Here we go again..
Cherokee County, a North Metro Atlanta suburb is considering another attempt to force small businesses into doing the job our federal government failed to do on our southern border.
The newly crafted “Landlord Ordinance” punishes all renters to nail a few who attempt to live in the county illegally. Everybody must pay a $5 fee and provide verifiable proof that they live here legally before being able to rent an apartment or other dwelling.
The ordinance also allows the county to suspend the business license of any company that hires undocumented workers.
Timing on this is interesting. Cherokee County is suffering badly from the downturn in housing starts which was the main economic engine for the county until last year. In addition, the county has had real difficulty in attracting economic development due largely to its anti-growth commission which has imposed so many new ordinances, impact taxes and other deterrents that most companies will not even include Cherokee when considering new locations.
There is no doubt the federal government failed to enforce our borders. So why is it now necessary to make small business owners do the job the fed failed to do under penalty of fines and/or incarceration?
Another big problem with the ordinance is Cherokee has 7 cities none of which are included in this proposal. Most of the illegals living in Cherokee already live within city limits. So what is this really accomplishing other than attracting news coverage?
November 18th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
States Rights !!!
No, no, wait.
Counties Rights !!!
November 18th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
So Lefty, do you think private business should be forced by government to fulfill the role of police since the government failed to do so?
November 18th, 2008 at 6:22 pm
I’m not sure I understand your position. Do you disapprove of a law that requires only legal residents to be able to rent apartments, or do you just disagree with how the county is going about enforcing that law?
November 18th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
I am confused also Bart what is your position on immigration laws?
November 18th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
I’m against government forcing private business to do the job taxpayers expect govt. to do.
John, are you for making small business being forced by govt. to do the job it failed to do?
November 18th, 2008 at 8:18 pm
I disagree - business has the responsibility to ensure they are hiring workers with valid social security numbers for a myriad of reasons - identity theft, proper tax collections and an obligation to the good of the country. If you need to promote illegal activity to stay in business, then you should not be. For the safety of their fellow employees, if nothing else, they need to know the background of whomever they hire. They are not forced to do business in Cherokee County. I hear San Francisco is a sanctuary city and I am sure those places who do not want to ensure they are hiring legal residents would be much happier there. E-verify is quick, free and reliable over 99.% of the time. It is voluntary now and Cherokee only wants to make it a requirement. I wish more counties and states would step up and do the right thing.
November 18th, 2008 at 8:24 pm
Isn’t anyone going to cheer the government out-sourcing this function to the private sector?
Small government, right?
Come on, Bill, bb, caroline . . . where’s the conservative ideology?
November 19th, 2008 at 5:02 am
Bart
should a businss never check ID?
November 19th, 2008 at 8:46 am
John,
First answer my question, John, should small businesses be forced by govt. to do the job govt. couldn’t do even with its vast, unlimited resources?
November 19th, 2008 at 9:26 am
Since (like a majority of Americans) are opposed to illegal immigration and since the Federal Government is selling us down the river, and since I’m for decentralization, somebody has to pick up the slack. Long term I don’t think any county, state or country can rely on “growth” and “housing” as a reliable source for economic prosperity.
November 19th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
Bart,
Should a hospital be “forced” to check on their doctors? Should any business be “forced” to check anything on their employees? So, if a person submits fake documents say, he graduated with an Electrical Engineering degree from Georgia Tech, should the engineering firm who does work on your building be “forced” to actually check that he is who he says he is? That is so ridiculous of an argument - you are responsible for all the actions of all your employees while on the job, legally and morally. If you are so irresponsible not to even check whether they are here criminally or legally, you do not belong in business.
November 19th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
GaP,
That’s not even close to a realistic comparison. Of course businesses should check their employees.
This ordinance FORCES businesses to fulfill the role government failed to do despite unlimited resources. And it is happening while the border has yet to be fully secured.
Government doesn’t force companies to hire people GaP. How can you possibly compare this to choosing an employee?
November 19th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Easy to compare, it is irresponsible to hire someone without checking them first. I started working in 1964 and had to supply a SS for each job. As a nurse, my employers not only checked my background (including a credit check), but also a drug test. So, contractors can and do hire unknown people, give them keys to company vehicles, place them in position where they come into contact with American citizens, and we do not know if they have TB (highly communicable) or criminal backgrounds. Cherokee is just requiring businesses to use E-Verify - its not hard to do, takes less time than a credit check. How can you possibly justify not checking citizenship, especially when Mexico admits to 20 million “migrants”? It’s not like it will be unlikely that you will be in contact with one or two. E-Verify also protects the business, if they give the wrong info the business owner is held harmless. ICE has a program called IMAGE where they will do audits on your employee verification status, for free.
November 21st, 2008 at 11:01 am
Again GaP, there is no comparison. If that’s the best you have, maybe you should remain on the sidelines for this topic.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:50 pm
That’s your opinion, and just that - your opinion.
Verifying citizenship status is not necessarily a federal government role. And, they do ultimately provide the information, for free, and if an employer uses their data base and the government gives wrong info, the employer is then held harmless for any wrong info. So, they are fulfilling the verification as well as the responsibility. What more should the Feds do regarding employment verification?
Arizona has started this and it is working - so many illegals are self deporting that Mexico sent an envoy to Arizona to complain that they cannot take care of so many at once, they want the Arizona taxpayers to continue to support them. So, its free, easy, quick and provides safety for the employer. If you do not agree with E-Verify, then you want to knowingly hire illegals and not be penalized for it.
November 21st, 2008 at 3:52 pm
A 15 year old illegal was just killed on the job in Lawrenceville. Do you believe his employer had no clue of his age and his status? Is this acceptable?