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HAAB Backup 09/27/2001 Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Backup Documents September 27,2001 ---,,",'. NOTICE OF MEETING & AGENDA COLLIER COUNTY HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2001 7:00 P.M. County Commission Meeting Room Turner Building (Building F), Third Floor Collier County Government Center, Naples, Florida * * * * * *** * * * * * * * ** **** * * * * * * * **** * * * * * * * ** * * * ****** * NOTICES ** Public comments will be limited to 5 minutes unless permission for additional time is granted by the Chairman. Collier County Ordinance No. 99.22 requires that all lobbyists shall, before engaging in any lobbying activities (including, but not limited to, addressing the Board of County Commissioners) before the Board of County Commissioners and its advisory boards, register with the Clerk to the Board at the Board Minutes and Records Department. * * * *** * * * ****** **** * * * * * * * * * **** * * * * * * * ** * * * * **** * * AGENDA I. 7:00 P.M: Meeting called to order and determination of quorum. II. Welcome new members to the Board III. Approval of minutes of the July 26, 2001 meeting. IV. Approval of minutes of the August 23, 2001 meeting. V. Determination of excusal of absences from the meetings. VI. Discussions: Update from Chairman Correa regarding farm worker issues. VII. Old Business: VIII. New Business Discussion by David Correa about banks charging employeellaborers who receive salary by check a $3.00 fee for cashing the check in the issuing bank when the employeellaborer has no account with the bank. IX. Public Comments. ** X Meeting adjourns. -- _._-,.~,.. -..,. ... '----- .. -,,_._-----._-,~_..- '" GOODMAN, GLAZER, GREENER & KREMER, P. C., OF MEMPHIS, TN., ATTORNEYS HERBERT GLAZER EUGENE GREENER, JR. eoo FIFTH AVENUE SOUTH EUGENE GREENE"'. JR. '.0010 FL" ~'" RESIDENT PRINCIPAL SUITE 203 RICHARD H. KREMER NAPLES, FLORIDA 34102 B. PERCY ",...GNES5 DRUCE M. KAHN TELEPHONE /9411435-9800 K"'RRIETTE R. COlE"'AN FAX (94\1 435.9802- g reener@naples.inli_net EDW"'RD E. WOLLMAN, ......PLES n, _ 1 (___' OF COUNSEL WILLIAM W. GOODMAN AVAILABLE.. BY APPOiNTMENT SUN TRUST a~.t.~ING' (1Iiloo-llia!) MARCO JS1AND::~FU),RlD^ MORRIS L. STRAUCH (1IilOIil-2000l (ALL CQRRESPONOENC~To,:N"'PLESJ -', I September 28, 2001 Mr. Ramiro Manalich, Chief Assistant County Attorney Collier County Attorney's Office 3301 Tamiami Trail East Naples, FL 34112-4902 Re: Hispanic Affairs Advisorv Board Dear Mr. Manalich: I am a new member of the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board. I missed the meeting in August, about which I advised everyone in advance, because I was on vacation and out of the City on the date of the meeting. I missed the meeting in September for a different reason: I never received notice of the meeting. I would certainly hope that I will receive timely notice of future meetings, including an agenda for the meeting and perhaps telephone contact prior to the meeting if there is going to be something controversial discussed at the meeting or something as to which I need to prepare. I really want to serve in a proper manner, but I will not continue to be a member of the Board unless I receive proper information regarding the meetings in t.he future. I respectfully request. that you send a copy of this let.ter t.o the Chairman of the Commission. With kindest regards, ~ ) ./- ?1r . .''; 1// _ ~EUg~~en 7(c{yff~ EG/ds ..-._----.._, ~. -'.---~---_._;..,.~--,~,~._.~.- -"',"-,,_..' MEMORANDUM TO: Sue Filson, Administrative Assistant Board 0 nty Commissioners FROM: Ram Mafialich, Chief Assistant County Attorney DATE: September 28,2001 RE: Approved Minutes of the July and September Meetings of the Collier County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Please find attached the approved minutes of the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board meetings of July 26, 2001 and August 23, 200l. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. RM/kn attachment cc: David C. Weigel, County Attorney ._.~-- -.---.. .-",-....- - "__.w.'_..,...._.~._ ."..---.,.---,-.,. .- HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD MINUTES OF MEETING of September 27, 2001 PRESENT: ABSENT: Carlos Aviles, HAAB Member Eugene Greener, HAAB Member (Excused) Sofia Pagan, HAAB Member David Correa, HAAB Member Susan Calkins, HAAB Member ALSO PRESENT: Frank Loney, HAAB Member John Norman, citizen Robert Pin a, HAAB Member Pete Cade, Jr., HAAB Member Ramiro Mafialich, Chief Assistant County Attorney and HAAB Staff Liaison The September 27, 2001 meeting of the Collier County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board (HAAB) began at approximately 7:07 p.m. in the Board of County Commissioners meeting room. A quorum of 7 members was present. APPROVAL OF JULY AND AUGUST, 2001 MINUTES The Board reviewed the minutes of the July 26, 2001 meeting. Frank Loney made a motion to approve the minutes and it was seconded by Susan Calkins. The Board voted 7-0 in favor of approving the motion. The Board also considered the minutes of August 23, 2001 and a motion was made by Robert Pina to approve said minutes. Frank Loney provided a second. A correction was included in the motion to reference that Mr. Norman is !h not the. director of Cinco de Mayo Festival in Immokalee. As amended, the Board voted 7-0 to approve the motion. HAAB REVIEW OF MEMBER ABSENCES A discussion was held regarding attendance standards in the HAAB ordinance and excusal of absences. With respect to Mr. Greener, Liaison Ramiro Mafialich reported that Mr. Greener had been in contact with the County Attorney Office prior to tonight's meeting and that Mr. Greener's office indicated they had not received timely notice of the September meeting. With regard to Mr. Greener's absence in August, Ramiro Mafialich reminded the members that Mr. Greener had previously stated at ) thc July meeting that he had been prescheduled to be away at the time of the August meeting and that those plans had been in existence prior to his appointmcnt to the HAAB. Susan Calkins madc a ~ _.._--~ ~,~. --.- "---.--.- - _u.,__. -" -, ,.,-~"._~ - . -,.,.,-_..__._,,_. ---,-..------.-... motion to excuse both of Mr. Greener's absences. Robert Pina provided a second. The Board voted . 7-0 in favor ofthe motion. Frank Loney commented about his absence in May by stating that there had been illnesses in the family at that time. A motion to excuse the absence was made by Robert Pina and seconded by Carlos Aviles. The Board voted 7-0 in favor of the motion. Sofia Pagan explained that in May and June of 2001 she had had problems in attendance because of illness and Red Cross commitments. Frank Loney made a motion to excuse both absences which was seconded by Pete Cade. The Board voted 7- o in favor of the motion. Robert Pina explained that in May he missed the HAAB meeting due to an operation. A motion was made to excuse the absence by Frank Loney and seconded by Susan Calkins. The Board voted 7-0 in favor of the motion. F ARMWORKER ISSUES David Correa informed the HAAB that he had made contacts with members of the County Commission about farmworker issues. He stated that it was his impression that Commissioner Colletta would support the HAAB's request for the County Commission and/or the Governor to make a plea for dialog about farm worker issues between the growers and the farmworkers. He said that he had explained to the Commissioners with whom he met that this is not a labor-management issue, but rather an economic-social issue in Immokalee affecting the Hispanic community. David also explained that he had met with Commissioner Henning and it was his impression that Commissioner Henning would not support said request of the HAAB because Commissioner Henning appears to believe that it is a labor-management matter. David stated that in his meeting with Commissioner Carter, the Commissioner appeared inclined to support the plea for dialog between the farmworkers and the growers. He also mentioned that Mr. Carter had suggested having a forum on the matter including Florida Gulf Coast University's cap!lbilities for dispute resolution. David thought that was a good idea but he was not sure if FGCU would require payment to provide these services. He wondered if the County Commission would pay for such services? David said that he thought that Mr. Carter would prefer that the matter came to the County Commission after the November elections. Mr. Carter seemed to think that the matter would recei ve a more favorable reception at that time. Frank Loney commented that he has long been involved in the farmworker issue. He did not prefer to wait to present this item to the County Commission. He emphasized that the HAAB is not asking for specific negotiations, just for dialog. He stated that the HAAB proposal is not asking for dollars to compete with other ballot items in November. He thought the issue needed attention now because there are too many impacts in the comrnunity. Mr. Norman commented that the average farmworker in Immokalee makes only around $8000 per year. He said it was hard to get accurate data because many of the farmworkers do not have social security numbers. He says that many times taxes are taken out of their wages but nothing comes back to them from the federal government because they are constantly on the move to other migrant jobs. 'He also reminded everyone that the farmworker's occupation is subject to weather conditions. David Correa commented that the growers have refused to sit down at the table to discuss wages with the farrnworkers. He mentioned that the Governor has previously sent a representative to Immokalee but there has been no significant progress. Sofia Pagan added that the growers deal with contractors. - 2 ._-~.-~_._-~~._~---'.* " ._..~.",--- "~-,..,,,..' .. "'-'-'-" _......_._-'"'w. _..,-_.~-------._- She thought there were-two ways to look at the situation: the first was to get the farmers to improve living conditions; and the second was to improve the educational opportunities for the young people so that they can hold better paying jobs. She said it was necessary to break the chain of repeated generations doing the same low paying jobs. Frank Loney mentioned that it is difficult for illegal workers to cooperate with law enforcement. The growers continue to make profits; the workers do not even have social security numbers and still have taxes taken out of their wages. He mentioned that in Costa Rica the law requires that education be provided to citizens through the first two years of college. Mr. Norman observed that Immigration is never around when the growers need the workers in the field. He says that the pattern has been that after the crops are picked, Immigration shows up and rounds up ilIegals. He said this is kind of a standing joke in Immokalee. He mentioned that it costs the worker money to return to the United States. He commented that despite deplorable conditions in Immokalee, the workers return because the conditions in Immokalee are still better than those that they face in Mexico or other countries. He mentioned that there is a big push for reform and that President Bush has advanced a proposal to recognize the legal status of workers. Carlos Aviles added that even if the workers are granted legal status, the issue will not disappear. He said that children in lmmokalee need mentors. He cited Manny Touron, who is a principal in Immokalee and is a very good role model. He said that there is a need for Immokalee children to aspire to goals beyond high school and farm work. Susan Calkins asked if businesses in lmmokalee were giving children openings for educational opportunities. Pete Cade added that Redlands Christian Migrant Association and the high school are involved in job training and mentoring. He said that recent! y there was program that featured an author about migrant life but there was small attendance. Frank Loney commented that he has been a member of Alcoholics Anonymous for 20+ years and has been sober for that time. He mentioned that he use to be a soccer player and has coached the Optimists' Club youth soccer league. He said that he requires good grades for the children on their soccer team to be eligible to play. He thinks that it is necessary to have the Immokalee community educated and involved in requiring all high school children to be exposed to career alternatives. More importantly, the growers need to sit down and talk with the workers showing respect for human dignity. He is not asking that the County Commission get involved in any terms of employment, merely in the plea for dialog between the parties. Sofia Pagan agreed that the problems will continue to exist if the causes of the problems are not addressed. Mr. Norman stated that he had never been a field worker but he has observed for several years the people in Immokalee and they are hard workers. He said many of them are uneducated and young and come from Mexico. From the census, it was determined that many of the workers have no schooling and cannot even count the money they are paid. He mcntioned that in Naples, many of the construction, hotel and other service workers are coming from lmmokalee. The main problem is for the field workers. There is no doubt they are taken advantage of by employers but they continue to do the work because they are still better off than in Mexico. Mr. Pina recalled his Chicago high school experience where students were strongly encouraged to either pursue a university education or vocational/trade preparation. He thought that that type of emphasis was needed in this community where a large percentage of the students do not go to college. Mr. Norman agreed saying that many technicians are making more money than college graduates. There was a brief discussion about the timing of the presentation to be made at the Board of County Commissioners. Susan Calkins questioned whether there was a nccd to prcscnt powerful personal - 3 ".__U"___~'___ ."~._,--~ ----_.- ,^.----.--, testimony. Mr. Norman stated that on a positive note, there were lots of housing projects underway in Imrnokalee and that short term rents are available to workers so that they can avoid a double rent as they move between jobs. A motion was made by Susan Calkins to bring this matter to the Board of County Commissioners, if possible, at the October 23rd County Commission meeting. Specifically, a request of the Hispanic Board for the County Commission to request dialog between the growers and the workers and for the County Commission to request that the Governor also make the same plea for dialog. This is based on dialog being good for the Immokalee community and the County. The motion was seconded by Frank Loney. There was a 7-0 vote in favor of the motion. Susan Calkins asked whether Immokalee Civic Association Representative, Terry Aviles, could participate in the presentation. IMMOKALEE BANK PRACTICES -tk Q3 a.r. K of Amt.ri va... David Correa mentioned a concern that he had regarding aR lmlHGkalllll llaRk which is charging laborers to cash checks when the worker's employer does its banking at the same bank. David said this is a hardship on workers. He asked whether the HAAB should takc a position on this. David said he felt this practice is wrong where the laborer is paid b~ ~r.~rom the same bank where he is trying to cash the check. He thought that Commissioner Cellllha might bc willing to write a letter taking an interest in this matter. Frank Loney commented that he thought there were legal requirements that affected these types of practices. Mr. Norman stated that it is not just the Bank of America that has this practice. He said that banks argue that there is no guarantee the employer will have funds in the bank merely because the employer has an account with the bank. The bank maintains that it has to pay a percentage of money to insure that funds will be available for cashing the checks. He suggested that a HAAB representative should confer with Steve Price of Florida Community Bank in Immokalee. Robert Pina made a motion for Chairman Correa to investigate this matter with the banks and report back at the Octobcr, 200 I meeting. There was a second by Frank Loney. The Board votcd 7-0 in favor of the motion. The meeting of the HAAB was adjourned at approximately 8:54 p.m. Prepared by: Ramiro Manalich, Chief Assistant County Attorney and HAAB Staff Liaison Approved by the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board on this K1ay of ~ ,200l. ~)~ ~U.(L David Correa, Chairman WRMlHAAB/Minutes - 4 _~_____'__'," ,_""_W'._'.'_'_,._'__._ "-'~-----,..._,-- ._--'~..- .........---.". ._..w."._'.....~_ _.___<_'_.~__~h..'...~. NOTICE OF MEETING & AGENDA COLLIER COUNTY HISPANIC AFFAIRS ADVISORY BOARD THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2001 7:00 P.M. County Commission Meeting Room Turner Building (Building F), Third Floor Collier County Government Center, Naples, Florida * * * * * * *** ******* * * ** *** * * * * * * * * * * * * * *** * * * * * * * * * * ** NOTICES ** Public comments will be limited to 5 minutes unless permission for additional time is granted by the Chairman. Collier County Ordinance No. 99-22 requires that all lobbyists shall, before engaging in any lobbying activities (including, but not limited to, addressing the Board of County Commissioners) before the Board of County Commissioners and its advisory boards, register with the Clerk to the Board at the Board Minutes and Records Department. * * * **** * * * ***** * * * ** ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * *** * * * * * * * * * * ** * AGENDA I. 7:00 P.M: Meeting called to order and determination of quorum. II. Welcome new members to the Board III. Approval of minutes of the July 26, 2001 meeting. IV. Approval of minutes of the August 23, 2001 meeting. V. Determination of excusal of absences from the meetings. VI. Discussio'ns: Update from Chairman Correa regarding farm worker issues. VII. Old Business: VIII. New Business Discussion by David Correa about banks charging employee/laborers who receive salary by check a $3.00 fee for cashing the check in the issuing bank when the employee/laborer has no account with the bank. IX. Public Comments. ** X Meeting adjourns. >"',"~~---"-,-~^,,,-,...,._--"~,_..~.- . -"--,.~-.-._~._."--........- ----"'_.- .-------,_.._---~-,-- 4A Monday, July 16. 200:1. Nuplo i1ai4J NrllIII NAACP and La Raza conventions highlight new places for nation's largest minority groups By DEBORAH KlING million in 2000. Hispanics now JnIlan Bond told the convention. est amount of power. Together Associated Press rival non-Hispanic blacks as the "The peril is that our old ene- we can constitute a mlgh1;y, country's largest minori1;y group. mies will lind Wllyll to separate mlgh1;y force for right," Bond MILWAUKEE _ Huddled in a "Whereas blacks have been us and divide US." said. New York apartment In 1909, th~ kind of established racial At the nationallev~1 there has A glance at La Raza's confer- civil rights activists convened mmori1;y group that have made been a long-establuhed rela- ence speakers shows an influen- the first meeting of the NACCP 'their way Into politics, ~tinos tionshlp and a commo~ ag"'!'in tiallist: Senate Ma,iorl1;y Leader and vowed to light for anti- are the, emerging groul" sal~ be~een blacks an,d Hispam.cs, Tom Daschle, Sen. Joseph Lie- lynching laws, president Kwelsl Panla McClain, a political SCI- saId La Raza spokeswoman LIsa bennan and Energy Secretary Mfume reminded delegates at en~e and law professor at DUke Navarrete. ,Spencer Abraham. Mexican last week's convention. ,Umversi1;y. "At the local level, It's much President Vieente Fox will also Several generations later, La Raza will use its eonfer- more probl!""atic. There are a speak at the conference. Mfume said the National Assoel- ence to convene workshops to lot of areas m the country where "Politicians know that in order ation for the Advancement of study the emerging Latino eom- there are increased tensions to get elected and maintain stat- Colored. People is still englll!ed munltles in the southeast and and a com!,etltlon for dwindilng ure, they're going to have to' m fighting hate crimes, eltlng what the 2000 census means to resources, she said. . speak to the growing Hispanic the case of James Byrd, a black the nation. The baWe for housing, lobs, population" said Jim Johnson, a ~an dragged t~ his death from a But the meeting agendas also gove.rnment fund~ and, social professor ~f management at the pICkup truck m 1998 by three reveal that the two groups are semces is likely to mcrease, 0)<- UnIversl1;y of North Carolina at w1}ites. . also trying to figure. out I!ow to perts say. The groups may also Chapel Hill. Jhe greater fight IS before relate to eaeh other m their new c.lash over political represent&- La Raza senior vice president us, Mfume said. roles. tlon, as they did in the recent Charles Kamasakl said Hispan- As the National Council of La La Raza, is devoting a panel Los Angeles mayoral el~on. ics are optimistic about "not just Raza meets throngh We\lnesday, specifically to black-Hispanic But blacks and HispanIc. have the growth of the population, members too will focus.on th,e relations. .. worked together on key ISSUes. but the increasing political and future - but for th,e Hispamc At the NAACP meeting m New T,he NAACP, La Raza and other economic clout that comes with advocacy group It u a future Orleans, there were repeated CIvil rights groups baeked re- '1, th in ing promising increasing influence calls for the group to reach out cently introduced legislation I e craas accep~~~e and power. to non-black minorities. that would ban racial proliting and recognition by the public. Census date shows the Hispan- "The emergence of new and vi- by federal agencies. ie population grew 58 percent brant populations of people of "It doesn't make sense for l nationwide in the tast decade - color holds great promise and blacks and Hispanics to argue from 22.4 million in 1990 to 35.3 great peril," NAACP chainnan over whleh of us has the small- o _,__,,__,___,'._._>_w_,_.__"", ..~_-....._ ..".~_-.._...' '."'~_"_'__"____.,______,_,_'_~~ naplesnews.com I Printed story Page 1 of 4 To print this page, select File then Print from your browser. URl: http:!(www,n9,QI~$n~w$.99m/O 1 /07/naples/d618Q2Zi;1.,h!11l Naples I ~1JlltJ:i ilailH ~tnlfi ~ W. J') Naples front I Nqpl~$i3rchiV~ I h~Jp Variety of bills tackle regulation issues for farmworkers IV1oncJay, July 16,2001 By JENNIFER SERGENT, sergentj@shns.com Farmworker rights are becoming a hot topic in Washington these days, with the United States and Mexico negotiating guest-worker programs and three forms of legislation that are either in the works or have already been introduced. But because there are so many competing ideas and concepts, some doubt that the politics will ever translate into reality. Sen. Bob Graham, D-Miami Lakes, came within an inch of passing major legislation last year that both growers and farmworkers supported, but Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, put a halt to the bill at the last minute, objecting to its amnesty provisions. Both Graham and Gramm are back this year. Graham is planning to re-introduce his bill from last year, while Gramm is contemplating guest-worker legislation that would force workers back to their home countries when the harvest season is over. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho,joined the mix last week with his own bill. Several conservative Republicans and growers support it, but farmworkers strenuously oppose it. On the diplomatic level, the Mexican government has told the Bush administration that they will not accept any new guest-worker program that doesn't offer broad "regularization," which would allow Mexican workers to legally live in the United States and have access to benefits such as Social Security. Back in Florida, migrant worker Lucas Benitez says none of the talk in Washington addresses workers' true needs: better wages and improved working conditions. "In the long term, this isn't the path to better working conditions and better treatment," said Benitez, who is based in Immokalee. He spoke through a Spanish translator. The government needs to include agricultural workers in the list of groups covered by the National Labor Relations Act, he said. That would allow groups such as Benitez's Coalition of Immokalee Workers to unionize and lobby for an increase in the minimum wage, he said. http://cfapps.naplesnews.com/sendlinklprintthis.cfm 7116/2001 . "..."......_.._-_._-"_._.~, __,.,~._.,~,_..~~,.h.~_._".....___ ~---_...^"- naplesnews.com I Printed story Page 2 of 4 Politically, that's not going to happen. Such issues are not even on the table as farmworker talks proceed in Washington. But there is one goal that farmworker advocates and growers share: the desire to legalize the large population of workers already living in the United States. That's why Graham and Craig both contemplate an amnesty program. Under both proposals, workers would earn legal residency by working varying numbers of days within six years, provided they were already living in the United States and working the fields for a certain amount of time before the legislation passes. But Gramm is adamantly opposed to amnesty. He says it would effectively grant growers the ability to choose whom they wish to confer citizenship upon by keeping immigrant workers employed. In the Senate, it only takes one senator to keep a bill from going to a vote. "Anything that smacks of (amnesty) well oppose," Gramm spokesman Larry Neal said. The mention of amnesty has the Mexican government treading lightly. Although officials argue for "regularization," they know the "A-word" is too politically explosive to discuss. "We have been very careful not to use the 'amnesty' word," said Miguel Monterruvio, press secretary at the Mexican Embassy in Washington. "What we are asking for is the regularization of Mexicans who are leaving (Mexico)." Whether it's called amnesty or regularization, though, the concept will be difficult to pass in Congress. Gramm has allies in fellow Texas Republicans Tom DeLay, the House Majority Whip, and Lamar Smith, who sits on the House Immigration Subcommittee. There is not much negotiating room between one side that wants to offer more green cards and another that doesn't want to give out any green cards, immigration expert Mark Krikorian said. "There will be a lot of sound and fury, but there's enough resistance to an idea for amnesty for illegal aliens that it's going to be difficult to get something through," said Krikorian, the executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, a Washington think tank that favors limiting immigration. The center's research director completed a report last week detailing the negative effects of unlimited flows of unskilled immigrants - particularly Mexicans - into the United States. Increasing the supply of unskilled labor does not affect most American workers, but it does depress wages for the lowest-paid working poor, the report said. The report also showed that immigrants and Mexicans are much more likely than native-born Americans to live in poverty, be without health insurance and use welfare. In Florida, about 47 percent of immigrants live in poverty, compared to 20 percent of natives, the report said. Twenty-one percent of immigrants use welfare, compared to 8 percent of natives. And while 33 percent of immigrants are without health insurance, only 15.3 of Americans in Florida are uninsured. http://cfapps.naplesnews.comlsendlinkJprintthis.cfm 7/16/2001 _.____'O___.-.,.....-~._^., ..<-~,_._._...- '--~~._..- . "--~-_.- naplesnews.com I Printed story Page 3 of 4 Bringing more guest workers into the country - even temporarily - would prove to be a further drain on the economy and public services, research director Steven A. Camarota wrote. "The focus needs to be on thinking about ways to bring down the numbers," he said. Meanwhile, growers say they desperately need more farmworkers - either documented U.S. residents or on loan from other countries. "We've been at this for a long time and it's getting to a crisis point," said Sharon Hughes, executive vice president of the National Council of Agricultural Employers in Washington. But the amnesty bills being offered - with their working requirements to earn legal residency- amounts to indentured servitude, Krikorian said. "It's really little more than an attempt by employers to hold down wage costs," he said. "Farmworker wages are down 10 percent in the 1990s. If you need more of something, you don't offer less money for it." One of the major differences between Graham's bill and Craig's bill is the wage rate. Graham would offer the average rate of all agricultural jobs - skilled and unskilled - in an area to guest workers employed there. Craig would offer just the prevailing rate for the specific job the guest worker would take, such as picking tomatoes. That rate, which the growers are lobbying for, amounts to much less than what Graham is offering. Rob Williams, the director of the Florida Migrant Farmworker Justice Project in Tallahassee, bluntly said Craig's bill wouldn't pass. He cited the wage issue as the main reason, in addition to the fact that workers would have to work much longer in the fields to earn legal residency than what Graham contemplates. But last year's momentum for Graham's bill is probably gone, Williams added. "We've lost the opportunity to pass a good bill," he said. Although many hold out hope that something positive for farmworkers will result from the U.S.-Mexico talks, the amnesty foes in Congress still might pose an insurmountable hurdle. 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""--"',--,..",,- ._-, ~-----_..."."--'-'- -~- MEMORANDUM TO: Sue Filson, Administrative Assistant FROM: ~~o~nt: Commissioners Ramiro Maiialich, Chief Assistant County Attorney DATE: September 12, 2001 RE: Resignation of Member from the Collier County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Attached is a resignation that this office received by fax today from Yolanda Cisneros of the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board. Please send out public notice for applications for this Board. Thank you for your assistance. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me. RMlkn attachment cc: David C. Weigel, County Attorney ...,-_.-.._,-_._--->...... n. _,~,~ ...._~.~".. _.._"_~W~_____.'_.__~.. --'-- 09/12/01 WED 10:40 FAX 941 657 5125 IMM. ADM. CCPR \gI002 i , ! August 24, 2001 My name is Yolanda Cisneros and it is with a heavy heart and deep regret that I resign my position from the Hispanic Advisory Board. Even though my term bas only been for a few months, I have enjoyed it eXtremely and would not resign willingly except for the fact that I am now a County em~loyee and therefore cannot serve on the Board. I would like to still be on some kind of a mailing list so as to be able to r~ceive notices and agenda's to the monthly meetings and I would still like to be considered an interested member and intend to continue to attend the meeting. I would like the re~ of the Board members to know I enjoyed my membership tremendously and hope to SCjlmeclay be able to participate in an activity as a member of the community ofImmokaleeiand Collier County. Sincerely, ~~~~ tL~ Yolanda Cisneros -'--~---"._'-'-'~..'---'-"'-'-'-'"'' "'-..........,- .~"_._.,, _.._.m~'" M__" --~. ".,"---"-'" COLLIER COUNTY DAVID C. WEIGEL COLLIER COUNTY ATTORNEY 3301 Tamiami Trail Easl Heidi F. Ashlon Naples, Florida 34112.4902 JenniferA.Belpedio Telephone: (941) 774.8400 Ellen l. Chadwell Romiro Mmiolich FAX: (941)774.0225 William E. Mountford September 20, 2001 Thomos C. Palmer Michael W. Pettit Jocqueline Hubbord Robinson Marjorie M. Student Potrick G. While RoberlN.Zochory Mr. Carlos Aviles 713 North 9th Street Immokalee, Florida 34142 Re: Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Meeting Scheduled for September 27,2001 Dear Mr. Aviles: The Board of County Commissioners will be considering your appointment to the Collier County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board (HAAB) on Tuesday, September 25, 2001. In anticipation of your appointment to this Board, I welcome you. I am enclosing a copy of the codified version of the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Ordinance and a 1995 memorandum addressing the State's Sunshine Laws. The next meeting of the HAAB is scheduled to be held at the County Commission Meeting Room on Thursday, September 27,2001 at 7:00 P.M. I am enclosing the agenda for this meeting. If you are unable to appear at this meeting or if you have any questions relating to the enclosures or the HAAB in general, please do not hesitate to contact me or my Assistant, Kay by Wednesday, September 26,2001. , Sincerely, , ~ ~$-~ . Ramiro Mafialich Chief Assistant County Attorney and Staff Liaison to the Collier County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board RM/kn encl. cc: David C. Weigel, County Attorney .^~~_.~.,..",-_._------_._- . . .._.~-------_.._..- _~,,~,,_,__~~_.,~,._....,_._,~,_.."m"..._~._._.~.._..__... _....______.__._"' .._ COLLIER COUNTY DAVID Co WEIGEL COLLIER COUNTY AlTORNEY 3301 Tamiami Trail East Heidi F. Ashlon Naples Florida 34112.4902 Jennifer A. Helpedio , Ellen 1. Chodwell Telephone: 19411774.8400 Romiro Monoli,h FAX: 19411774.0225 Williom E. MounlF"d Thomas C. Palmer September 20, 200 I Mi,hoel W. Pellil Jacqueline Hubbard Robinson Moriorie M. Student Patrick G. While RoberIN.Zo{hory Mr. Pete Cade, Jr. 1903 Leed Avenue Immokalee, Florida 34142 Re: Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Meeting Scheduled for September 27, 2001 Dear Mr. Cade: The Board of County Commissioners will be considering your reappointment to the Collier County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board (HAAB) on Tuesday, September 25,2001. In anticipation of your appointment to this Board, I welcome you. I am enclosing a copy of the codified version of the Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board Ordinance and a 1995 memorandur.1 addressing the State's Sunshine Laws. The ncxt meeting of the HAAB is scheduled to be held at the County Commission Meeting Room on Thursday, September 27,2001 at 7:00 P.M. I am enclosing the agenda for this meeting. If you are unable to appear at this meeting or if you have any questions relating to the enclosures or the HAAB in general, please do not hesitate to contact me or my Assistant, Kay by Wcdnesday, September 26, 2001. Sincerely, (2- . Ramiro Maiialich Chief Assistant County Attorney and Staff Liaison to the Collier County Hispanic Affairs Advisory Board RM/kn encl. cc: David C. Weigel, County Attorney ,.~,-----~-~-~._._... ,--- -~~ ...~~._-~>,<--~~..~.,- _,~-'--"",'.'."'.-'-"~-~-~-'-~-".'"