CHANDLER (By Edythe Jensen, Arizona
Republic) June 2, 2005 - The Valley's first regional day-labor forum tonight
in Chandler will bring together worker rights' advocates, contractors, city
officials and store owners to discuss a problem that crosses city limits:
growing street-side throngs of day laborers.
For 11 panelists and an audience of residents, activists and municipal officials, the politics of immigration is expected to take center stage. Most of the laborers are Hispanic men and suspected undocumented immigrants.
"There has to be fundamental recognition that a city can do nothing about immigration," said Chris Newman, attorney for the Los Angeles-based National Day Laborer Organizing Network and a panelist. Day-labor centers with community support and worker services are a better solution, he said.
But they aren't likely to get government support in Arizona; a law signed by Governor Janet Napolitano last month prohibits public funding of labor centers that cater to undocumented workers.
Some will blame lax immigration enforcement and call for crackdowns.
"Cities facilitate the day-labor problem because they don't enforce immigration laws," said panelist Wayne Shapiro, a Chandler contractor who hired the workers until his company insurance carrier stopped the practice.
Human-relations commissions from Chandler, Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale and Gilbert are forum sponsors.
For 11 panelists and an audience of residents, activists and municipal officials, the politics of immigration is expected to take center stage. Most of the laborers are Hispanic men and suspected undocumented immigrants.
"There has to be fundamental recognition that a city can do nothing about immigration," said Chris Newman, attorney for the Los Angeles-based National Day Laborer Organizing Network and a panelist. Day-labor centers with community support and worker services are a better solution, he said.
But they aren't likely to get government support in Arizona; a law signed by Governor Janet Napolitano last month prohibits public funding of labor centers that cater to undocumented workers.
Some will blame lax immigration enforcement and call for crackdowns.
"Cities facilitate the day-labor problem because they don't enforce immigration laws," said panelist Wayne Shapiro, a Chandler contractor who hired the workers until his company insurance carrier stopped the practice.
Human-relations commissions from Chandler, Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale and Gilbert are forum sponsors.
