Monday, June 14, 2010

SW Ohio Action Alert: The Fairfield, OH City Council will be meeting tonight to further their Anti-Immigrant Political Agenda!

Meeting Place: 5350 PLEASANT AVENUE
FAIRFIELD, OHIO 45014

Time: 7:00pm

Below is the latest available 1st person report:

"There is no vote or ordinance to be brought up for a vote.

The mayor and council plan to read and sign a letter addressed to Sheriff Jones, the Governor and President in support of Sheriff Jones and his actions.

He was emphatically against not allowing people to be here "illegally", as he said they should "do it the right way".

I asked him to watch the trailer for "9500 Liberty" and explained how a Virginia community passed laws similar to those in Arizona, which they later repealed due to the economic impact (they now have one of the highest foreclosure rates in the country), and the increased cost to staff and run the police department in effort to enforce the laws.

He did not agree to watch the movie or consider my feeble attempts."

UPDATE: The apparent reason as to why this is not on the meeting agenda is because the Mayor is set to raise the issue as a "private citizen"...even though he is the Mayor: Mayor Ron D'Epifiano, 513- 829-4939. 

"I spoke with the Mayor. He said that he is going to offer a letter to the governor and president in support of Sheriff Jones’ and Courtney Combs’ efforts. He said the letter will be offered not as Mayor, but as a private citizen letter. He is asking the council members to sign in private capacities as well.

He claims that he has done research on the impact of illegal immigration. He started spouting talking points about diseases brought into the country from immigrants. He then talked about uninsured drivers having accidents.  He claims he has friends who are legal immigrants from non Hispanic countries. He said he is a first generation US citizen.

I asked if he saw that offering such a letter at a council meeting, while sitting behind a sign saying Fairfield Mayor didn’t look like an official act.  He disagreed. I asked him if he had asked the Hispanic Chamber their views.  He said no. I asked him if he cared if Hispanic business owners would feel unwelcome.  He did not respond."


 

Action:  If you have input on these policies and an interest in Ohio immigration politics:

PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL ONE OR ALL OF THE FOLLOWING COUNCIL PERSONS; EXPRESS OPPOSITION TO SUCH ACTIONS!

Mike Snyder, First Ward: 513-703-0355, msnyder@fairfield-city.org

Marty Judd, Second Ward: 513-615-5190, mjudd@fairfield-city.org 

Mitch Rhodus, Third Ward: 513-829-0111, mitch@zoomtown.com

Terry Senger, Fourth Ward: 513-829-5712, tsenger@fairfield-city.org 

Tim L. Abbott, Council Member at Large: 513-829-9921, tabbott@fairfield-city.org 

Tim Meyers, Council Member at Large: (Phone Unavailable), tmeyers@fairfield-city.org

Mike Oler, Council Member at Large: 513-829-4003, moler@fairfield-city.org

 

*ALL NUMBERS & E-MAILS ARE AVAILABLE PUBLICLY AT: http://www.fairfield-city.org/council/biographies.cfm  


Brought to you by your friends at LULAC
Leo J. Pierson

3 comments:

  1. Great work in getting the word out on this and having local people confront the Mayor, Sheriff Jones and Courtney Combs. I think it is important to follow up on calls to the council members. Thanks for posting.

    Unidos tenemos poder!!

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  2. Jones was not present, actually. Combs was. He and I had a lengthy (15 min) exchange in the hall outside the hearing room after we both spoke. He agreed to meet with me to discuss immigration, policy, etc. The Mayor also agreed to this. Follow up is essential.

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  3. It's interesting that the mayor and council members found it appropriate to voice their concerns as "private citizens" on City of Fairfield letterhead, complete with their official titles.

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