Your article in the recent issue of the Sun concerning E-Verify (“Santa Maria leaders consider E-Verify,” April 1) was enlightening, and it is time this issue was aired in the open.
You quoted Richard Quandt, president of the local Grower-Shipper Vegetable Association, as saying, “The issue of the adequacy of employment verification should be addressed in Washington, D.C., not by the Santa Maria City Council.” Mr. Quandt, Washington, D.C., has already failed us. You are benefiting from cheap labor while our state, our communities, our schools, and our citizens are paying for your cheap labor. It is costing us billions of dollars. If our local government shows the courage to take on the illegal immigration issue, they should be supported, not criticized.
Mr. Quandt resorts to name calling. He is quoted as saying, “Frankly, a lot of fear mongers and people that are anti-immigration are pushing this issue.” Apparently, anyone who doesn’t agree with Mr. Quandt is a “fear monger.” These folks are not anti-immigrant, but they are against “illegal” immigration and against the employers who hire and encourage the illegals for personal gain.
Mr, Quandt then attacks free speech by saying, “It’s a big mistake for the council to even put it on the agenda; this just gives the Minutemen a forum to spew their rhetoric.” What is he afraid of? The truth?
Chamber of Commerce President Bob Hatch said the people want immigration reform, but I believe what the people really want is immigration enforcement. Mr. Hatch also is quoted as saying, “But the cost of illegal immigration needs to be verified and promoted—the cost to us, to the taxpayers.” Amen to that.
According to your article, City Manager Tim Ness will offer several options to the council. In my opinion, only the last option will be effective. This one, an E-Verify ordinance, would require all business that hold a business license within city limits to use E-Verify. Its use would also be a requirement for all new and renewed business licenses.
Let us hope that the council has the courage to face this issue and take the option of an E-Verify ordinance. Perhaps it would encourage the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors to also show some courage and enact a similar law.
This article appears in Apr 8-15, 2010.