Hazleton Hispanic Question (Wilkes-Barre, Milford: rent, lease, schools)

[Chelito23]

I am aware of the Hazleton saga that was defeated in federal court, which prohibited people from renting or employing illegal immigrants by fining the owners.

When the ordinance was originally enacted, the mayor stated that is was responsable for reducing a large percentage of the Hispanic population in the city.

The ordinance has now been rendered illegal by the Federal Court and is not being applied any longer according to reports I have read.

My question for local residents in the know is this:
Has the Hispanic community in Hazleton rebounded, shrunk, stayed the same or grown larger since this ordinance has been banned?

[susquehannock]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

When the ordinance was originally enacted, the mayor stated that is was responsable for reducing a large percentage of the Hispanic population in the city.[/b]

Show me a quote where he said that.

Mayor Barletta is a true American hero who is trying to rid his city of the illegal criminal parasites. He wants to make it safe for the life long residents who built the city and the people who pay all the taxes. The illegal invaders are draining every last nickel of public funds from the city's budget.

He's tired of the blight, just as many of the taxpaying residents are. It's not over yet. Just because some punk PC Judge ruled in favor of criminals doesn't mean the higher courts will agree with him.

Mayor Barletta should run for the U.S. Senate. I guarantee you that the law-abiding residents of PA will vote him in by a landslide.

[TheHighHat]

I believe that everyone has a right to be here as long as they do it legally. My grand parents were immigrants, they followed the rules, learned the english language and paid taxes. It is about time an official has stuck up for what is right rather than what is politically correct.......

The Hat

[NYRangers 2008]

I agree with susquehannock. Mayor Barletta is just doing what he thinks is right for his city. Getting rid of illegal immigrants is a good thing. They are draining our country as a whole and they need to be removed and sent back to their countries. I'm against all illegal aliens, but these just happen to be of Hispanic origin. If they were German, Irish, Italian or Canadian, I'd say send them back too. To me, this is not a race issue. It's an issue about people breaking our laws and not respecting our country. They are not entitled to the American dream, they have to earn it. I'm so sick of the politically correct crap in this country. Illegal is illegal. It's as simple as that.

[TheHighHat]

I meant to post this the other day. There was a French bakery in Milford a couple of years ago. They disappeared one Easter Sunday. No notice, nothing. Let people hanging with orders. The word we got through the store owners is that Immigration came for the baker and deported him. The next thing the bakery was shut down. I felt bad for the people that had holiday orders and were left holding their shorts.

[Chelito23]

Excuse me Susquehannock, but you totally avoided my question and hijacked my thread. Please re-read my thread, the question I asked was in bold. I gave background information about what the mayor said...based on what is found on Wikipedia under Hazleton, it also is cited by their source.

This is not a post about whether the mayor is good or bad or did right or wrong. I merely asked about its effect on the Hispanic population now. Please do not turn this into airing gripes about illegals or political correctness of a judge, I just want to know about the Hispanic community's population increase or decrease, as seen by locals, I do not need to hear about all american hero mayors or who should run for office. Thanks.

[KristyLiz]

I don't know how many hispanic families have been forced to leave the area, but I can tell you that WE left the area (and I'm just a plain old white girl!) - I was embarrsed to live in a community where such an ordinance would be set forth!

I used to live in Drums and if we would have stayed in that closed-minded town my kids would have gone to Hazleton schools. NO WAY!

I grew up on Long Island where there is much diversity, and I honestly was horrified at how the hispanic community was viewed in Hazleton. It is disgraceful!

As for your question though, I still have friends in the area, and they tell me that from what they can tell, the hispanic community is still intact. In fact, Wilkes-Barre has their first ever latino radio station. A small step, but one in the right direction.

[susquehannock]

Originally Posted by Chelito23

Excuse me Susquehannock, but you totally avoided my question and hijacked my thread. Please re-read my thread, the question I asked was in bold. I gave background information about what the mayor said...based on what is found on Wikipedia under Hazleton, it also is cited by their source.

This is not a post about whether the mayor is good or bad or did right or wrong. I merely asked about its effect on the Hispanic population now. Please do not turn this into airing gripes about illegals or political correctness of a judge, I just want to know about the Hispanic community's population increase or decrease, as seen by locals, I do not need to hear about all american hero mayors or who should run for office. Thanks.

I believe I hit a nerve.

You should have expected at least several of the posters to defend the Mayor and I will continue to do so and I don't give a rat's butt who doesn't like it.

I just read the entry on Wikepedia and see nothing of the sort about Barletta saying it was aimed specifically at Hispanics.

Here's what he said and if you would have read it, your question would have answered.

Mayor Lou Barletta of Hazleton estimates that as "many as half" of the estimated 10,000 Hispanics who were living in Hazleton left Hazleton when the ordinance was passed.

[tinman01]

Originally Posted by susquehannock

I believe I hit a nerve.

You should have expected at least several of the posters to defend the Mayor and I will continue to do so and I don't give a rat's butt who doesn't like it.

I just read the entry on Wikepedia and see nothing of the sort about Barletta saying it was aimed specifically at Hispanics.

Here's what he said and if you would have read it, your question would have answered.

Mayor Lou Barletta of Hazleton estimates that as "many as half" of the estimated 10,000 Hispanics who were living in Hazleton left Hazleton when the ordinance was passed.

He never said it was about hispanics. The hispanics said it was about hispanics. Not 1 word in the law singled out hispanics.
From what I understand it did impact the hispanic population but logic would dictate that if the largest portion of the illegal population is hispanic then they would feel the need to leave before they were correctly arrested.
More power to Lou Barletta.

[KristyLiz]

Originally Posted by tinman01

More power to Lou Barletta.

Thank god I left Drums