Weigh in: Out There | Santa Paula

I was raised in Santa Paula and attended all 12 Years of school there Santa Paula was a great town in those days and im sure still is. I still have Grandchildren going to school there. My Father was a truck driver and a very hard worker, we did not expect someone to take care of us or offer us low rent housing. You have to make your own way. Im all for the migrant workers and I give them a lot of credit because they will work and work hard where so many people would rather draw WELFARE and stay home, Lets go back to helping ourselves and not expect so many handouts Thank You

Shirley Hansen @ 7:09 AM PST, Jan 10, 2009

I like the idea of building 4,000 more homes in the area. to achieve balance. The farmworkers need housing. If we deport all illegals, who would break their backs to pick the fruit for such a low wage? They are the reason we have food at an affordable price. With ethanol production pushing food prices up, low wage workers are our only salvation from a wage-price spiral. If our citizens pick fruit, we will demand a higher wage, which in turn results in a higher price in order for the business owner to make any profit. Take it from an Economist.

Aaron @ 1:25 PM PDT, Oct 17, 2008

There is a lot of people in need unfortunately some of those people are dishonest, and wreck it for the honest people. I understand both sides of the issue, and I rather be a taxpayer and feel good about myself of helping other rather than critizing the poor.

Unknown @ 1:06 PM PDT, Oct 16, 2008

Phil: Raise the wages of the farmworkers? The only excuse for the illegal workers being here in the first place is that they're "willing to work" for peanuts. So why not just deport them and pay Americans decent wages?? Oh, because you make big bucks from your farm? Sounds a lot like cotton in 19th Century.

Peg @ 12:19 PM PDT, Oct 11, 2008

So, "Buddy"--you want Santa Paula's taxpayers to subsidize your agriculture and take care of those employees that you pay pathetically? "Free" education for their kids (at more than $10,000 per kid PER YEAR) and subsidized housing, and now 25 workers crammed into one house in what used to be decent neighborhoods? Just so you can make money growing fruit? Sorry, but we can get our food and fruit elsewhere. It's only the California farmers who have managed to avoid technological developments and continue to use back-breaking labor instead. Shame on you--you are no better than the plantation owners in the South.

Malby @ 12:11 PM PDT, Oct 11, 2008

I want ALL those who are for this housing issue to get off your soap box, go into the fields and pick fruit for me no exceptions no matter what state of your health just get your lazy butts off your chair and go do it NOW! I thought not, too used to the life of leisure perhaps not as hard as you used to be. If you want somebody to feed you then treat them nicely, you, me, anybody is NO BETTER than anybody else, after all Santa Paula is NOT Brentwood, you don't live in a mansion, you don't drive Rolls Royces, in the eyse of those in Brentwood you are no different than the workers that pick your food.

Your Buddy @ 11:45 AM PDT, Sep 12, 2008

All of you responding negatively are ignorant. The first gentleman responding is correct. The problem with America is that we have too many ignorant people who do not know their history. Santa Paula does not have a Spanish name just because. Look it up idiots. If it weren't for all those poor farm workers who are willing to break their backs and work for pennies you wouldn't have food in your mouth. Try working on a field for an hour. Perhaps maybe then you will think about it twice before you talk about deportation or to criticize those who feed you.

teacher @ 8:59 PM PDT, Aug 27, 2008

1. We are only a few years away from replacing the fieldworkers with robots. A mass deportation of all illegal aliens whatever their race will help expedite this. 2. If only legal taxpayers are allowed services, California would not have a deficit. 3. If the U.S. had the SAME immigration laws as Mexico, there would not be an immigration problem.

Reality awareness @ 3:36 PM PDT, Aug 25, 2008

Lets face it; bigotry, racism and being prejudice is [part] of the American culture. Read your history books lately? And what's happening in Santa Paula is no exception. On the one hand,you have a third world blighted neighborhood. And, on the other hand; you have an area living in opulence. So, what's the panacea? If you drive the poor farm workers out, who's going to pick the fruits & vegetables you're eating? Those in power? I don't think so! Stop being so myopic! America thrives on cheap labor and that's fact! Can't we all get along?

Candorguy @ 9:38 AM PDT, Aug 25, 2008

How can I get hold of that petition and pass it around in my city?

Steve Rodriguez @ 11:25 AM PDT, Aug 23, 2008

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