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Title: Yorba Linda first in Orange County to back Arizona law
Source:
ocregister.com
URL Source: http://www.ocregister.com/news/law-251437-city-council.html
Published: Jun 4, 2010
Author: By MICHAEL MELLO
Post Date: 2010-06-04 13:41:01 by HAPPY2BME-ONLF
Keywords: SB1070
Views: 173
YORBA LINDA — Yorba Linda's City Council has become the first in Orange County to endorse the controversial Arizona law regarding illegal immigration. More than two dozen people endured a five-hour council meeting to lend their support and await the council's decision at Tuesday night's meeting. At 11:22 p.m., the council voted 3-0 to approve a resolution Mayor John Anderson wrote supporting the Arizona measure. Many in the audience stood and applauded the vote. "I believe this is critical for every city, every government agency to take a stand on this," Anderson said. Councilwoman Nancy Rikel praised the mayor. "Someone has to take a stand on this," she said. "It can start in Yorba Linda." Anderson, Rikel and Councilman Mark Schwing supported the resolution. Councilwoman Jan Horton had previously left the meeting because of a personal emergency. Councilman Jim Winder left the dais in protest before the item was considered, saying it was one of several items late in the agenda that were mainly political in nature and wasted the city's time. He criticized Anderson's resolution, adding that the Arizona law wasn't a city issue. "I can't participate in this," he said, before walking out of the council chambers. During the discussion, Schwing produced a thick stack of printed e-mails he received supporting the Arizona resolution. He also showed four e-mails opposing it, including, he said, "someone who won't shop in Yorba Linda any more." Tuesday night's crowd echoed that support. Speaker after speaker took to the podium with impassioned speeches about how illegal immigrants have stolen American jobs, impacted local schools, or otherwise degraded the quality of life. Before the meeting, three men stood in front of City Hall to support the mayor's proposal, holding signs supporting the Arizona law. One of them called the law "America's last hope." Resident Anita Hynds showed up at City Hall with a sign that praised Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed the immigration bill into law, and Maricopa County, Ariz. Sheriff Joe Arpaio, known for his hard stance on illegal immigration. "The ones who disagree with the Arizona law should move to Santa Ana or Los Angeles," Hynds said. "They should move to the places where the illegals are at." None of the 30 people at the meeting opposed Anderson's resolution, but resident Bill Kontur questioned whether a City Council meeting was the forum to debate the Arizona issue. "I don't think this is the best use of time and money," Kontur told the council, as audience members behind him hissed their disapproval. Santa Ana was the first city in the Orange County to tackle Arizona's law. The Santa Ana City Council condemned the immigration law, voting to send a resolution of opposition to Congress, the White House and Arizona's governor. An effort by Villa Park Councilwoman Deborah Pauly to pass a resolution in support of the law failed in a 4-1 council vote last week. On Tuesday, she appeared in Yorba Linda to urge the City Council to run with the issue her council dropped. "We as elected officials have a responsibility to use our bully pulpit...to express what our constituents are feeling," she told the council. "I'm really ashamed of my council members." The city of Costa Mesa declared that illegal immigrants weren't welcome in the city earlier in the month when the City Council declared Costa Mesa a "Rule of Law" city. However, Mayor Allan Mansoor said that the action had nothing to do with Arizona's immigration law. The Arizona law requires law enforcement officers who have already stopped someone on suspicion of a violation to question that person about his or her immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that person may be in the country illegally. The law is due to go into effect next month. Contact the writer: Staff writer Jessica Terrell contributed to this report.714-704-3796 or mmello@ocregister.com
Yorba Linda first in O.C. to back Arizona law
Anita Hynds arrives at Yorba Linda City Hall with a message about Arizona's controversial immigration law. With a 3-0 vote, Yorba Linda became the first Orange County city to endorse the Arizona law.
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