[Lincolnian]

I knew it was just a matter of time before we would see this type of lunacy. A couple of years ago I went to a Carlos Santana concert at the Meadows in Hartford and after speaking almost exclusively in Spanish for some time Carlos Santana came out and started proclaiming Hartford the Spanish Capital of the Northeast. Elizabeth Horton Sheff and Mayor Perez handed him the key to the city and addressed the crowd first in Spanish and then in English.

Considering 95% of the population was not Spanish-speaking and had come to hear the classics from the 1970s that Santana was famous for producing not unheard of Spanish and African tunes that were played exclusively for the first half of the show, most people including myself headed for the door at intermission.

There is nothing wrong with the celebration of culture but to politically force-feed people a message that Hartford is more important as a Spanish-speaking capital for legal and illegal residents than it is as our state's capital is wrong.

For more information see City OKs Immigration Ordinance for an article written in the Hartford Courant.

For more of my opinion on this issue go to the UB Blog.

[Lincolnian]

I suggest Connecticut residents contact their state senators and representatives as well as their US Senate and Congress officials and let them know that you don't approve of cities creating laws that promote illegal activity that circumvent existing immigration laws.

[canuckexpat]

The state representatives and US senators are busy. They are on vacation.

[glxyman21]

I agree, it is not a good thing, especially for the positions that Hartford and New Haven are in. These cities are struggling as is. Too increase a population that is unskilled and requires more social services will only increase the tax burden on the rest of the Taxpayers of CT and drag down the economy and social standing of both cities. Entering the United States is not a right, and to have undocumented people is only going to stir up more trouble as they will be paid under the table, probably less than minimum wage, and won't pay taxes. Also, they cannot legally get drivers licences, so they are probably driving cars without a licence and without insurance, as you need to have a license to have insurance. I think the U.S. government should stop giving money to these cities if such laws are enacted. Most first world countries are trying to get their immigration under control, even neutral countries like Sweden and Switzerland wouldn't (and don't) allow such open rules.

[skytrekker]

Probably the wrong message to send. Seems they (the city council) need to wake up and realize the economy in the state while up to this point has held its own- is showing signs of slippage---this decision will not help.

[reason180]

Originally Posted by Lincolnian

A couple of years ago I went to a Carlos Santana concert at the Meadows in Hartford and after speaking almost exclusively in Spanish for some time Carlos Santana came out and started proclaiming Hartford the Spanish Capital of the Northeast. Elizabeth Horton Sheff and Mayor Perez handed him the key to the city and addressed the crowd first in Spanish and then in English.

Who goes to a concert by a Mexican artist and gets upset to hear people speaking Spanish??????

You bought a ticket and then left at intermission!!!!!!!!!!!!

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[canuckexpat]

I never understood how illegal immigration in this country is treated. If you are here illegally you already broke the law and regardless of what else you did/do you are still illegal and you should be asked to leave/or deported.

And not to check for immigration status when you try to get a driver's license, social services, or enroll your kids to school, or when you try to get a job, to me that is insane. Anywhere else in the world, they would normally ask for your immigration status. And the worst mistake this country has done(Canada is in the same boat) is to allow citizenship by birth to children whose parents are here illegally(when the constitution was written they did not have 20 million illegals in this country, maybe now it should be changed). Most European countries do not allow citizenship by birth(except Ireland) even if the parents are legally in the country on some sort of temporary visa.

[glxyman21]

The reason why both the U.S. and Canada have the "citizenship by birth" rule is because it was a way for those two countries to build their populations. I think that rule should be taken away and citizenship should only be passed down by blood from either the mother or father. If you're born in Europe you can't get citizenship unless one of the parents is from the country.

[joe143]

If this is true ive lost all hope in Hartford. For a while it seemed to be trying to get its act together. However, inviting in illegal immigrants is a horrible mistake. The city will be further ridden with crime and poverty.

[Lincolnian]

Originally Posted by joe143

If this is true ive lost all hope in Hartford. For a while it seemed to be trying to get its act together. However, inviting in illegal immigrants is a horrible mistake. The city will be further ridden with crime and poverty.

The ordinance needs to be approved by Mayor Perez. He hasn't agreed to sign it yet.