City’s Failure to Set Up Day Labor Center Assailed
Concerned that the city may step up enforcement of an ordinance making it illegal to solicit work on street corners, Pomona Mayor Eddie Cortez and some day laborers are expressing anger at the City Council’s failure to approve creation of a day laborer center.
Cortez said the city has already started citing day laborers for loitering.
More than a year ago, the council approved a statute making it a misdemeanor to solicit work on streets, parking lots or sidewalks. However, the ordinance requires creation of a day labor center, Cortez said.
The mayor said his council colleagues never have agreed on who they want to operate such a facility.
This week, the council rejected a proposal from One-Stop Immigration to operate the center for $57,000 during the coming year.
“They want to criminalize the laborers, but they aren’t willing to help,” said community activist Fabian Nunez.
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