose them.
(email verified)
Fri, Aug 03, 2007 at 12:21 AM
It's at the point now where thinking people HAVE to ask this question: What is in it for Tom Pothead to continue to act on behalf illegal aliens and the taxpayers be damned...is there something more corrupt, more sinister than we know? Is there some money moving around City Hall that we don't know about...yet?
We can all agree that Potter isn't doing this out of the goodness of his heart but what is REALLY going on here?
(email verified)
Fri, Aug 03, 2007 at 12:33 AM
Excuse me, but exactly what do you nay-sayers expect Potter to do? He's been hearing complaints for years (justified or not) about day workers hanging out on street corners and he's trying to address those complaints in just about the only way he can. He has no power to jail or deport them (not that I would want him to do those things, but that's beside the point). There's a word for what he's doing. It's called governing.
(email verified)
Fri, Aug 03, 2007 at 12:53 AM
Governing? Supporting illegals is not governing. They don't pay taxes and yet they leech money from our health care systems and school systems. The only people who support this idea are the business owners who just want these folks off their property and bleeding heart liberals who are so far left they can't think logically.
(email verified)
Fri, Aug 03, 2007 at 01:22 AM
Gee Marcia,
What could he do? How about allow PPD officers to work with ICE Agents on raids. Why not work with his leftist democrat buddies to remove the idiotic state prohibition on law enforcement questioning immigration status?
How about enforcing the laws about loitering, public urination, drug activity? Oh, thats right....you aren't quite sure the "complaints" are "justified". Isn't that special.
I think your comment about not wanting them deported or jailed says loads about how you view the issue.
Noble immigrants supporting their beloved families by doing the jobs Americans won't do. Displaced from their own country by economic conditions caused by the evil USA. Fleeing from endemic corruption at every level in their homelands caused by roving bands of highly-corrupt Norwegians.
Tha about cover it?
(email verified)
Fri, Aug 03, 2007 at 01:29 AM
Support Judicial Watch - it's a better use of your money than an an illegal-alien hiring center...
(email verified)
Fri, Aug 03, 2007 at 01:32 AM
I think if an illegal was hired from a city run building , that the city would be libel for anything that happen after that. It could be a lot of lawsuits eventually.
(email verified)
Fri, Aug 03, 2007 at 01:42 AM
"Illegal" immigration is a by-product of living in a county that has the highest standard of living on a consistent bases the world has ever seen. Would you rather live in a 3rd world county and not have an illegal immigration "issue"? Immigration is a purely capitalistic endeavor...if there is money to be made, there will always be a supply.
I will hand it to you brain-washed right-wingers though...you have done an outstanding job of switching the country’s collective interest from substantive matters (like an actual debate on the war) to non-issues such as "illegals".
(email verified)
Fri, Aug 03, 2007 at 03:22 AM
It's a fact that Potter spent months of his 10 years retirement, especially 1994-95, in his little Volkswagon van visiting New Mexico and Baja, California towns and Mexico's villages where he took full advantage of the cheap labor and services. No doubt he relished having these poor people feed his big ego and borish behaviors.
Come on Tribune reporters... ask Tom about his Mexican adventures. It's at the root of why he is taking such steps at taxpayers expense. I can send you photos!
(email verified)
Fri, Aug 03, 2007 at 03:59 AM
Yosarrian,
Leave it to an air-headed leftist (isn't this juvenile name calling fun?) to fail to understand that controlling who is in this country is a substantive issue.
As to your 1st world / 3rd world statement, does this mean that if my neighbor's house is better than mine, I am justified in moving into his house?
Purely capitalistic. Right?
Still an idiotic outlook though.
(email verified)
Fri, Aug 03, 2007 at 06:14 AM
Potter and the City Council are going to create a regional crime center when they build this "day laborer shelter". It will be a mecca for drug dealers and prostitutes. It will be a constant source of filth and maintenance. It's incredible how arrogant and ignorant Portland's city leaders are.
(email verified)
Fri, Aug 03, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Yosarrian lives - I love it when you liberals decry capitalism. You partake daily from its benefits and further demand all the protections it offers. It is this schizophrenic dichotomy that neuters any intelectual potential aspired to. Intelectual hypochricy is the end result/destination.
On the one hand you endorse illegals entering the country so they can partake in the evils of capitalism while at the same time you lecture us on its (capitalism) immorality. That is much like demanding free cigarettes for the poor while pontificating on its evilness.
As for the war, if it was left up to you and your ilk, we would would still have slavery and be wearing swastika's. You denegrate our country and all it stands for but are unwilling to emmigrate somewhere that alligns with your political depredations. I imagine you hate the police as well. Yet, are the first to call them in your time of need.
Your ignorance is only outdone by your insignificance.
(email verified)
Sat, Aug 04, 2007 at 07:10 AM
Yossarian lives,
You got it all wrong. The right wingers have actually done an outstanding job of broadening (vs. switching) the country’s collective interest on substantive matters like the impact of illegal immigration on the war-on-terror.
Terrorists thrive on easy, stealth entry into target countries like the U.S. They can live a fairly anonymous existence when laws against illegal immigration continue without enforcement.
In the meantime, they can plan and prepare for the big day of mass murder while surviving on free government benefits such as Tommy Potter's one-stop job center for illegals. Illegal immigration is not to be minimized in it's significance to the debate on war.
When a mayor of a major American city will openly violate federal laws in order to boost his voter base, ignoring the increased risk of terrorism to the citizens he was elected to serve, then he needs to hear from the concerned citizens about the folly of his actions.
Liberals will likely laugh and blow this off as, "come on, that would never happen" just as they would have if someone had warned them about lax airport security before 9/11.
It seems that the mayor will be given a free pass until something really awful happens like an illegal citizen leaving his Potter-provided day laborer job then entering a Portland mall with a dirty-bomb.
(email verified)
Sat, Aug 04, 2007 at 06:36 PM
Why is everyone missing the point we already have temp labor facilitys were any citizen can go and get temporary employment that could lead into full time employment. Why is Potter wanting to set up special places for illegal aliens to seek work that will pay them less and give them no insurance.
I just do not understand why we are giving these people special rights we are doing it in our public schools and our social services. We need to also stop giving them driver licenses if they are not legal US citizens.
This whole idea is just stupid and Potter needs to have surgery to have his head removed from his rectum. People in power like him scare me.
(email verified)
Sun, Aug 05, 2007 at 04:12 AM
Tom Potter couldn’t find his butt with both hands. He is either ignorant or on the take or both. What other explanation is there?
To blatantly ignore Federal law while continuing to aid and abet illegal Mexican criminals ought to be enough to land him in jail. Where does one go to get the do-gooder law breakers like Potter arrested and tossed into the slammer?
Potter is soft on Terror too. He kicked the FBI out of town awhile back trying to make the point he is running Portland—not the Feds. Is that stupid or what? The guy is just another Liberal mush mind with no respect for any law he doesn’t agree with.
Democracy is not a concept he really understands. Potter has no idea what it means to serve the people. I wish somebody might go for his recall or just take him into custody. I don’t know how to do that or I would.
The worst thing that has ever happened to Portland since Vera Katz is Tom Potter. Why do we keep electing loons?
(email verified)
Sun, Aug 05, 2007 at 04:22 AM
Oh, for crying out loud. Potter didn't "kick the FBI out of town." They're still here -- check the phone book. If you mean the Joint Terrorist Task Force, he made the perfectly reasonable stipulation that as police commissioner, he have the same security clearance as the officers assigned to work on the task force. For some reason that was not acceptable to the feds (they never really explained why). Faced with this reality, he made the correct decision to withdraw from an entity he could not be certain would actually target terrorism rather than law-abiding political opponents of the Bush administration. (The FBI's historical record on this score is not good, to say the least.)
(email verified)
Sun, Aug 05, 2007 at 04:40 AM
Marcia,
You may be right. Nonetheless, Tommy P. was more worried about political opponents targeting him than terrorists targeting the citizens he was elected to protect. That's like a dad saying, "I will protect my job no matter what, even if it means my family gets killed."
Mayor Potter only cares about himself and his political power, and--like "Retdean"--I wonder if he is on the take or what? What does he have to hide? What's this one-stop job center really all about? Given the Mayor's history, I'm sure it's all about him and not about serving the people.
(email verified)
Sun, Aug 05, 2007 at 08:30 AM
Marcia,
I suspect I know Tom Potter much better than you do. I worked for him for a lot of years in different areas of the Police Bureau. And I feel strongly that the FBI refused to allow him personally access because he has a history of not being able to keep his mouth shut. Especially if it will curry him favor with a minority community. I have no doubt that if he had the slightest inkling that the FBI was going in the wrong direction, he wouldn't hesitate to go to the subjects of the investigation and tell them everything he knew, undermining years of work and probably endangering informants.
Potter also has a history of ignoring facts to meet his agenda. Recall the incident where he accused the bureau of racial profiling because one person came to council and complained about it? Without checking facts, he made this proclamation the bureau was wrong only to have to apologize later when he was confronted with the facts. Of course the apology was far less public than the condemnation
Top members of the police bureau had access to any investigation that their members were involved in. There was no definable reason for a politician like him to have the same access. He wanted Portland police out of the task force and that was a convenient way to do it and look like a hero to left wing, shortsighted people who are among his biggest supporters.
(email verified)
Sun, Aug 05, 2007 at 12:40 PM
Tom, pack your bags. You are not welcome in this town and if I were a betting man, you're probably not welcome in this state. I hear California could use a man of your moral and intellectual description.
(email verified)
Sun, Aug 05, 2007 at 10:39 PM
Throw the b******s out!! I mean, have local police arrest the illegals and turn the illegals (there is no such thing as a "day laborer") over to ICE. Recall the mayor and anyone on the Council who goes against Federal law. Also, hit them with law suits for aiding and abetting. Churches, particularly the Catholic Church, are next.
Get rid of all sanctuary policies, everyone of which is illegal. In this way, the People can take back their government and their country.
(email verified)
Mon, Aug 06, 2007 at 12:44 AM
MArcia says: "The FBI's historical record on this score is not good, to say the least."
Really, Marcia? Surely, you aren't refering to the 'score'in PDX are you?
Last time I looked, the FBI had accussed 10 people in PDX of terrorism related crimes.
PDX leftists and the local ROP members said each and every one was INNOCENT. And they said it alot. They had marches. They held demonstrations. They wrote passionate letters to the editors decrying the injustice and unfairness of it all. They yelled 'racist' until our ears bled.
And NINE of the ten are currently doing federal time after having PLED GUILTY.
I don't call that a bad score. But then, I don't know which team you are backing.
(email verified)
Mon, Aug 06, 2007 at 01:18 AM
Mayor Tom Potter is following the script for the villain in the classic movie, "It's a Wonderful Life". Why is he so determined to turn his city into a 'Pottersville'?
(email verified)
Mon, Aug 06, 2007 at 01:22 AM
Chris,
Marcia's previous posts says Tom Pothead is doing his
job just fine...of "governing". That should tell you
all you need to know about which team she's on.
By the way, Tom is not "governing". He's trying to piss
off enough people to be dumped out of office so he can
take his giant PERS pension and move to Mexico and live like royalty.
(email verified)
Mon, Aug 06, 2007 at 01:33 AM
Give the $200,000 to I.C.E and tell them to hurry up and get here..And throw Tom Potter in with the Invaders.Illegals need to get out of this Country.
(email verified)
Mon, Aug 06, 2007 at 01:54 AM
Someone should notify the IRS and the SSA about this. Day laborers get paid in CASH. So Potter is encouraging tax evasion.
(email verified)
Mon, Aug 06, 2007 at 01:57 AM
Wow, you guys jumped all over this! I'm impressed!
From my reading most articles never have this much response. "STOP THE INVASION"
(email verified)
Mon, Aug 06, 2007 at 04:17 AM
Why do you do it? Can you citizens not see the value of the law to you? Can you not see what lawlessness is going to do to your future. Title 8, section 1324 of the U.S. immigration code, it is illegal to harbor, transport, encourage.....illegal aliens.....
Don't you get it? The law is on your side. It was written for you. To protect your jobs, quality of life, and even your lives. It really is up to citizens to determine what kind of nation they want.
(email verified)
Mon, Aug 06, 2007 at 04:23 AM
I agree with Kilby, the story is in the comments. Are the writers just here to write the headline and open the thread of semi-anonymous comments? The racism and Potter-hatred of my fellow readers still shocks me after moving here to find out what was wrong with my race. (Turns out to be our culture.)
We're talking about a relatively small amount of tax money.
Had the feds spent as much on defending our borders as they spent on illegally crossing Iraq's we wouldn't have this problem.
The Mayor's not authorized to re-negotiate NAFTA, but I'm glad he refused to authorize our police to attack our people without better intelligence than the FBI was willing to provide.
A labor center would be a local compromise until we can solve our federal immigration problem. Hateful racism is not the answer.
(email verified)
Mon, Aug 06, 2007 at 07:54 AM
"Hateful racism is not the answer."
Now that the terms "hateful" and "racism" have been leveled at Americans with other views on illegal immigration(the lawfull view) all debate must come to an end. The law has suddenly been discredited. I see.
(email verified)
Mon, Aug 06, 2007 at 08:46 AM
Birth gives Americans the right of citizenship but to those who immigrate citizenship must be given by the rule of law. The Framers made it very clear that the law must first be satisfied before the rights of citizenship are available. Each Constitutional reference to our rights and privileges are for the people who are the citizens only.
Do a little research people. The real meaning of the Constitution has been hijacked...the Federal Government was NEVER given rule over the States ability to determine who receives citizenship. It was given authority over the 'naturalization and citizenship process'. A true interpretation of the Constitution will render you that the States do, in fact have the right and power to regulate 'immigration'.
"The Framers realized that once the freedoms and liberties that we have in this country became known to the world that The United States would become a melting pot of cultures and nationalities from all over the world. But they also understood the necessity of keeping our identity as Americans and in establishing a uniform rule of law for gaining citizenship in America and having as born and naturalized citizens the rights and privileges as an American!
http://www.hinzsightreport.com/constitution/kntr-052507.html
Read it, it means something!
(email verified)
Mon, Aug 06, 2007 at 12:39 PM
ALL,
Don't worry. When liberals start calling defenders of immigation-law-enforcement such things as "brainwashed right wingers" "hateful" or "racist"--it just means they are losing the argument on this page
(email verified)
Mon, Aug 06, 2007 at 12:51 PM
David - Using your logic (excuse the oxymoron), why prosecute a murderer? It's only a small portion of the total population. NONSENSE!! Your post; "We're talking about a relatively small amount of tax money."
I see, if I disagree with you I'm hateful and a bigot. Again, using your logic, that would mean you are a spousal abusor, a child abuser, a bully etc, as you demand everyone agree with you, as you can't tolerate an opinion that does not allign with your own. Just the same as abusers who have to control everything/everyone.
See how easy it is to decend to your level. Now, if you want to have a sustantive debate let me know.
As far as race, you have no idea what race I am or anyone else posting here. That statement only reveals your own racism.
(email verified)
Mon, Aug 06, 2007 at 01:13 PM
I don't think any of us who support legal immigration over illegal immigration are necessarily racists because of that belief. (As a matter of fact, there is no Mexican or Latino "race"-- under race on birth certificates people of Hispanic descent are listed legally as white, but that is a whole 'nother topic.) To assume people who are against illegal immigration are racists, is, well, racist. As another poster pointed out, you have no way of knowing what race any of the rest of the posters are, so assuming we are all white and abhor brown skinned people is just showing your own bias.
I believe we are blessed to have such a vibrant community with so many people from all over the world living here. That is NOT the point.
We citizens are expected to obey the laws of the land, and are annoyed that illegal workers, who, by the way are driving family wages down by being here, are now going to get a special site built AT OUR EXPENSE so they are not loitering and urinating publically in the streets. There are ALREADY buildings for people who are looking for work- they are called EMPLOYMENT OFFICES. They even have multi-lingual information available, bathrooms, chairs, and offer shelter from the rain. Knowing that, to build a special building just for day laborers is redundant and is just pi$$ing away taxpayers' money, thumbing his mayoral nose at his constituents. Whether you consider the amount used to build it a lot or a little is beside the point. Tom Potter's hubris knows no shame.
(email verified)
Mon, Aug 06, 2007 at 02:02 PM
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Re: Potter on notice over day labor issue
Hope the undocumented will make a exception and let Potter and the city council use it to get a job when we throw the whole bunch out over this.
"ZBOB"
(email verified)
Thu, Aug 02, 2007 at 08:11 AM