Editorial: San Francisco Mayor Lost
El Mensajero, Editorial, María Antonieta Mejía, Translated by Elena Shore, Posted: Sep 23, 2008
Editor's Note: The editor of the Spanish-language newspaper El Mensajero in San Francisco wonders why Mayor Gavin Newsom seems to gave lost his way when it comes to Latino immigrants. The mayor recently revised San Francisco's sanctuary city law to allow the city to turn over undocumented minors convicted of crimes to federal immigration authorities. He also postponed the city's plan to grant IDs to residents regardless of their immigration status.
SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom appears to have taken control of his personal life: He recently got married and hasn't been admitted to a rehab clinic again. But he seems to have gotten on the wrong path in the decisions he has made about the Latino immigrant community.
María Antonieta Mejía, editor of El Mensajero
On Sept. 4 the San Francisco Chronicle, which Newsom surely reads, reported that the mayor decided to delay the implementation of the plan to grant Municipal IDs to city residents regardless of their immigration status -- a measure that would benefit both undocumented immigrants and other vulnerable groups such as seniors and the transgender community.
The reason for this delay, he argued, is the need to revise the sanctuary law, which lately has caused some headaches for the mayor.
It would appear that with this decision, Newsom is trying to get the attention of conservative and anti-immigrant groups, who represent a large number of votes if he decides to launch his candidacy for governor of California.
Of course, why would Newsom care about the undocumented immigrant community, who can’t vote, when he can earn the affection of those who don’t like us but can vote?
Hopefully Newsom will reconsider his decision and get back on the right path with respect to the immigrant community. We hope he does not give in to the pressure from conservative groups who only want to divide this country and turn San Francisco into a city that does not give refuge to those who need it most.
My advice to Newsom is to stop trying to destroy the few resources in favor of undocumented immigrants that exist in San Francisco, and start trying to resolve the issue of violence that has increased in recent weeks in the Latino Mission district.
That deserves an immediate response. The lack of attention to this problem reflects, in my opinion, a kind of disregard for the Latino community. I wonder, if the deaths had taken place in the financial district, in Pacific Heights or in another neighborhood of San Francisco, would his response be this apathetic?
We look forward to your reply, Mr. Newsom.
Related Articles:
The Knock at the Door: San Francisco’s Sanctuary Status Under Fire
Activists Ask San Francisco to Enforce Sanctuary City Policy
'Poli-Migra': New Spanish Word for Blurred Line Between Police and ICE
Immigration Raids Startle Communities in Oakland and Berkeley
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User Comments
Ransome on Sep 27, 2008 at 11:30:06 said:
“The Catholic Church in no way supports or encourages illegal immigration. Illegal immigration does not benefit the common good of our society. Because undocumented immigrants are often paid lower wages than U.S. workers, illegal immigration can drive the cost of wages down for everyone. This increases poverty among more and more people in our country.
Pastorally speaking, illegal immigration also causes human beings to live a life lacking in dignity due to constant hiding, fear and abuse of basic human rights. Our Church's social service agencies, such as Catholic Charities, serve people from all walks of life. We do not ask for documentation because the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us to love our neighbors.
Under the current system, individuals are being exploited in poor working and living conditions and families are being separated. Respect for the sacredness of human life is what is at the heart of the Church's position on immigration.”
Bishop Joseph N. Latino leads the Catholic Diocese of Jackson Miss.
-- edited by the publisher.
Doug R. on Sep 26, 2008 at 20:42:59 said:
Over 2 million LEGAL immigrants come to the USA a year they are not the issue. I am sick of hearing about what people who should not even be in this country think. This country was built by legal immigrants who put the USA FIRST. It was not built by people who illegally showed no regard for its borders laws, then come in and demand services and stay loyal to the country they came from as if the USA is a boarding house or motel. Sorry thats not what built this country it is what will destroy it though if we allow it.
BTW these are not "undocumented immigrants" any more then a drug dealer is a " undocumented pharmacist" these people are illegally in another nation and violated its sovereignty.
Nezzie on Sep 26, 2008 at 11:35:50 said:
Dave, it is also not a crime to want to keep the money in one's country to take care of your own people either. Can you say 1.2 trillion bailout. If it is black people it is called a handout, if it is white people it is called a bailout, if it is an illegal immigrant, it is called a crime. I wil be your bigot and your racist, I will be whatever you want to call me, as long as we get rid of these illegal immigrants and the anchor that holds them out of our country so we can began our healing process. Perhaps then we can reconsider legal immigration again.
dave on Sep 25, 2008 at 11:46:59 said:
Nezzie, what is sad and unfortunate is that you believe in all the widespread lies and misconceptions about undocumented immigrants in order to support your bigotry and hatred of those that are different than you.
This country is great because of its immigrants, including the undocumented ones. Undocumented immigrants, as a whole, contribute far more than they take from the system, so stop blaming them for everything under the sun. You make it sound like it is the sweet life to be an undocumented immigrant in this country.
Chain Migration? Do you even know how hard it is to get relatives/spouses/parents/children into this country? Get real.
I suspect the people you think that are crowding out your country are already here and are citizens.
It isn't crime to send money back to the country of one's origin.
Nezzie on Sep 25, 2008 at 05:48:15 said:
Dave, "Since when do undocumented immigrants come into our country and want "all or nothing?" The day they illegally came across that border, to do the jobs that "Americans won't do" and the day they came across that border illegally to drop an anchor and get that first check in the name of "my child is a US citizen," and is now entitled to all that comes with being a citizen. The US taxpayer has to foot the bill for education, healthcare, housing (section 8 vouchers)and foodstamps,for these alleged "American citizen children" and then with that comes chain migration (grandma, grandpa, cousins, other siblings etc. They don't want all or nothing, they get all while the taxpayer get's nothing but crowed out of our own country. As I said, we were generous in 1986, we have bailed out Mexico and we continue to pay three fold, we send money, corporate America pay's the illegal alien under the table, thus depressing our wages, and we take care of them and their illegal alien children while they are being "hosted" in our country. They then get to send the money back to their country. No, most of America feels as I do we have had enough, so yes it is unfortunate, for them and apparently you.
nativessayno on Sep 23, 2008 at 21:55:57 said:
Newsome's career is toast. After the senseless murder of three family members this summer by a twice-deported Latino thug, and exporting drug-dealing illegal immigrant youths to Southern California; someone finally got the memo: ...A majority of citizen's aren't appreciative of millions of Latino's being here without permission or any legal grounds whatsoever....
If Villaraigosa and Newsome have political careers after '09 I will be very surprised. Let's do an inventory: oh,....WE ARE BROKE in California....so we should rally to compound our fiscal woes?
Meanwhile the "media" has force fed us hearts and flower pap about the woeful illegal immigrants. These said "immigrants" do not care smack about our country or the American people, while they have lined their pocketbooks at our expense and at our peril and now the burden is bearing down on us full force.
Sanctuary city; what a concept! Now that we are in economic free fall, 98% of all illegals are still chronically ungrateful and a drag on our economy! They have their own home countries and now that they have pillaged ours they can return there soon.
Big changes are afoot...I do not think they include accommodations, sanctuaries, or refuges for foreign national's in the coming agendas, nor should they!
J Cir on Sep 23, 2008 at 09:13:41 said:
Ms. Mejia writes, "Of course, why would Newsom care about the undocumented immigrant community, who can’t vote, when he can earn the affection of those who don’t like us but can vote?"
Um, maybe because America's Favorite Socialist Mayor Gavin Newsom (belatedly but no doubt reluctantly) has come to understand that only American citizens can vote in election: illegal immigrants rightly have no say in the American electoral process. See, Ms. Mejia, there's this pest of a document called the US Constitution that, much to your chagrin and that of MeCHa, La Raza, LULAC, etc., restricts voting to US citizens.
That you would lament the obligation and duty of an American elected official to conduct his office, shape public policy, and tailor a political campaign in such ways that the normailzation and acceptance of illegals in the US is rightfully ignored speaks volumes about your lack of concern for the welfare and sustainability of America, the sovereign right of the US to protect and maintain its borders, and the absolute necessity for America to maintain social, cultural, linguistic, and economic cohesion.
Those who have truly "lost their way" are those who advocate for illegal immigrants with such irrational and misplaced passion that they promote policies and legal changes that allow the welfare and comfort of illegal immigrants to trump those of American citizens. Shameful.
dave on Sep 23, 2008 at 09:10:56 said:
Nezzie, No. That is not what true American citizens believe. You are, fortunately, not the majority of how citizens feel. That is truly fortunate.
Since when do undocumented immigrants come into our country and "want all or nothing?"
Nezzie on Sep 23, 2008 at 06:54:28 said:
Gavin Newsome is a traitor to our country and so are the illegal immigrants that have taken sanctuary in our State of California! We, the citizens of these United States of America deman he be repealed and deman that all illegal immigrants and the children they have spawned since the year 1986 be removed from our country. 1986 was the year of the last amnesty, this is unfortunate, it is time for these illegal invaders who are taking over our country State by State to be ejected. This is what true American citizens believe. It is nothing personal, but you cannot come into someone's country and they give you great hospitalitiy which is not enough, no, you want all or nothing. So we, American citizens say you now get nothing. This is truly unfortunate.
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