Letter to the Editor: Stop police harassment of casual laborers at Aurora Village
Friday, September 12, 2014
To the Editor:
After my wife and I accidentally crashed a ladder through an upstairs window we have realized that we are too old to wrestle ladders or work in high places.
Therefore, we have taken to hiring men from Aurora Village parking lot. Recently, Shoreline Police have been ever present, chasing the would-be helpers around.
It is difficult to find good, hard workers willing to tackle just about any task, especially on the spur of the moment. These guys are affordable and provide an important service to our communities. We know other citizens in Edmonds who have been very pleased to use day laborers.
While some merchants have complained about a few men who have caused problems we would appreciate a moratorium on police harassment until something more constructive can done.
Of the men we have hired recently to help re-shingle and repaint our home, two Mexican men and a Vietnamese man have been very reliable, hardworking, conscientious and skilled. They send money to support their families, and all spend money at Starbucks. At least one of the men has an account at the Bank of America (one of the most outspoken complainers.)
Stopping police harassment of willing workers can allow us to “age in place,” maintain our homes, build a more humane and compassionate image for our cities, and generally enhance commerce.
The current approach doesn't really work anyway, and gives one of our major shopping sites the appearance of a police state.
Cliff Sanderlin and Heather Marks
Edmonds WA
Posts
12 comments:
Document the workers and have them pay taxes and it's all good. If they're not documented and they're not paying taxes, they're also taking jobs away from citizens. If I were to move to Europe and try to find a job, I'd be asked to become a citizen first. We should have the same approach. In addition, you might have had some cheap labor for your shingles, but in reality, you were taking advantage of the workers who are working without healthcare and putting themselves at great risk should they fall off your roof. Beyond the tax issue, it's also important that workers have access to healthcare.
I totally agree with the above comment and came here to say the same thing. Since I am also too old to climb around, etc. I have used workers from the Millionaire Club which are vetted to make sure they are safe to have to my home and are reliable. They are only $10 an hour and have a program that they are involved in to become more responsible citizens and able to have a better future. This is a much better way to go!
And in addition to what the previous poster said, you are foolish to bring undocumented workers like that into your home. There are plenty of sources for bona-fide, legal individuals who are law-abiding, tax paying, honest and reasonable who would appreciate the work. You have no idea beyond what the "casual" laborers tell you, who you are dealing with. Some like that could also take you to the cleaners if they get injured at your residence, Thank you Shoreline Police for enforcing the laws.
Cliff and Heather,
I'm glad to see some people still have faith in humanity.
"and they all spend money at Starbucks." The best unintentional refutation of the regressive tax argument imaginable.
Yeah - the MEXICANS are taking the jobs that the AMERICAN White Meth Heads on Aurora Ave are not willing to take because they are too busy getting high. No one is willing to work that hard for minimum wage. I say the Americans go stand at Home Depot for work and take the jobs from the Mexicans - it is that simple. I admire those men that take pride in supporting their families and are willing to work anywhere to provide, not take from the government.
As for tax payers, come on, don't give me that sh***t....there are plenty of citizens who work under the table.
Nope. Illegal is illegal. While we're at it, why don't we allow illegal immigrants to rob banks too. After all, they will just be using the money to support their families. There are economic consequences to low-priced, illegal immigration labor. If you truly live in Edmonds, it is likely you have enough money to hire a LEGAL handyman, who has gone through the LEGAL process of starting a business, one who pays taxes and follows the rules. It is because of people like you, who are willing to circumvent the law all so you can save a few bucks, that the growing crowd of illegal immigrants is there at Home Depot in the first place.
If you are going to sit here and complain about illegals, what about all of the Mexicans working on the new apartment building on 152nd, the Malmo? Most of the worker bees over there don't speak English, only the supervisors do. But the Shoreline City Council tells the public that these developments create jobs, what jobs? Should I call ICE since the Shoreline Police and City Hall don't seem to care?
@8:00am - That's no way to talk about government employees.
It's pretty sad when married senior citizens have to go to a Home Depot parking lot to hire people to help them do some small projects around the house, or maybe those folks with their head stuck up in a rut about illegals didn't notice that part. I thought part of family values was taking care of everyone in your extended family, I see far too many people who don't like to answer phone calls from their elderly parents and could never be bothered to go visit them; of course, stopping by to spend the day with chores their parents can't manage anymore or taking them shopping for the things they can't lift is something they are too busy to ever be bothered thinking about.
OK I will state the obvious, The police are enforcing a Trespass Policy. They received complaints from property owners at Aurora Village yes the owners as this is private property. The workers were offered alternatives from a Hispanic social service Casa Lapita that they refused. The owners have no obligation to provide a spot for Day Laborers. In many cases those workers take work away from the Professional workers and company's doing business at Home Depot. We don't even need to get into the drinking and fighting or intimidation complaints. Of course there are good safe workers in the mix. The police can't fix the social ills or the economy here or Mexico or Central America or Asia. Give the cops a break.
Honestly people get a grip. Taxes and death. We have no control over either. Talk about a waste of time and energy. Let's start a discussion about something we can control like the lame, has-nothing-to-do-with-Shoreline pixie ponies at the bog! who's idea was that? and why weren't we all consulted? and while we're at it...WTH is with the plastic coat-hanger yarn pin-wheel things hanging from on the trees on the north side of 175th across from the lame, has-nothing-to-do-with-shoreline pixie ponies at the bog??? If you really wanna get rid of something let's start with those two things.
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