Norcross.Talk

By Michael H. Smith

December 29, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this

All you haters…. Explain that would you Woodrow.

By BW

December 29, 2008 5:52 PM | Link to this

Is it in effect now? Remember our Sheriff Barney Fife played politics with it, stomping his feet and demanding more deputies, he said it would up and running in the fall, now sometime in the spring? Maybe he’s out playing secert agent man with his recorder.

The 287g program has been around for a few years now, Gwinnett finally caught up with Cobb and other counties.

Maybe the commissioners should attend Cobb counties commissioners meetings and maybe they’ll get a clue.

Our commissioners do what they want, look at the stadium and this trash mess. The only way to pressure them is by voting them out something the lemmings in this county will never do.

By Roberto Valdez

December 29, 2008 7:12 PM | Link to this

I just read this gem of a blog and Woody’s bio.

The dog is not the only crazy one in the duo.

Woody shows his limitations right away when he writes that he challenged all of the “haters out there”. Woody cannot find an argument to back up his knee jerk opnion that immigration laws are somehow racist and hateful and that Americans who want secure borders and immigration laws enforced as well here as they are in Mexico are “haters”.

Woody ain’t the sharpest tool in the hacienda.

In the nineties, when that well-known “hater” Bill Clinton built a 15 foot fence in San Diego and made the illegals cross in Arizona, the first black woman elected to Congress was put in charge of a commssion to study “immigration reform”

Barbara Jordan, a presidential medal of freedom winner reported to Congress:to gain credibility on immigration policy: “Those who should get in, get in; those who should be kept out, are kept out; and those who should not be here will be required to leave — deportation is crucial.”

On the criminal employers who lure illegals into our republic, Jordan recommended mandatory electronic verification of legal employment eligibility. “Employer sanctions can work,” she said.

Woody the genius would no doubt be calling Jordan a “hater” as he is taught if she werer alive today.

Woody proves that having a keyboard and access to the AJC blog does not a thinker make.

VIVA 287 g! Woody? Woody?? UOKWOODY?

By American worker

December 29, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this

Roberto is right on…go tell ‘em in Mexico Woody. Explain to us why we should give up American jobs to please the nuts like you Woody!

Woody does a good job of illustrating the mindlessnes of those who defend illegal immigration. Thanks Woody!

Show us the rich benefits of open borders Woody…

By American worker

December 29, 2008 7:19 PM | Link to this

Barbara Jordan was the fist black woman elected to Congress from the south.

By Woody Bass

December 29, 2008 7:33 PM | Link to this

Hmm… Lets see.. I encourage you to do something… and I am anti-enforcement of the law?

There is aaaalot of assuming going on here.

By Cindy

December 29, 2008 8:28 PM | Link to this

Woody You can’t legitimately call us, as a group, to task on showing up for a commission meeting when you in fact have no idea what we do in respect to the issue at hand, or any other local government issues.

Whether I was or was not at the meeting you mention is not indicative of my level of proactiveness in Gwinnett or any other county.

Bruce Your Barney Fife comment is very childish in nature yet misses the mark on being cute. Since you’re a beloved and seasoned blogger, we’ll simply have to overlook it.

If you truly knew what politics were or were not involved in 287g, you’d decline to pontificate about that which you are truly not informed of the facts.

By Delaware Bob

December 29, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this

This illegal immigration has caused more problems than anyine could have ever imagined.

I can’t say the ILLEGAL ALIENS are completely to blame for the shape of our economy, but they are a BIG part of the problem. The ILLEGAL ALIENS send BILLIONS upon BILLIONS out of this Country every year, money we will NEVER see again. Does this help our economy?

How about the BILLIONS the American taxpayers fork out for the ANCHOR BABIES, the schooling of them, the medical care and the list goes on, and on, and on.

How about the MILLIONS upon MILLIONS paid to jail ILLEGAL ALIENS for the crimes, then the cost to deport them. Does this help our economy?

Then you have these so called activist groups that want AMNESTY for these ILLEGAL ALIENS. It would be absolute suicide for this Country if AMNESTY were granted to the 20 million or so ILLEGAL ALIENS. We have more and more people out of work everyday and they want to add another 20 million to this Country? I say, “NO”!

If AMNESTY were ever granted to these 20 million ILLEGAL ALIENS, you can bet big money that 3 years from now, there would be ANOTHER 3-5 million ILLEGAL ALIENS demonstrating on our soil for AMNESTY. I don’t wish to lose my privilege on this site, so I will refrain from using the words that fit here.

An end MUST come to this illegal immigration. The perfect tool we have so far is E-Verify. It MUST be used on ALL businesses and Government Social Services. EVERY employee must be checked! If they are illegal, they are to be dismissed and deported!

I believe it is time for all 50 States to pass a State law, like Arizona, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina and a few others. It is time for these ILLEGAL ALIENS to go back to their home Country where they belong and get out of this Country. The problems they are causing will not go away until the ILLEGAL ALIENS are out of this Country. I think that is plain to see.

By BW

December 30, 2008 12:28 AM | Link to this

Cindy this is politics…”Commissioner Green told the 287g advocates that Gwinnett’s problem was not a lack of commitment to immigration enforcement, but a lack of manpower. According to Green, the Sheriff can’t hire enough deputies because Gwinnett’s starting pay doesn’t compare to surrounding counties. The county is reportedly paying approximately $4.5 million a year in overtime because it cannot hire enough deputies to fully staff the jail and court services. And Green has reportedly not been able to marshal the three votes required to approve a raise.

Who did the Sheriff back in the election this year?

By Cindy

December 30, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

Bruce, That’s old and already dealt with news. The feds are the hold-up, not the county.

Also, the overtime of which you speak…check into the cost to insure and train new hires…the overtime pay is a great cost-saving measure.

It’s easy to call foul on alot of things until you understand the true inner-workings. What you and I have…it’s called a glimpse.

By HernandezUSA

December 30, 2008 10:39 AM | Link to this

We need the SAVE ACT and E-verify used for every business and to be sure illegals stay out of the market and American can get any Job they want or need.

E-verify does not discriminate against RACE, Religion, SEX or physically capability only your Citizenship and your LEGAL right to be and work in United States.

If we can stop Predatory business owners from hiring then the Illegal Aliens will not Stay and return to their native Countries.

This ISSUE is not about RACE, but ALL Governments Federal/State/LOCAL not doing their jobs, because big and small business owners want cheap workers and no labor laws to bother with.

Its called GREED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Both Liberals and Conservatives need to take some pride in our Country and protect it from all invading nations citizens and corporate greed. Please, NO IMMIGRANT BASHING or HATE Crimes.

HATE only feeds the single RACE agenda groups for Open Borders and the Liberal Media

The Only “sensible immigration reform” we need is Enforcement! The 1986 Amnesty was proof enough that any “sensible immigration reform” without Enforcement is a complete an utter Failure as we have more illegal aliens today because of the lack enforcement and corporate greed.

By BW

December 30, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this

“That’s old and already dealt with news.”, exactly, since this column is based on something Woody is using as an example happened in June of 2007.

By Barney in Atlanta

December 30, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this

Woody - you wrote “haters”.

From there, the assumption is that you are without a real argument. You then went on to prove that assumption.

By Cindy

December 30, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this

Here you go Bruce…and I think it’s kinda cool that you have a search link down at the bottom, just for you. :)

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/gwinnett/stories/2008/04/18/woody0418.html?cxntlid=inform_artr

By TBBui

December 30, 2008 11:59 PM | Link to this

Woody, I was one of the about 1500 members of the Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Mission at the BOC meeting last Dec 16, 2008. We are there to voice our concern about the Solid Wasted Station in the middle of a bussiness center, next to our church where hundred of our children go to school and elderly, parishioners worshiping. What thing can be worse than this ? We need help to spread the words to all Gwinnett county residents, they might not know how much this waste station can effect their property. If you will have another blog on this issue and need more information please let us know at the Holy Vietnamese Martyrs Mission. We need help to defeat this Waste Station. Thanks

By dude

December 31, 2008 6:56 AM | Link to this

At one point in my life I drove Greyhound buses. Twice a year we would operate a special charter service from Brownsville TX and Miami FL to various agricultural spots in the US for migrant (not just Mexicans but also Caribbean Islanders) farm workers, supposedly “legal workers”, at the start of growing season and after the harvest.
Everyone likes to blame the person chasing the American Dream, looking for opportunities to get ahead and improve their lives, but what about the employers who hire the illegals? Hernandez has the correct idea, its not about race or status it is the businesses who knowingly hire undocumented and illegal workers.
On the other hand, the agricultural interests would only hire migrant workers not because they were the only people who would do the job. Try this out: offer someone room and board on a farm in exchange for a reduced salary and watch the response.
I personally think the borders should be open but I will go a step further; everyone in the world should be granted American citizenship. Think of all the trouble that could prevent? Not only would everyone in the world be subject to US Laws, the FBI could arrest people anywhere they want. Once people taste the freedom of America they generally don’t go back to wherever they came from, so why not just let everyone be an Amercian?

By BW

December 31, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this

Good points dude, during WWII we begged Mexico to send workers, all our men were at war and the migrant system continued.

Cindy what is your point? I said on the local, state and national level it will be expensive, to really address the issue taxes may have to be raised.

The problem I have with good sheriff Butch is he acts like a child, if you’d like I’ll go back and find my comments on that aspect.

By BW

December 31, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this

From the same column Cindy…

By Bruce Wilcox February 21, 2008

One more thing Sandy, when someone runs for office the least they could is understand what they’re getting into. Now you say the commissioners cut back on benefits for the Sheriffs employee’s awhile ago, how long ago? Has the sheriff run for the office since, if so, he shouldn’t be complaining, if not, if he can’t handle the job, don’t run again.

By Bruce Wilcox

February 22, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

No Sandy that is not what the good Sheriff is saying. No one is ordering the Sheriff to go out and round up anyone, it’s clear he has enough trying to handle the jail, just enforce the laws of the land.

It is state law he has to report illegals to ICE for certain crimes. Sheriff Butch boasted he reported 360 to ICE just last year. How do you explain that Sandy?

Lets say your defense of the Sheriff is now boardering on fantasy, “Now let’s say that the Gwinnett sherriff’s dept. goes out and arrests every person they suspect is here illegally. And let’s say those people sit in jail for two to three months while they wait for the Feds to deport them.” No one even suggest such, just the Sheriff do his job without the political muscle flexing.

There are over 460 sheriffs department using the ICE program, I wonder how many sheriffs stomped their feet and demanded more money?

By Bruce Wilcox

February 26, 2008 1:24 PM | Link to this

Ya’ll R A Bunch of Crying Babies, strange handle for one that defends Butch, the biggest cry baby of all.

Do you follow the column of comments or just grab the last posted and go with it?

I said above, an elected official stomping his feet, holding his breath and making demands before he goes with the proven federal program is a little childish to me. When you run for an office you should at least understand what you’re getting yourself into, seems the job has overwhelmed Butch.

Mr. Smith, Commissioner Green putting Butch in his place, please, anything for a headline. Her feel good ordinance “Hire No Illegal” where we were just about to spend over $200,000 tax dollars on explaining how the ordinance recently passed would work? Now we find out that in the drought the ordinance has been watered down so many times it has been rendered worthless. The QoL unit is MIA, sure to appear just before the election. And like every commissioner was in on the biggest scam every pulled on taxpayers in this county, the stadium.

By Michael H. Smith

December 31, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

I personally think the borders should be open but I will go a step further; everyone in the world should be granted American citizenship. Think of all the trouble that could prevent?

I hope the open borders lobby opinion is not catching. I can think of all the trouble open borders will cause.

Secured borders and reduced numbers of very well vetted immigrants to fill the actual needs of this country not the greed of business, corporations or political agendas is what I support - one that is truly diverse and not favoring the Spanish speaking as now is the case in a very discriminatory fashion.

We are a nation of laws not a nation of romantic idealism unfounded in our Constitution.

At the moment with unemployment at all time record breaking highs we don’t have any real need of legal immigrants, let alone any need to allow or give an amnesty in any form to illegal aliens who braking the law just by being here.

I am very glad to see that the 287g surge is coming.

I’d be even happier if we had a state employer sanction law like Arizona to go along with 287g.

By Mark

December 31, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

All illegals should either be deported, or shot on sight. The wetbacks are getting WAY out of hand…

By Mark

December 31, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

Check out your local jail dockets to see How big the illegal issue really is. They are thieves, gangbangers, and overall filthy scum.

By Cindy

December 31, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

Bruce, What do you mean “what is my point?” I haven’t been vague or indecisive, but clear and concise in each thing i’ve said.

By BW

January 1, 2009 1:55 AM | Link to this

Have I? It’s all pretty simple, we have a sheriff that has been in for years, yet after all his foot stomping, we are finally getting the ICE program. How can anyone say this dude is competent? When I wrote the piece above there were 410 departments already using ICE, some have used them for several years.

As a Press Agent Woody is worthless. Sheriff Butch wants attention, call Woody, give his column a few day’s then, like Batman, he’ll come down on all the illegals. Look at the paper, Sheriff comes down on illegals, Woody is nothing more than a puppet, sorry Woody.

If McBush had the same Press Agent as our good sheriff he’d be president elect.

By Cindy

January 1, 2009 3:23 PM | Link to this

Bruce, I used to look forward to seeing your comments because I thought you were a smart man who had something, tangible knowledge, to offer to the county.

I still enjoy seeing your writings, because for some reason, as a person, I like you. But I think you need to learn a little more about some issues so that you don’t misrepresent them to everyone who reads your statements.

It’s ok to point out flaws. It’s ok to suggest options. What’s not ok, is when things are being improved, corrected, started up, implemented, to STILL gripe and moan about what was.

When you say things that are half-truths, they’re also half-untruths. What you do is decrease morale and possibly sour things for people who DO actually believe in what’s to come.

You’re doing yourself and others a grand disservice.

By Derek

January 1, 2009 10:11 PM | Link to this

Who are you exactly and why should I prove anything to you? Besides, just watch the nightly news. It’s not the illegals that cause all the problems in this area. Any fool knows the real reason. We can start by getting rid of all these churches around here. Religion breeds crime. It’s easy to have no morals when you believe you’ll just be forgiven for it.

By Cindy

January 1, 2009 11:16 PM | Link to this

Psssssyyyycccchhhhoooooo.

By Michael H. Smith

January 2, 2009 11:35 AM | Link to this

Washington State wants to begin wants to begin deporting illegal aliens who are serving time in the State’s jails. This move would save Washington State some $9 million over two years. The Washington State plan is modeled after a similar program in Arizona which has saved that state more than $18 million since 2005.

I hope Butch gives us the news on how much money Gwinnett saves through the 287g I.C.E. program. Maybe the State of Georgia will wake up and see the millions that Washington and Arizona are saving and decide to follow there lead.

Like Sen. Dirkson said State legislators: Million here, million there and soon you’re talking about real money.

By Topaz

January 3, 2009 11:41 AM | Link to this

I have shown up for many commissioner meetings. They serve a purpose. However, the work is done long before the topic ever reaches the meeting adgenda. I have wanted 287g in this county long before Butch Conway was in favor of it. I worked long and hard educating people on its merits. Sometimes we do things as a society that are not about saving money. We could save a lot of county money if we no longer served warrants or enforced speed limits. I for one wanted 287g because the people that are living in Gwinnett illegally (and breaking additional laws) should not be released to casue more problems. I have personal experience of the illegal’s culture in this county: They don’t pay their fair share in taxes They think nothing of hit and run accidents and drinking and driving They WONT learn English and demand to be spoken to in Spanish They don’t promote the education of their children so my child does not get challenged in the classroom They love to park on their lawns and drive their trucks slowly down the street blaring their music. etc etc etc. Thes above are not sterotypes. This is what I deal with on a daily basis living in an area that is populated with illegals.

By Michael H. Smith

January 3, 2009 12:18 PM | Link to this

Topaz my dear old pal you ain’t said nothing. I’ve seen it, been through it and stood against it in like manner as you and I still vehemently oppose illegal immigration more so now than ever before.

I still want to see how much money this county saves “just by no longer having to keep-up illegal aliens” at the county jail that don’t belong in the U.S.A.

I’m betting that by implementing 287g it will pay for the costs of the added deputies and drastically reduce the population over at the county jail to the extent that less deputies will be needed in the future.

I hope you support passage of a new employer sanction law, since SB 529 was gutted thanks to Sam Zamarripa and company?

By Topaz

January 4, 2009 1:24 AM | Link to this

I actually support a stronger law than SB 529. I never hire contractors unless they put in writing that they do not knowing employ illegals. I reserve the right to check IDs (and the workers HAVE to be able to communicate with me in English).I had a bad experience this summer when a contractor brought illegals to my home. I know they were illegals because I asked them if they were in this country legally and they bolted. When I questioned the contractor about the apparent breech of the contract, he stated that those men were not employees, but were paid cash and given 1099 forms.I am still upset that I used a contractor that supports illegal immigration and I want the law to be tougher on such employees.

Also: to BW, You don’t even know what you are talking about.

By BW

January 4, 2009 10:55 AM | Link to this

Topaz kind of a sweeping statement, is it not? Care to point out the mistakes in any of my responses?

By Michael H. Smith

January 4, 2009 11:29 AM | Link to this

You’re on the right track Topaz. Personally I favor the Arizona employer sanction law for a couple of reasons: One it has stood the test in court and at the ballot box too. But we agree completely on the manipulation that has been wrongfully used for years under the contractor/sub-contractor part of the U.S. tax code. There is a move a foot to change or actually close that legal IRS loophole. That is one piece of legislation I’d love to see pass in the next Congress.

Of course I’d be even happier if our State legislators passed an “occupational and trades license law” (legal residency required same as a driver’s license) that would cover every job preformed in this State. Which if enforced - under the State Department of Revenue - would cure alot of illegalities, e.g. improve job-site safety, lower worker compensation insurance, raise or assure consumer confidence and increase the rightly due ” tax revenues the State is entitled to receive” that has been stolen for years.

Most importantly, it would virtually eliminate illegal aliens unauthorized to work in this country from the workforce in Georgia. This would definitely kill the so-called “jobs magnet” and more than likely would mean alot of other piece-mill solutions, feel good toothless legally challenged laws that don’t really work would no longer be necessary.
BTW, this is not an original idea of mine, it has been kicked around for years by many people in the construction sector.

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January 5, 2009 3:54 PM | Link to this

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By Johnny B

January 9, 2009 7:40 AM | Link to this

Well, the public has been rather complacent, but I wonder how much of that is that they’re not terribly aware of the worsening dirty dealings of our government.

For example, District 1 Commissioner Shirley Lasseter recently took a private jet to the Philadelphia, MS casino with Randall Dixon of Precision Planning and is supporting buying land owned by him. The land is for a Central Library, which we don’t have the money to build and isn’t even on the master plan. Ever so coincidentally, Phyllis Oxendine, stepmother to John Oxendine (Shirley’s boss) is chair of the Library Board. Smell anything funny there?

This sounds just like Kevin Kenerly’s Las Vegas video antics with his developer buddies. Not to be outdone, of course, Charles Bannister is promoting the trash transfer station noted herein on behalf of an old friend of his, J. C. White, which has been opposed by everyone on the planet except for Kenerly. Does anyone see a pattern of shameless corruption on the BOC here? I’d like to volunteer for jury duty when some of these issues hit the fan.

By Cindy

January 9, 2009 10:41 AM | Link to this

JohnnyB count me in too.

By Michael H. Smith

January 10, 2009 1:41 PM | Link to this

Wouldn’t it be very nice if the businesses that hire foreign nationals had to pay a per child ELL fee for every child their guest worker parents enrolled in a Georgia public school?

And, a “claw back law” imposed on businesses that would enable the State to collect a per child ELL fee for every child an illegal alien worker, that is detained through 287g at the county for deportation, has enrolled in a Georgia public school?

http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2009/01/08/17immig.h28.html

By Michael H. Smith

January 13, 2009 11:17 AM | Link to this

“The Surge” is working.

How do you know when “The Surge” is working?

When you read of the growing opposition and the lies the growing opposition tells.

Thank you Sheriff Conway for enforcing the law.

By Paul

January 14, 2009 11:47 AM | Link to this

Then again, we could just re-brand all the problems that we’re seeing. I’ve often been officially told that Gwinnett has no gang problem, for example, and that it’s mostly “just kids.”

OK, so let’s instead call it a Ladies Tea, held among pesky Hispanic teenagers with pistols. Just high spirited youngsters, yeah, that’s it!

By Michael H. Smith

January 14, 2009 12:16 PM | Link to this

Speaking of re-branding…

Gov. Sonny Perdue asked state lawmakers Tuesday to approve $1.2 billion in construction borrowing to create 20,000 new jobs and build schools, university facilities and libraries…

“In times that we have trimmed our budget in other areas, we are aggressively increasing our bond package by a full 20 percent over last year,” he said during his address. “This will take advantage of low construction costs and create an estimated 20,000 new jobs in an industry that is ready to go to work.”

Low construction costs Governor Perdue?

I hope the State lawmakers will place conditions on this job creation stimulus package to build schools, university facilities and libraries that you are requesting and require a preference to employ U.S. Citizen Labor on all State projects under this package before allowing the employment of foreign nationals, with the absolute prohibition of employing unauthorized illegal alien workers.

Keep up the good work Sheriff Conway. American workers need all the help we can get from government to combat the employment of unauthorized illegal alien workers.