Random Thoughts

This sounds good to me!

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM, Associated Press Writer Tue Jun 20, 5:10 AM ET

HAZLETON, Pa. - With tensions rising and its police department and municipal budget stretched thin, this small northeastern Pennsylvania city is about to begin what the mayor calls one of the toughest crackdowns on illegal immigrants in the United States.

"Illegal immigrants are destroying the city," said Mayor Lou Barletta, a Republican. "I don't want them here, period."

Last week Barletta introduced, and the City Council tentatively approved, a measure that would revoke the business licenses of companies that employ illegal immigrants; impose $1,000 fines on landlords who rent to illegal immigrants; and make English the city's official language.

As Congress debates changes to the nation's immigration policy, some cities are taking matters into their own hands, saying they have no choice but to crack down on illegal immigrants themselves.

Barletta said he had to act after two illegal immigrants from the Dominican Republic were charged last month with shooting and killing a man. Other recent incidents involving illegal immigrants have rattled this former coal town 80 miles northwest of Philadelphia, including the arrest of a 14-year-old boy for firing a gun at a playground.

"This is crazy," said Barletta, who took office in 2000. "People are afraid to walk the streets. There's going to be law and order back in Hazleton and I'm going to use every tool I possibly can."

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I just discovered that it has been nearly two months since I posted here! I'm better at keeping Maya's site up to date (although I still get behind on that). It's a rainy morning and we haven't gotten much rain recently--just lots of heat. Maya is sleeping now and she's been crabbier than normal the last few days too.

Anita worked last night and will work again tonight, so it's just me and Maya most of the weekend. I have to run into work a few hours this afternoon, so Anita will have to get up a few hours early from her nap.

Not much exciting has happened over the last few months, but next weekend we are heading to Iowa for my Brother-in-law's wedding. Which should be nice, but traveling with Maya can be a bit of pain. We'll fly into Omaha, NE then drive to Orange City, IA (about 2.5 hours), so I hope Maya is sleepy from the flight!