I am writing about this topic only because I was there last night. I acknowledge my lack of detailed analysis of these issues and encourage everyone to learn more than I know.
Tuesday Night, December 5th, I attended the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners (BOC) meeting only to have a seat at the Planning and Zoning Commission that was to follow the regular BOC meeting. Boy was I in for a surprise show of politics, press, frenzied citizens and anxious immigrants. The scene was a crazy mix of developers, local politicians from the cities and county, attorneys, press from local and national media, long-time local citizens, illegal immigrants, smart-growth supporters and slow-growth supporters. I suppose it was an appropriate stage for the BOC of Cherokee County to play politics with a complicated issue.
The Commissioners approved two ordinances, both on 5-0 votes, declaring English the county’s official language, and going after landlords who rent to illegal immigrants. The commissioners also approved a program that will allow the county to check on the legal status of anyone applying for public benefits.
The measures are among the most sweeping actions a local government has taken against illegal immigrants in Georgia and possibly throughout the country. Cherokee commissioners have maintained that illegal immigrants drain local resources. And because the federal government hasn’t tackled the issue, commissioners said it was up to them to send a message to those living in the county illegally.
While I agree this is an issue worth finding a solution for, I don’t believe that local politicians should seize this opportunity to wield their power. Illegal immigration is an issue that is beyond my complete comprehension, but I know that local ordinances will not solve a much larger problem. In fact, it may make things worse. Is it possible that ordinances designed to penalize landlords for leasing to illegals could create a black market for housing? Will these immigrants be compelled to make fake i.d’s or forge citizenship documents? Will they over-occupy legal tenants housing? Will being forced to the street create more crime? Has the BOC of Cherokee County just created a black market for illegal immigrants or have they gone down the path to solving the country’s problems of illegal immigrants?
For what little I know on this issue, I believe that is an economic problem and nothing that a local ordinance can solve. If the Cherokee County Commissioners could pass an ordinance in Mexico creating jobs and higher pay, then that would be a solution worth approving. I understand the strain placed on governments by illegal immigrants and if I were asked how to tackle this issue, I would only wish that the Fair Tax movement be considered as part of the solution to gain taxes from everyone using America’s free enterprise system. I also feel there is a lot of irony and hypocrisy on this issue. Metro Atlanta enjoys a low cost of living mostly due to affordable housing that is constructed and maintained by thousands of illegal immigrants. Is everyone ready for inflation?
Links to todays coverage of the illegal immigrant ordinance: Cherokee Ledger News, Cherokee Tribune, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I guess my old communications degree from KSU compelled me to cover this topic. I now move on to the next post about real estate (and man was that a show worth the price of admission)!
