Anti-immigration law targets Hispanic community, kills local business

Published: Examiner.com, June 12, 2011

HB 87 is the law in Georgia that authorizes police to demand proof of citizenship from individuals, and holds others culpable for employing illegal immigrants. The Immigration and Nationality Act Section 287(g) is a law affecting four counties of Georgia, which preceded HB 87. It allows the federal government through Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enter into agreements with state and local law enforcement agencies, and for local and state officers to be authorized to enforce immigration laws.

Essentially, local and state officers who are affiliated with 287(g) can demand proof of citizenship from individuals, whom they have stopped at roadblocks, as well as for unrelated charges, such as running a traffic light. The 2010 arrest of undocumented college student, Jessica Colotl, in Cobb County, GA (a suburb of Atlanta) was a product of 287(g), and sparked intense national debate. According to the AJC, Colotl immigrated to the US from Mexico when she was 10 years old. She is currently living in Georgia based on an extension from her deportation.

287(g) is enforced in Cobb, Gwinnet, Whitfield, and Hall counties of Georgia. It was enacted during the Clinton administration, and is still enforced by the Obama administration.

Jeffrey Barger is a former owner and operator of a language center, where he taught English as a Second Language (ESL) to predominantly Hispanic clients in Norcross, GA, from 2000–2010. Barger started his business in downtown Norcross, located in Gwinnett County (another Atlanta suburb), with 15 Hispanic customers. His business grew to 25–30 customers, until laws changing after September 11, 2011 drove his business away. In 2001, according to Barger, his business dwindled from 25 to 14 students in two weeks.

Apparently, the laws changed to require citizenship documentation to get driver’s licenses and healthcare, when initially these could be obtained with a tourist visa. Barger was able to rebuild his business, but the granting of Gwinnett’s application for 287(g), as well as other political activities, drove his students away again.

Barger quoted a local businesswoman and wife of a housing developer as saying in a Norcross City Council meeting, “’We want to make sure we keep guys in vans with ladders on top out of downtown Norcross.’” On another event, Barger recalled a woman who worked at a Norcross beauty parlor informing him that she saw two Mexicans looking for his school. According to Barger, he asked her if she told them where it was, and she said, “No, I called the police.”

It is expensive and logistically challenging to enforce aspects of 287(g), which includes roadblocks and detaining suspects. Barger believes financial restraints limited the full measure of 287(g) from being enforced in Gwinnett. Nevertheless, roadblocks started affecting Barger’s business in 2009, and Hispanic people were too paranoid to move around and to come to his school. Barger said, “(The) roadblocks weren’t stopping people like me, they were stopping Hispanic people,” a sign to him that racial profiling in his county was a very real issue. He also said, “Roadblocks were put up in front Hispanic neighborhoods, a multitude of times.”

Barger used to teach students from various parts of Atlanta metro, but after the roadblocks, they would not drive into Gwinnett. From June 2010–November 2010, Barger was not able to maintain a single student in his language center, forcing him to shut down his business. When asked why he did not move to a county in the Atlanta area that had not enacted 287(g), Barger cited the expense of such a move, as well as his concern that HB 87 will cause the same issue in any county in Georgia where he would move.

Barger believes that Gwinnett was a once thriving business community, destroyed by anti-immigration law. He notes that businesses owned by Hispanic people are gone, as well as businesses that relied on Hispanic people as customers. In addition, the growth and development in Gwinnett was dependent on Hispanic craftsmen and artisans. It is easy to see how these issues could impede Gwinnett’s future progress. Its prosperous years included heavy involvement of the Hispanic community, who is now leaving the area in large numbers. According to Barger, “Paranoia comes around during the election cycle. Politicians target the Hispanic community.”

http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-atlanta/anti-immigration-law-targets-hispanic-community-kills-local-business

Georgia sued over anti-immigration law

Published: Examiner.com, June 6, 2011

Georgia followed in the footsteps of Arizona’s SB 1070, when it passed its own anti-immigration law, HB87, in Atlanta this May. Both acts are viewed as engendering racial profiling, by many. The law requires people stopped by police to provide proof of citizenship, if the police ask for it. Certain counties in Atlanta Metro had already implemented and enforced similar reforms, including the Atlanta suburb of Gwinnet County. The more progressive Fulton County and City of Atlanta had not, however.

Last week, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Southern Poverty Law Center, and a host of Civil Rights groups filed a class action lawsuit against the State of Georgia over HB87, claiming that it violates the Supremacy Clause of the US Constitution. The lawsuit states Georgia is interfering with the authority of the federal government in matters of immigration. It was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.

The ACLU and Civil Rights groups are currently involved in nearly identical lawsuits against the State of Arizona, which may provide legal precedent for them in the Georgia case. Furthermore, the US Justice Department filed a similar lawsuit against the State of Arizona over SB 1070. In that case, the US Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that parts of SB 1070 are unconstitutional, and Arizona is appealing to the US Supreme Court. The US Justice Department could also file suit against the State of Georgia.

Utah and Alabama have passed anti-immigration legislation, and other states are pursuing similar laws, with the Arizona law as a model. The US government decided to sue Arizona partly to prevent other states from following its example, however the outcome of the various lawsuits embroiling the State of Arizona will likely determine the future of such laws in America.

http://www.examiner.com/political-buzz-in-atlanta/georgia-sued-over-anti-immigration-law

Getting Around Atlanta ... Slowly

Published: Patch.com, May 29, 2011

Returning from a trip to Los Angeles this week, the volume of Atlanta's transportation problems really stood out to me. LA is especially known for its sprawl and traffic congestion, with famous depictions such as in Steve Martin’s LA Story: "It's not like New York, where you can meet someone walking down the street. In LA, you practically have to hit someone with your car. In fact, I know girls who speed just to meet cops."

However, Atlanta has far surpassed LA in poor planning for transportation issues because we are not developing in accordance with our rapidly growing population and we lack intelligent leadership in City Hall. It is virtually impossible to travel here without a car. LA even has a public bus and train system that can get you anywhere in LA County. Atlanta's options are much more limited.

Complicit in this are a certain demographic of wealthy suburbanites who would rather keep the poor city-dwellers in the city by not allowing MARTA transit in their counties, but are OK with commuting via SUV to Midtown for work everyday. In addition, lights are poorly timed throughout Peachtree Street for drivers, leading to intense traffic congestion, and there is not a good public transportation alternative. Even getting to a MARTA train stop on 10th Street from Ansley can be an ordeal.

“If you are trying to get to a part of the city that requires a bus transfer, it could be an all day affair,” said Eric Swymer, a former Midtown artist who has relocated to LA.

Driving from my city apartment to Papi's restaurant on Ponce de Leon this Saturday afternoon, I was blocked at every turn along Edgewood by the APD for a festival with a tiny turnout. Cars were backed up, vying for a window to pass one another. It reminded me of a demolition derby. Meanwhile traffic congestion was even more intense beyond Ponce de Leon, as 10th Street was closed for Jazzfest.

In an area as dense as the center of Atlanta, why are more people not taking advantage of public transportation? I think to a foreigner it would seem very bizarre, as I spend as much money to fill my car with gas each week as many people in the world earn in a month. Meanwhile, I drive a Nissan sedan, while Suburbans and Hummers crowd our city streets and pollute our environment.

Midtown is the most progressive part of Atlanta, with eclectic stores, restaurants, businesses and diversity. The push for a smarter transportation system has to come from here and be carried into City Hall, which sadly has a history of corruption and backwardness. Midtown attracts people from all over the metropolitan area to events such as Screen on the Green, Gay Pride, the Dogwood festival, music events, etc. As anyone who lives in this area can attest, city streets, especially in the vicinity around 10th street and Piedmont Park, are jam-packed. Residents are aggravated, and frequently have to enlist the help of parking enforcers and tow-truck drivers to keep their driveways free from unwelcome cars.

The bottom-line is this is not going to get better. We need smarter decisions for a rapidly growing metropolis, which need not be retarded by politics as usual.

http://midtown.patch.com/blog_posts/getting-around-atlanta-slowly

Student witnesses downtown tornado

Published: The Collegian (http://www.collegiannews.com), February 2008

On February 14^th a tornado came through the heart of downtown Atlanta, causing severe structural damages to major buildings including the Georgia Dome, the CNN Center, and significant damage to residential areas, especially in Cabbagetown and East Atlanta. The events caught residents off guard, especially as it is not often a tornado rips though the middle of a major city. Heyward Adams, a Georgia Perimeter College student on the Clarkston campus, shared his personal experience with the tornado:

As a resident of the East Atlanta area how did the tornado affect you and your community?

The tornado knocked out the power, sent debris flying and closed off a lot of streets. The debris included roofing nails, which caused some flat tires, but in my case I was lucky. The neighborhood next to mine was destroyed. I think about 30 homes had major damage.

What was it like when the storm hit, did you realize you were in the midst of a tornado?

The rain was coming up from the ground. (We were on the fourth floor of the building).

But to be honest, we heard the noise, saw the wind, but didn’t realize it was a tornado. (It was too dark to see anything.)

What sort of specific damage did you notice after the storm came through that evening?

Trees down everywhere, and roofs torn to shreds.

Were you scared?

No, not really, I personally like the danger.

Were you, or anyone you know, hurt in the tornado? And, did you, or anybody you know, suffer property damages?

My next door neighbor lost all the shingles off his roof but I was not personally hurt and my house was not damaged.

Have you experienced anything like this before?

Yes once, but on the ocean (water spout)

Are there many other Georgia Perimeter students living near you, and, if so, were they affected?

I am not aware of any.

The Georgia Dome was hosting the SEC Championships when the tornado came through and actually tore part of the roof off the stadium during the overtime of the Mississippi State-Alabama game, halting the game and leaving players and fans stunned. Buildings all over Atlanta were left with their windows blown out, including Ted’s Montana Grille, the Tabernacle, and numerous skyscrapers. The aftermath of the tornado left a number of Atlanta residents in Cabbagetown with major damage to their homes. Some are compelled to look for new residences, and some who worked in the downtown area are now looking for new jobs.

TAG program offers opportunities to students

Published: The Collegian (http://www.collegiannews.com), February 2008

The Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program offers a great opportunity to Georgia Perimeter College students. Students are guaranteed acceptance at a four-year-institution that participates with GPC if they met certain criteria. Students are required to have 60 hours or their Associates degree and the minimum GPA listed by their university, and they are guaranteed admission. There are 23 schools in the agreement and 14 participated in a fair at the Dunwoody Campus on Tuesday, February 18^th. Schools represented in the program were Agnes Scott College, Armstrong Atlantic State University, Clark Atlanta University, Clayton State University, Georgia Gwinnett College, Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Southern University, Georgia Southwestern State University, Mercer University, Oglethorpe University, Strayer University, University of Alabama-Huntsville, University of Georgia at Griffin, and University of West Georgia. The Universities required a GPA ranging from 2.5-2.8. Georgia Tech’s requirement was a 2.7. According to Denise Rixter, a TAG recruitment officer, more TAG fairs will be offered in the fall.

GPC students with professional football dreams

Published: The Collegian (http://www.collegiannews.com), January 2008

Mike Meegan is a GPC student attending the Dunwoody campus with hopes of spring boarding to the University of Georgia, with a football scholarship. A history major, he is working hard to make it academically. He is knowledgeable about physical training and is using his expertise to build his physical condition to make the UGA football squad.

A native of Tampa Bay, Florida, Meegan earned a spot as a walk on, on the Florida International University football squad as a redshirt freshman. Despite a shoulder injury, Meegan toughed the first season out, only to be cut after FIU changed its head coach. Since then, he has been on a journey that landed him a spot on the Atlanta Heat semi-professional football team and living with his father here in the Atlanta area. Meegan did a three-month stint with the Heat, but now is working on making the grades at Perimeter in order to make it to UGA and beyond.

Meegan and friend and fellow former Atlanta Heat player and Florida native, Matt Grey, both have hopes to play college football in Georgia. Grey is a political science major, who is also studying at Perimeter’s Dunwoody campus. Grey, a former Georgia Southern student and football player, has been debating about whether to play for the Canadian Football League (CFL) or to take a possible position on Georgia Tech’s team as a redshirt. The CFL is a lucrative, potential road to the NFL, but does not offer the security that earning a college degree offers. With the prospect of earning six figures immediately, playing for the CFL offers a strong incentive. However, an education at Georgia Tech, which he is already working towards by studying at Perimeter, seems to outweigh the notion of playing for the CFL for Grey.

Grey and Meegan hope to take full advantage of their talent and abilities on the field and the classroom. Both of these men are attempting to transition from Perimeter to a four-year university, college football, and maybe a professional career in the sport.