For two months, Mesa's Human Relations Advisory Board has played hot potato with the Utah Compact, passing it from one monthly meeting to the next. While the majority of the board claims to support the measure, they have failed to recommend its passage to City Council.
Fortunately, they won't have to keep passing that potato around for long. After Wednesday, the board will go on a three-month recess, allowing the Utah Compact to die quietly over the summer. Sadly, that appears to be what the board wants.
Can there be a greater indictment of our city than this? When the very people chosen to speak for human relations would rather silence an issue than vote on it, what hope can there be for Mesa?
Passage of the Utah Compact would send a strong signal to both a wary business community and an increasingly divided citizenry: a signal declaring that Mesa can (and will) enforce its laws while at the same time respecting the dignity of all people.
A rejection of the compact, on the other hand, will tell Mesa citizens that illegal immigration is such a tremendous problem that humane actions are counterproductive.
That said, failing to make a decision - one way or the other - says but one thing: the Human Relations Advisory Board is more interested in serving its members' reputations than in serving Mesa.
Manuela Jenkins, Mesa
Accuracy posted at 10:39 am on Wed, May 25, 2011.
“Mesa council drops ball on Utah compact” . . . And Utah cities also drops ball on Utah compact – after Utah Gov. Gary Herbert signed the new (Arizona-style) immigration law.
This month the National Immigration Law Center and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) are suing to halt Utah’s law.
maryellen posted at 1:04 pm on Wed, May 25, 2011.
Excellent letter.
I have encouraged Gilbert's Human Relations Board to make strong statements against SB1070. To date, I don't really know what this Board does with regards to Human Relations. OK, they do help with multi-cultural events, but I expect much more.
samkat posted at 5:58 pm on Wed, May 25, 2011.
In so many words maryellen, you advocate ignoring our immigration laws and feel that jumping the line over people patiently waiting their turn is acceptable. Do you also choose to ignore the fact that probably 99% of the illegals are using fraudulent or stolen identities which is a felony? Sorry, but there are many law abiding citizens who will disagree with you.
RationalHuman posted at 6:25 pm on Wed, May 25, 2011.
How about respecting the dignity of AMERICAN CITIZENS and getting our law enforcement to ENFORCE and get rid of these illegal felonous invaders?
Leon Ceniceros posted at 10:22 pm on Wed, May 25, 2011.
EXCUSE ME....EXCUSE ME....This is the United States of America.....not the ........United States of .........MEXICO.
We can't afford to pay for the benefits of...........LEGAL AMERICAN CITIZENS............much less the Citizens of ......MEXICO, HONDURAS, BELIZE, GUATAMALA, EL SALVADOR.....and........POINTS SOUTH.
If a person is so concerned about the ........CITIZENS OF MEXICO, CENTRAL AMERICA and LATIN AMERICA ...........then sell your house, cash in your bank accounts ......AND MOVE DOWN THERE.
When did the ..........MESA HUMAN RELATIONS ADVISORY BOARD......become a ..'RUBBER STAMP".......for............HISPANIC ACTIVISTS (from California)....MECHA......LA RAZA.....LA CAUSA....ATZLAN....BAJA ARIZONA.....and every other.............ILLEGAL ALIEN AMNESTY ....Group in Arizona ?????????????????????
wdgnas posted at 4:26 am on Thu, May 26, 2011.
and what about prosecuting the employers that hire illegal immigrants? fat chance...
rachel hemmings posted at 12:05 pm on Fri, May 27, 2011.
Mauela, I understand your frustration. However, the Human Relations Advisory Board did not play "hot potato" with the issue as you put it. They researched the issue of immigration diligently, heard from all sides, and came to a decision. In point of fact they postpoed work on two major issues in order to address the Utah Compact. Were you aware that it took a year for the authors of the compact to come to an agreement?
There was a motion to pass the Utah Compact to the council in April. It was made by someone anxious to do something. However it neglected certain necessary steps. Further it was made without testimony from the Mesa Police Department or detailed information or statistics on the impact of current immigration policies on children and families. Additionally in order for the compact to have ay chance of passing it needed to be accompanied by a summary of research and public comment.
On May 25 the board that you despise voted unanimously to forward the Mesa Compact to the Mesa City Council along with the summary, the research, public comments, etc. Additionally the voted to adopt and endorse, as an offical position of the board, the Utah Compact. Further they voted to hold open discussions with residents of Mesa on immigration.
As to those who disagree with the Mesa Compact, I would advise that you take your blinders off, lose the impediments of rhetoric, and read the compact with an open mind.,
rachel hemmings posted at 12:10 pm on Fri, May 27, 2011.
Maryellen, You need to take the issue up with the city council. Members of the council have, according to my sources, banned the board in Gilbert from doing anything to do with controversial issues. That includes those issues which are commonly part ot the resposibilities of human relations commissions.