Day Laborers are a Deterrent to Business
Editorial staff

The city council on March 17 heard from speakers at the public microphone who described problems with day laborers congregating near Jeronimo and Los Alisos. They were speaking on an agenda item, “One-Year Evaluation of Trespass Ordinance 07-246 (February 19, 2007),” which evidently has not solved the problem.

Prior to comments made by speakers, the city attorney talked at length, saying everything is fine. He claimed the city’s ordinance that prohibits trespassing “has worked well,” “is working adequately,” and “when it’s been used, it’s been used effectively.” He also said he was speaking for the city’s police chief, who wasn’t present, quoting him, “It’s gone well. We’ve told people to leave, and they have. The ordinance is working.”

The discussion focused on one of the retail centers near the intersection, Silverado Plaza. According to the owner of the Montessori School in the center, the problem of day laborers has been going on for years. She said enrollment at her school is declining, and she’s hired a security guard for $2,000 a month at her own expense. She revealed the time-consuming and ineffective process required by the police to prosecute trespassers.

The Montessori proprietor also described how business owners in the center decided to cut down all trees and bushes to keep trespassers from using the property as a bathroom. She described her frustration of trying to work with the police, who let her know they could ask trespassers to leave, but the culprits would return as soon as the police left.

Four of the five council members were of no help. Councilman Lance MacLean seemed to put day laborers on par with children who set up a lemonade stand. Councilwoman Gail Reavis said she didn’t shop at the center because she was afraid to get out of her car. Councilman Frank Ury wasn’t a participant in the discussion. Councilwoman Trish Kelley offered no help and repeatedly ignored Councilman John Paul Ledesma’s requests for action. Ledesma was the only one pressing for a meeting between the chief of police, city attorney and business owners. He also asked about the illegality of drivers stopping on a thoroughfare to hire workers.

It may seem surprising to those who don’t follow council meetings, but these five council members direct the city staff, and they have the authority to make decisions. Faced with a problem clearly within their jurisdiction, only one of them demonstrated the will to take responsibility. All five have described themselves in campaign literature as pro-business and interested in fostering economic development.

Equally indifferent were city staff members. The city attorney said of the staff, “City staff hasn’t studied the issue and has no recommendation” regarding the problems at Silverado Plaza. The city manager said he frequently drives past the area, and he noted day laborers congregating in both Lake Forest and Mission Viejo, his cities of residence and employment, respectively. After hearing the March 17 complaints of trespassing, vehicles illegally stopping and parking on a busy thoroughfare, harassment of customers by the day laborers, women in fear of getting out of their cars and deterrents to business, perhaps he will become motivated to make a recommendation in the future.

No one mentioned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). If those congregating at Los Alisos and Jeronimo are illegal aliens, ICE should pick them up, prosecute and deport them. ICE won’t charge the city, as taxpayers are already footing the bill for this agency. If the day laborers are here legally, perhaps they would avoid the area if they saw that Mission Viejo is serious about protecting the city’s businesses and individuals who support its economic base. Drivers who stop at the intersection to hire illegal aliens should also be prosecuted. As a point of good news in all the discussion was the clarification that others besides the property owner can report a problem.

After three tries to get agreement from the council, Ledesma succeeded when he asked for consensus to gather information and discuss the issue again at the next council meeting.