This year for my birthday, I would like for you to give the gift of becoming a member (or to renew your membership for 2018) of the Latino and Latina Roundtable of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley. Attached is the Continue reading
Members of the audience attending the Dec. 18, 2017 Pomona City Council meeting break out in applause after the City Council approved an ordinance ensure the implementation of SB 54, the so called “sanctuary state” legislation, in the city. Photo by Monica Rodriguez/ Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.POMONA >> Hundreds passed on a chance to address the Pomona City Council Monday night and simply asked that their names be read into the record as being in support of an ordinance guaranteeing the city will comply with state legislation some have called the “sanctuary state” law.
Pomona City Clerk Eva Buice read the names — more than 300 of them — into the record before some 40 speakers, about 30 calling for approval of the ordinance and another 10 opposing it, spoke before the city council.
After listening to all comments, city council members gave unanimous final approval to the ordinance. The council had given it preliminary approval Dec. 11.
“People are living in fear. They are scared,” said Councilwoman Ginna Escobar, referring to residents of the city who are in the country without the necessary immigration documents.
Some people have tried to obtain the required paperwork, Escobar said, but it is one that is difficult to complete.
Addressing the fears of Pomona residents who are in the country illegally or who have family and friends without the necessary documents is of such concern to Pomonans that the issue has brought people together.
“More than ever, we are united with love and compassion,” she said.
Mayor Tim Sandoval said people don’t leave their countries because they have a desire to move out. They leave because they are facing situations that make it difficult for them to stay.
“They seek a better future,” Sandoval said.
Monday’s meeting was contentious even before it started. At times, opponents to the ordinance shouted “USA, USA, USA” while supporters sat in their seats and sang “De Colores,” a song that became an informal anthem of the United Farm Workers in the 1960s.
The singing prompted at least one of the outnumbered opponents to call out, “In English! This is America! This isn’t Mexico!” The audience members maintained their composure and continued to sing.
Later, an ordinance opponent and an audience member engaged in a shouting match.
This fall, immigrant-rights groups called on the city council to adopt an ordinance that would place city policies in line with the requirements set by Senate Bill 54, formally known as the California Values Act.
Gov. Jerry Brown signed SB 54 into law in October with the legislation set to go into effect Jan. 1. Generally, the state law will prohibit California and local law enforcement from using their resources to carry out federal immigration-enforcement activities.This would include investigating, interrogating, detaining or arresting people.
“SB 54 correctly identifies that the enforcement of federal civil immigration law falls exclusively within the jurisdiction of the federal government,” according to a city staff report. “As such, no city department has any inherent authority or duty to investigate or assist in (the) enforcement of such federal law. Entangling state and local agencies with federal immigration enforcement programs diverts already limited resources and blurs the lines of accountability between local, state and federal governments.”
Pomona’s ordinance ensures the “city policy remains in conformity with state law on the issue, in particular, the requirement now under SB 54 that cities do not engage in immigration enforcement purposes except under specific circumstances” such as cases in which a judicial warrant was issued, the staff report reads.
Under the ordinance, the city “affirms” that requirements set by the state involving confidentiality of personal information, as is already done by the city, will be extended to include immigration enforcement actions, according to the staff report.
The city will also be prohibited from entering into agreements unless they are in compliance with SB 54, the staff report reads.
SB 54 will require police departments to submit a yearly report to the California Department of Justice with details of their involvement in any joint law enforcement task force. Under the city’s ordinance, Pomona’s city manager must provide the same information to the City Council when it’s submitted to the state, the staff report reads.
Pomona’s ordinance ensures that “neither the city nor any official, employee, agent or contractor of the city will be able to amend this stated city policy to make such policies out of compliance with this ordinance or SB 54,” according to the staff report.
In addition, Pomona’s city manager will be responsible for developing and implementing training materials for city personnel as they pertain to the requirements of SB 54, the city staff report reads. The city manager also will present a report to the council at least once a year on the status of training and compliance with the state legislation.
Before the council voted on the matter, one of the speakers referred to the undocumented as “criminals, rapists, they are law breakers,” to the displeasure of most of the audience.
Speaker Maria Valencia later said, “I’m a very hard worker. I’m not a criminal” and, she added, she’s a native of Mexico.
Robin Hvidston, of the Claremont-based We The People Rising, was among the 10 speakers who opposed the ordinance.
“We should have our local government support our federal laws,” she said. “The council should be helping the homeless, homeless Americans.”
Approving the ordinance will only send a message that will attract those participating in human trafficking and drug trafficking activities, she said.
Mayor Tim Sandoval said the ordinance wouldn’t have been established without the involvement of several groups including the ICE Out of Pomona Coalition and the Latino/Latina Roundtable of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys.
Council members listened to the public, including parents, children and local ministers. Sandoval said.
Adopting the ordinance sends a clear message, he said.
“This is your city, your community,” Sandoval said. “We don’t want anyone to feel unwelcome here.”
Pomona gives first approval to ‘sanctuary state’ compliance measure
By Monica Rodriguez | morodriguez@scng.com | Daily Bulletin
PUBLISHED: December 11, 2017 at 11:53 pm | UPDATED: December 12, 2017 at 5:07 pm
POMONA >> City leaders gave preliminary approval Monday night to a proposed Pomona ordinance meant to ensure the city will implement requirements spelled out in the state’s new so-called “sanctuary state” law.
Immigrant-rights groups urged the City Council to adopt an ordinance to keep Pomona in conformance with SB 54, known as the California Values Act.
Pomona City Council members voted unanimously for the proposed ordinance, which will come back to the council Dec. 18 for a final vote.
The ordinance was crafted with the involvement of representatives of various immigrant-rights groups, the city’s police chief and deputy chief, and members of the city attorney’s office, said Councilwoman Cristina Carrizosa.
“It’s was a very collaborative process,” Mayor Tim Sandoval said. “Out of this came the document you see … I think everyone is proud of the final document.”
Gov. Jerry Brown signed the California Values Act into law in October. The legislation goes into effect Jan. 1.
Generally, the law will prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from using their resources for immigration-enforcement purposes including investigating, interrogating, detaining or arresting people.
Pomona’s proposed ordinance will ensure “city policy remains in conformity with state law on the issue, in particular, the requirement now under SB 54 that cities do not engage in immigration enforcement purposes except under specific circumstances,” according to a city staff report. That would include cases in which a judicial warrant was issued.
Among the things the proposed ordinance would do is prohibit the city from entering into agreements unless they are in compliance with SB 54, the staff report reads.
State legislation will require police departments to provide an annual report to the California Department of Justice with details of participation in any joint law enforcement task force. The proposed ordinance will require the Pomona city manager to provide the same information to the City Council at the same time it is submitted to the state Department of Justice, the staff report reads.
Pomona’s proposed ordinance will ensure that “neither the city nor any official, employee, agent or contractor of the city will be able to amend this stated city policy to make such policies out of compliance with this ordinance or SB 54,” according to the staff report.
The proposed ordinance makes it clear that the Pomona city manager is responsible for development and implementation of the training materials for city personnel as it pertains to the scope and requirements of SB 54, the city staff report reads.
The city manager also will present to the City Council a report on the status of training and compliance with SB 54. The report will be provided at least once a year to the City Council or when requested by the council.
Sandoval reiterated that the City Council is “in full support of all our residents in the city,” he said. “We are going to do everything that we can to protect you.”
Prior to the council’s vote, Jose Calderon, president of the Latino and Latina Roundtable of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley, told the council that over the years the city and a coalition of local organizations have worked together to address issues of concern to the city’s immigrant population. Issues have ranged from addressing the needs of day laborers seeking work to support for state legislation that has resulted in driver’s licenses being issued to those living in the state without the proper immigration documents.
“This is very important to our community which includes immigrants and the families of immigrants,” Calderon said.
Tuesday, Calderon said he was happy with council’s action and is demonstrating it is “taking the lead and figuring out how to ensure the voice and protection of those in a section of the community not always heard.”
But not everyone agrees with the direction the City Council is taking. Ira Mehlman, spokesman for the Federation of American Immigration Reform, said Tuesday actions such as those taken by the Pomona City Council are those of local leaders who are upset with the federal government taking steps to enforce immigration regulations.
“Ultimately, it is SB 54 that’s in violation of federal law,” Mehlman said.
In 1996, Congress adopted legislation outlawing sanctuary cities yet the federal government has not challenged California’s legislation or that of cities, he said.
The actions California, Pomona and other communities are sending to those in the country illegally including those who are undocumented and have committed a serious crime is “we will do whatever it takes to protect and coddle you,” Mehlman said.
Calderon said the nation is living through a period in which policies that have allowed people to live in the country legally are being overturned, instilling fear in them and their loved ones in addition to leaving them facing an uncertain future.
The Pomona City Council’s actions provide some help to people in such a situation, Calderon said.
“It’s really a courageous act,” he said.
On behalf of the Latino and Latina Roundtable of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley, I write to strongly support the SB-54 Compliance Ordinance that is currently being proposed by the ICE Out of Pomona Coalition and currently under consideration by the city council.
In previous years, our Latino and Latina Roundtable has collaborated with city council members and officials on issues that directly affect the rights of our Latino/a community and our diverse communities. As a result, as part of coalition efforts, we have been able to find common ground in supporting the rights of our immigrant and refugee families. As part of these efforts, Pomona became a national model for how to work with coalitions in developing a center for day laborers. In recognizing how immigrant families were being affected by checkpoints, the council took the lead in making important changes to the conducting of these checkpoints. In the course of this action, the council openly supported the passage of a bill allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver’s license. In carrying out these actions, the council has ensured the rights, not only of the majority Latino community, but a large sector who are immigrants of all nationalities.
Now, with the introduction of the SB 54 Compliance Ordinance, the council is once again being asked to take the lead in being an example as to how SB 54 can be implemented on a local level. This request comes at a time when our immigrant communities are facing some of the deepest attacks on human rights in history. With the present administration doing away with Temporary Protective Status status for refugees from Nicaragua, Haiti, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, there is the reality that this status may not be renewed for 265,00 immigrants from Honduras and El Salvador who have been here for decades. We personally know families who live in Pomona who are being affected by these policies. We also know many DACA recipients from Pomona who are facing the reality that DACA may be terminated on March 5.
Under these conditions, the Pomona City Council can take the lead in supporting the intent of the California Values Act and ensure support for our vulnerable communities. This issue is very important to our membership that includes immigrants and the families of immigrants. We are fully in support of this ordinance and urge your unanimous approval.
Sincerely,
Jose Calderon, President of the Latino and Latina Roundtable of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley
Reminder: The Latino and Latina Roundtable, as part of the Ice Out of Pomona Coalition, call on your support this Monday, December 18 (at 6 PM) at Pomona City Hall when the Pomona City Council will vote on an “An Ordinance of the City Council to Comply With the Requirements of the California Values Act in Order to Preserve Public Safety.”
Where: Pomona City Hall
When: Dec. Dec. 18
Time: show up no later than 6 pm to get a good seat inside the city council chambers.
Jose Zapata Calderon
President of the Latino and Latina Roundtable
Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Chicano/a and Latino/a Studies
1050 North Mills Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711-6101
(909) 952-1640
Website: www.josezcalderon.com
Tremendous organizing effort by the Ice Out of Pomona Coalition in collaborating with the Pomona City Council in passing the first reading of this ordinance which will undoubtedly be a model for other cities in California to follow. The Latino and Latina Roundtable, as part of the Ice Out of Pomona Coalition, call on your support now on December 18 (at 6 PM) at Pomona City Hall when the Pomona City Council will vote on an “An Ordinance of the City Council to Comply With the Requirements of the California Values Act in Order to Preserve Public Safety. Where: Pomona City Hall When: Dec. Dec. 18 Time: show up no later than 6 pm to get a good seat inside the city council chambers. :
Jose Zapata Calderon
President of the Latino and Latina Roundtable
Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Chicano/a and Latino/a Studies
1050 North Mills Avenue
Claremont, CA 91711-6101
(909) 952-1640
Website: www.josezcalderon.com
The Latino and Latina Roundtable, as part of the Ice Out of Pomona Coalition, invites our members to join us at the Pomona City Council in support of “An Ordinance of the City Council to Comply With the Requirements of the California Values Act in Order to Preserve Public Safety (see the attached city council agenda). The Introduction and First Reading of this Ordinance will take place this Monday, November 11 and the actual vote will take place on Dec. 18. We are not organizing in a big way for Dec. 11 since this is primarily for the introduction and urge our members not to post this on social media. We do ask that you start preparing for Dec. 18th for the actual vote. In the city council agenda (page 3 and bottom of page 4) , you will find the Latino and Latina Roundtable support letter attached (as well as a letter from lawyer Jim Sanbrano who has been a representative of LRT on the coalition). Where: Pomona City Hall When: Dec. 11 and Dec. 18 Time: show up no later than 6 pm to get a good seat inside the city council chambers.
The Age of Trump and the Rise of Authoritarianism
I like the title of this conference, flirting with Fascism, because what is happening in this country right now – has some vestiges of fascism – although this is not a settled question. We still have democratic forms and some democratic rights – that we must use to advance a more just and democratic society. However, what are some of these vestiges?
We are excited to introduce our Latino and Latina Roundtable members and friends to our first director, Kathy Cabrera. Kathy brings to our organization many assets to help us accomplish our goals and sustain or organization for years to come.
Kathy grew up in the city of Ontario and graduated from Pitzer College. While at Pitzer, she was involved in numerous projects including: teaching ESL classes at the Pomona Day Labor Center; coordinating weekly Encuentro meetings between day laborers and students, and helping to organize the La Paz Alternative Spring Break and Cesar Chavez Pilgrimage. In Pomona, Kathy gathered research and participated in defeating measure T that would have replaced the elections of city councilmembers by district to at-large elections.
She was a Fulbright Teaching Assistant in Malaysia; working alongside nonprofit organizations to raise funds for educational programs; and working as a research assistant and recruiter of Spanish-speaking parents at the University of Chicago for a social-emotional study in Chicago Public Schools.
In the next few weeks, Latino and Latina Roundtable members will be receiving e-mails and communication from Kathy Cabrera. She has begun working on organizing our new office space, newsletter, facebook page, website, and files. She will be handling our administrative responsibilities, fundraising, grant writing, outreach and strengthen communications with our members and community. With her assistance we are looking forward to sustaining an ongoing organization to fight for social justice, create leadership and to educate our community on issues affecting us along with empowering our community.
When you have time, please stop by our new office at 1444 E. Holt Ave. in Pomona (Entrance #3 – Classroom 6) and introduce yourself to her.
Jose Zapata Calderon
President of the Latino and Latina Roundtable
