Monday, December 24, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
December 21, 2007 Hamblen Commission Passes Illegal Immigration Resolutions
The Hamblen County Commission joined with the City of Morristown and overwhelmingly passed both anti-ILLEGAL Immigration resolutions last night.
Several individuals spoke at the beginning of the meeting expressing various concerns about illegal immigration and encouraging the commission to support the resolutions.
When it came time to vote, only two commissioners spoke.
Joe Swann repeated many of the same comments he had made during a previous committee meeting. It's a "federal issue."
He's against anything illegal, but he was afraid that passing the resolutions might cause the county to have to raise taxes and/or quit taking state prisoners in order to make more room for local illegals in the jail.
I guess Joe doesn't recall that his very first tax vote as a commissioner was to raise taxes-- largely to increase law enforcement spending. He had no problem then in raising taxes to pay for additional law enforcement costs of the sanctuary county (Hamblen) .
And Joe will probably have no problem in raising taxes again this coming year for the ever-increasing educational and healthcare and law enforcements costs that the county incurs as a result of being held out as a magnet for illegal immigration.
Tommy Massey, as he did in committee, spoke up to support Swann. Tommy, too, is against anything illegal. I don't believe Tommy mentioned this time--as he did in committee-- that conditions are bad in Mexico and that he himself would do anything to bring his family here.
Tommy said he would go ahead and vote for the resolutions to the extent that they just "say" we want someone else --the state and federal governments-- to do something.
Joe, as I recall, abstained from voting on one of the resolutions and voted against the other.
The next step is for citizens and commission to really push for action at the state and federal levels...the time is right and our Congressman David Davis is firmly against ILLEGAL immigration.
Several individuals spoke at the beginning of the meeting expressing various concerns about illegal immigration and encouraging the commission to support the resolutions.
When it came time to vote, only two commissioners spoke.
Joe Swann repeated many of the same comments he had made during a previous committee meeting. It's a "federal issue."
He's against anything illegal, but he was afraid that passing the resolutions might cause the county to have to raise taxes and/or quit taking state prisoners in order to make more room for local illegals in the jail.
I guess Joe doesn't recall that his very first tax vote as a commissioner was to raise taxes-- largely to increase law enforcement spending. He had no problem then in raising taxes to pay for additional law enforcement costs of the sanctuary county (Hamblen) .
And Joe will probably have no problem in raising taxes again this coming year for the ever-increasing educational and healthcare and law enforcements costs that the county incurs as a result of being held out as a magnet for illegal immigration.
Tommy Massey, as he did in committee, spoke up to support Swann. Tommy, too, is against anything illegal. I don't believe Tommy mentioned this time--as he did in committee-- that conditions are bad in Mexico and that he himself would do anything to bring his family here.
Tommy said he would go ahead and vote for the resolutions to the extent that they just "say" we want someone else --the state and federal governments-- to do something.
Joe, as I recall, abstained from voting on one of the resolutions and voted against the other.
The next step is for citizens and commission to really push for action at the state and federal levels...the time is right and our Congressman David Davis is firmly against ILLEGAL immigration.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
December 20, 2007 Roe Junction Residents To City: Clean Up or We Intend To Sue
Numerous residents of Roe Junction filed an environmental lawsuit against Koch Foods several months ago over continuing sewage odors that began when the Koch Foods deboning facility opened in 2005 in the Progress Parkway in the Witt area.
Now these residents have filed a notice of intent to file a citizen suit against the City of Morristown for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act "Unless a Tennessee or federal agency commences and diligently prosecutes an action in court to address these violations within sixty (60) days."
The citizens' December 6th letter of intent which was addressed to the City of Morristown was copied to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
One of the alleged violations of the Clean Water Act is discharging sewage without a permit through overflows of raw sewage from the City's Claude Collins Road pump station onto "neighboring properties...and a nearby creek." The letter states that these discharges have resulted in "public and private nuisances and health hazards." (See NOTE below).
Other allegations cited are the City's (1) failure to "properly maintain" its sewerage system, (2) failure to enforce pretreatment standards, (3) allowing "prohibited discharges by Koch Foods' Progress Parkway facility," (4) failing to take "effective enforcement action" against Koch Foods, and (5) allowing Koch Foods to "continue discharging in violation of its pretreatment permit."
Roe Junction residents reported and complained about sewer odors for two years before filing a lawsuit against Koch Foods for its violations of City sewer ordinances.
Roe Junction residents also reported and complained to the City about sewage overflows onto streets and property in the area prior to filing the December 6th letter of intent to sue if violations of the Clean Water Act are not addressed by a federal (EPA) or state (TDEC) agency.
NOTE: If a recent Citizen-Tribune article is correct, there may have been up to three other sewage overflows of which the Roe Junction citizens were apparently not aware. That same article states that the City has now decided to study options for addressing the overflows.
[UPDATE: The above link to the Tribune article does not work. Apparently, the Tribune deactivates links to its older articles rather quickly. You can access the old Tribune articles/archives on a pay-per-view basis at the Tribune website, or these same articles are also available at the Morristown-Hamblen Library on microfilm for free.]
Now these residents have filed a notice of intent to file a citizen suit against the City of Morristown for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act "Unless a Tennessee or federal agency commences and diligently prosecutes an action in court to address these violations within sixty (60) days."
The citizens' December 6th letter of intent which was addressed to the City of Morristown was copied to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
One of the alleged violations of the Clean Water Act is discharging sewage without a permit through overflows of raw sewage from the City's Claude Collins Road pump station onto "neighboring properties...and a nearby creek." The letter states that these discharges have resulted in "public and private nuisances and health hazards." (See NOTE below).
Other allegations cited are the City's (1) failure to "properly maintain" its sewerage system, (2) failure to enforce pretreatment standards, (3) allowing "prohibited discharges by Koch Foods' Progress Parkway facility," (4) failing to take "effective enforcement action" against Koch Foods, and (5) allowing Koch Foods to "continue discharging in violation of its pretreatment permit."
Roe Junction residents reported and complained about sewer odors for two years before filing a lawsuit against Koch Foods for its violations of City sewer ordinances.
Roe Junction residents also reported and complained to the City about sewage overflows onto streets and property in the area prior to filing the December 6th letter of intent to sue if violations of the Clean Water Act are not addressed by a federal (EPA) or state (TDEC) agency.
NOTE: If a recent Citizen-Tribune article is correct, there may have been up to three other sewage overflows of which the Roe Junction citizens were apparently not aware. That same article states that the City has now decided to study options for addressing the overflows.
[UPDATE: The above link to the Tribune article does not work. Apparently, the Tribune deactivates links to its older articles rather quickly. You can access the old Tribune articles/archives on a pay-per-view basis at the Tribune website, or these same articles are also available at the Morristown-Hamblen Library on microfilm for free.]
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
December 18, 2007 Whereas...Let the ILLEGAL Invasion Continue?
Bobby Moore writes that City Councilman Mel Tucker's anti-ILLEGAL immigration initiative has hit a wall.
Moore reports that the federal government can't, or won't, do anything to help local law enforcement take steps to address ILLEGAL immigration in Morristown and Hamblen County.
We have a federal government that won't enforce laws against ILLEGAL immigration....and now it also refuses to assist local governments help enforce laws against ILLEGAL immigration!
Moore reports that the federal government can't, or won't, do anything to help local law enforcement take steps to address ILLEGAL immigration in Morristown and Hamblen County.
We have a federal government that won't enforce laws against ILLEGAL immigration....and now it also refuses to assist local governments help enforce laws against ILLEGAL immigration!
Mel Tucker sees and has outlined the damage that ILLEGAL immigration has done in Morristown.
Tucker's "WHEREAS" paragraphs in his ILLEGAL immigration resolutions describe some of the damage to the city and to the local community as a result of ILLEGAL immigration. Tucker's federal resolution is here. His state resolution is here.
Sheriff Esco Jarnagin offered an analogy. ILLEGAL immigration is like someone who criminally trespasses on your property, puts up a tent, and "camps out" on your front yard!
After years of throwing out the welcome mat to ILLEGAL immigrants and years of turning a blind eye to the harm and costs of ILLEGAL immigrants, Morristown has become a sanctuary city for ILLEGAL immigrants and Hamblen County has become a sanctuary county for ILLEGAL immigrants.
The city has passed Tucker's resolutions. The county should go ahead and pass the resolutions this Thursday, December 20.
Then instead of just saying "oh, well, let the ILLEGAL invasion continue," citizens and local officials should ramp up the pressure on the federal government to secure our borders and to begin genuine efforts--with the help of local law enforcement--to enforce immigration laws.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
December 15, 2007 Sen. Cooper Appeals $120,000 Fine
Channel 5 has a report on Jerry Cooper's appeal of the $120,000 fine meted out to him by the Tennessee Registry of Election Finance. More here.
Cooper was fined $120,000 for making at least 23 separate transfers of campaign funds to his personal accounts over a period of nearly two years--all in violation of Tennessee campaign finance laws.
The total Cooper converted from his campaign account to personal accounts was $95,000.
The video on the Channel 5 website shows an excerpt of the actual TREF meeting along with an interview of Cooper.
Cooper says he didn't attend the first TREF meeting when the $120,000 fine was imposed because he was "tired." Maybe. Or maybe he wanted to just wait and see if the TREF imposed a modest fine.
If TREF had imposed of fine of, say, $15,000, Cooper might have gladly paid it so he could walk away with a personal windfall of $80,000.
After all, it would be one heckuva deal to pay a mere $15,000 fine in return for being able to use $95,000 of contributor's money for personal living expenses.
When the $120,000 fine came down, however, Cooper had a sudden surge of energy. He was not too "tired" to appeal, and he even managed to scrape up enough energy to show up at the appeal!
Cooper's lawyer is claiming that a $14,000 fine is quite adequate.
Phil Williams, Channel 5's investigative reporter, points out that what Cooper's attorney wants is for the 23 separate checks written at 23 separate times over nearly a two-year period to be considered as just one (continuing) violation.
This plan, of course, would leave Cooper with a net profit of $81,000 from his multiple violations of campaign finance laws. $95,000 taken - $14,000 fine= $81,000 profit. That's a nifty reward for violating campaign finance laws.
The TREF agreed to postpone a decision on Cooper's appeal until it can request a legal opinion from the state attorney general as to the legality of the original $120,000 fine.
UT students--and others-- might be interested in the attorney general's opinion and the outcome of Cooper's appeal.
Cooper's attorney wants 23 separate checks written at 23 separate times-- over a period of nearly two years-- to be considered just one (continuing) campaign finance violation.
Maybe UT students who receive six separate parking tickets at six separate times--over a period of nearly two years-- should ask for the six tickets to be considered just one (continuing) parking violation!
Cooper was fined $120,000 for making at least 23 separate transfers of campaign funds to his personal accounts over a period of nearly two years--all in violation of Tennessee campaign finance laws.
The total Cooper converted from his campaign account to personal accounts was $95,000.
The video on the Channel 5 website shows an excerpt of the actual TREF meeting along with an interview of Cooper.
Cooper says he didn't attend the first TREF meeting when the $120,000 fine was imposed because he was "tired." Maybe. Or maybe he wanted to just wait and see if the TREF imposed a modest fine.
If TREF had imposed of fine of, say, $15,000, Cooper might have gladly paid it so he could walk away with a personal windfall of $80,000.
After all, it would be one heckuva deal to pay a mere $15,000 fine in return for being able to use $95,000 of contributor's money for personal living expenses.
When the $120,000 fine came down, however, Cooper had a sudden surge of energy. He was not too "tired" to appeal, and he even managed to scrape up enough energy to show up at the appeal!
Cooper's lawyer is claiming that a $14,000 fine is quite adequate.
Phil Williams, Channel 5's investigative reporter, points out that what Cooper's attorney wants is for the 23 separate checks written at 23 separate times over nearly a two-year period to be considered as just one (continuing) violation.
This plan, of course, would leave Cooper with a net profit of $81,000 from his multiple violations of campaign finance laws. $95,000 taken - $14,000 fine= $81,000 profit. That's a nifty reward for violating campaign finance laws.
The TREF agreed to postpone a decision on Cooper's appeal until it can request a legal opinion from the state attorney general as to the legality of the original $120,000 fine.
UT students--and others-- might be interested in the attorney general's opinion and the outcome of Cooper's appeal.
Cooper's attorney wants 23 separate checks written at 23 separate times-- over a period of nearly two years-- to be considered just one (continuing) campaign finance violation.
Maybe UT students who receive six separate parking tickets at six separate times--over a period of nearly two years-- should ask for the six tickets to be considered just one (continuing) parking violation!
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
December 11, 2007 Hamblen County Committee Sends Illegal Immigration Resolutions To Full Commission
A Committee of the Hamblen County Commission voted yesterday to send Anti-ILLEGAL Immigration Resolutions on to the full Commission on December 20.
In what was at times a heated discussion, Commissioners Joe Swann and Tommy Massey lined up together to present the case for waiting and studying the issue.
Joe Swann pointed out that businesses pay the majority of property taxes in Morristown and in Hamblen County and he wants to wait to get his "hands around" the whole issue.
Tommy Massey said conditions are deplorable in Mexico, and he defended Commissioner Swann's desire to study the issue.
Commissioners Joe Spoone and Larry Baker along with Sheriff Esco Jarnagin presented the case against ILLEGAL immigration, pointing out the obvious---the issue is ILLEGAL immigration.
And pointing out that it is ILLEGAL immigration even if it benefits the bottomline of a business and even if it benefits the lawbreaker and his family.
They also pointed out the devastating and wide-ranging economic effects of ILLEGAL immigration on the average person in Hamblen County. Increased law enforcement and incarceration costs, increased educational costs, increased healthcare costs, increased costs for social benefits.
More to come...
In what was at times a heated discussion, Commissioners Joe Swann and Tommy Massey lined up together to present the case for waiting and studying the issue.
Joe Swann pointed out that businesses pay the majority of property taxes in Morristown and in Hamblen County and he wants to wait to get his "hands around" the whole issue.
Tommy Massey said conditions are deplorable in Mexico, and he defended Commissioner Swann's desire to study the issue.
Commissioners Joe Spoone and Larry Baker along with Sheriff Esco Jarnagin presented the case against ILLEGAL immigration, pointing out the obvious---the issue is ILLEGAL immigration.
And pointing out that it is ILLEGAL immigration even if it benefits the bottomline of a business and even if it benefits the lawbreaker and his family.
They also pointed out the devastating and wide-ranging economic effects of ILLEGAL immigration on the average person in Hamblen County. Increased law enforcement and incarceration costs, increased educational costs, increased healthcare costs, increased costs for social benefits.
More to come...
Thursday, December 06, 2007
December 6, 2007 This 'n That: Cooper/Ford/Neeley
Tennessee State Senator Jerry Cooper will not seek re-election. Cooper was recently fined $120,000 by the Tennessee Registry for Election Finance for multiple of violations of campaign finance laws.
Cooper's violations included diverting $95,000 of campaign contributions to his personal bank accounts.
The fine was just the last in a series of problems for Cooper including a fraud trial, in which he was found not guilty but where testimony revealed his conversion of campaign money to personal money, and a wreck due to DUI.
---------------
Former State Senator John Ford will not have to report to prison in December to start serving his 5 -1/2 year sentence for bribery in the Tennessee Waltz scandal.
Instead, Ford will remain free so he can care for his four children by ex-wife Tamara Ford-Mitchell. Tamara is serving a DUI sentence and has another DUI pending.
So John, who has already been convicted of bribery and who has another bribery trial set for March 2008, gets to tend to the children.
Ford's court-appointed attorney pointed out that in addition to caring for the children, Ford will be free to help prepare for his next bribery trial and for the appeal of his current conviction.
Tamara's timing is lousy. She really needs to ask a Judge to let her out to be the parent and let John go to prison. Or how about a jail-sharing arrangement? She serves six months and then John serves six months. Whoever is not in jail takes care of the children! [Remove tongue from cheek]
Cooper's violations included diverting $95,000 of campaign contributions to his personal bank accounts.
The fine was just the last in a series of problems for Cooper including a fraud trial, in which he was found not guilty but where testimony revealed his conversion of campaign money to personal money, and a wreck due to DUI.
---------------
Former State Senator John Ford will not have to report to prison in December to start serving his 5 -1/2 year sentence for bribery in the Tennessee Waltz scandal.
Instead, Ford will remain free so he can care for his four children by ex-wife Tamara Ford-Mitchell. Tamara is serving a DUI sentence and has another DUI pending.
So John, who has already been convicted of bribery and who has another bribery trial set for March 2008, gets to tend to the children.
Ford's court-appointed attorney pointed out that in addition to caring for the children, Ford will be free to help prepare for his next bribery trial and for the appeal of his current conviction.
Tamara's timing is lousy. She really needs to ask a Judge to let her out to be the parent and let John go to prison. Or how about a jail-sharing arrangement? She serves six months and then John serves six months. Whoever is not in jail takes care of the children! [Remove tongue from cheek]
The online comments at the end of the Ford article are as interesting as the article.
--------------------
A few weeks ago, Channel 5 in Nashville reported another ticket-fixing for a prominent politico. This time the recipient of a dismissed speeding ticket was Tennessee Labor Commissioner James Neeley.
The Judge who was to hear the case said he dismissed the speeding ticket because the Trooper didn't show up at court.
But reporter Phil Williams pointed out to the Judge that he had dismissed the case a week BEFORE the court date at which the Trooper was to appear!
Neeley won't say who took care of the ticket for him, but after Channel 5 started looking at his dismissal, Neeley decided to go ahead and pay the fine for the already-dismissed ticket.
Of course, one can't discuss ticket-fixing in Tennessee without at least mentioning the saga of Dep. Governor Dave Cooley.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
December 5, 2007 Morristown City Council Illegal Immigration Resolution #2 (Federal)
Yesterday, Morristown City Council passed an illegal immigration resolution to send to Sen. Lamar Alexander, Sen. Bob Corker, and Rep. David Davis, requesting a Memorandum of Understanding to allow local officers to be trained "to perform a function of an immigration officer" in connection with the investigation and apprehension of illegal aliens.
[NOTE: See the previous post for the text of the Council's resolution that will be sent to State Rep. John Litz and State Sen. Steve Southerland]
RESOLUTION TO BE SENT TO SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER, SEN. BOB CORKER, REP. DAVID DAVIS
RESOLUTION NO. ______________
BEING a resolution of the City Council for the City of Morristown, Tennessee, petitioning its members of Congress for assistance in dealing with illegal immigration.
WHEREAS, the City Council for the City of Morristown, Tennessee, after due consideration, makes the following findings:
1. A significant and growing population of persons reside in, are employed in, or otherwise frequent the City, who have come to, entered or remained in the United States in violation of Federal Immigration Law.
2. The City has finite resources with which to provide public services to its citizens.
3. It is desirable to secure to those lawfully present in the United States and the City, regardless of their status as citizens, the right to live in peace, free of the threat of crime, and to enjoy the public services provided by the City without being burdened by the costs of providing goods, support and services to aliens unlawfully present in the United States and the City to the extent these goals can be achieved consistently with the Constitution and laws of the United States and the State of Tennessee.
4. The increasing population of illegal aliens has compromised City and other local resources to provide essential and desirable public services to the citizens of the community, including medical services, law enforcement and public assistance.
5. The unlawful employment, the harboring of illegal ailens in dwelling units in the City of Morristown, and crime committed by illegal aliens harm the health, safety and welfare of authorized United States workers and legal residents in the City of Morristown. Illegal immigration leads to higher crime rates, subjects our hospitals to fiscal hardship and legal residents to substandard quality of care, contributes to other burdensome public services, increasing their costs and diminishing their availability to legal residents, and diminishes the overall quality of life within the City.
6. Title 8, sub-section 1324 (a) (1) (A) United States Code prohibits the harboring of illegal aliens. The provision of housing to illegal aliens is a fundamental component of harboring.
7. Title 8, sub-section 1324a(a)(1) United States Code prohibits employment or referral of employment for a fee of unauthorized aliens.
8. Harboring through provision of housing to and employing illegal aliens greatly contributes to the growth of the population of illegal aliens within the City of Morristown and the surrounding community.
9. Title 8, sub-section 1324a(h)(2) United States Code preempts any State or local law imposing civil or criminal sanctions (other than through licensing and similar laws) upon those who employ, or recruit or refer for a fee for employment, unauthorized aliens.
10. Title 8, sub-section 1357(g) United States Code authorizes the United States Attorney General to enter into a written agreement (memorandum of understanding) with a State or any political subdivision of a State, pursuant to which an officer or employee of the State or subdivision, who is determined by the Attorney General to be qualified to perform a function of an immigration officer in relation to the investigation, apprehension, or detention of aliens in the United States (including the transportation of such aliens across State lines to detention centers), may carry out such function at the expense of the State or political subdivision and to the extent consistent with the State and local law.
WHEREAS, Federal enforcement of the Immigration laws has failed to effectively regulate illegal immigration within the City of Morristown and surrounding community; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council for the City of Morristown, Tennessee, that this local governing body urges its members of Congress to take those measures necessary and reasonable to insure statutorily mandated regulation of illegal immigration within the United States.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the governing body requests the assistance of its members of Congress in implementing a memorandum of understanding between the City of Morristown and the United States Attorney General pursuant to Title 8, sub-section 1357(g) United States Code.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this Resolution be forewarded to the Honorable David Davis, U.S. House of Representatives, Honorable Lamar Alexander, U.S. Senate, and the Honorable Bob Corker, U.S. Senate.
Passed in Regular Session of City Council this ____ day ofDecember, 2007.
CITY OF MORRISTOWN, TENNESSEE
BY: ___________________________________ MAYOR
ATTEST:_____________________________________
[NOTE: See the previous post for the text of the Council's resolution that will be sent to State Rep. John Litz and State Sen. Steve Southerland]
RESOLUTION TO BE SENT TO SEN. LAMAR ALEXANDER, SEN. BOB CORKER, REP. DAVID DAVIS
RESOLUTION NO. ______________
BEING a resolution of the City Council for the City of Morristown, Tennessee, petitioning its members of Congress for assistance in dealing with illegal immigration.
WHEREAS, the City Council for the City of Morristown, Tennessee, after due consideration, makes the following findings:
1. A significant and growing population of persons reside in, are employed in, or otherwise frequent the City, who have come to, entered or remained in the United States in violation of Federal Immigration Law.
2. The City has finite resources with which to provide public services to its citizens.
3. It is desirable to secure to those lawfully present in the United States and the City, regardless of their status as citizens, the right to live in peace, free of the threat of crime, and to enjoy the public services provided by the City without being burdened by the costs of providing goods, support and services to aliens unlawfully present in the United States and the City to the extent these goals can be achieved consistently with the Constitution and laws of the United States and the State of Tennessee.
4. The increasing population of illegal aliens has compromised City and other local resources to provide essential and desirable public services to the citizens of the community, including medical services, law enforcement and public assistance.
5. The unlawful employment, the harboring of illegal ailens in dwelling units in the City of Morristown, and crime committed by illegal aliens harm the health, safety and welfare of authorized United States workers and legal residents in the City of Morristown. Illegal immigration leads to higher crime rates, subjects our hospitals to fiscal hardship and legal residents to substandard quality of care, contributes to other burdensome public services, increasing their costs and diminishing their availability to legal residents, and diminishes the overall quality of life within the City.
6. Title 8, sub-section 1324 (a) (1) (A) United States Code prohibits the harboring of illegal aliens. The provision of housing to illegal aliens is a fundamental component of harboring.
7. Title 8, sub-section 1324a(a)(1) United States Code prohibits employment or referral of employment for a fee of unauthorized aliens.
8. Harboring through provision of housing to and employing illegal aliens greatly contributes to the growth of the population of illegal aliens within the City of Morristown and the surrounding community.
9. Title 8, sub-section 1324a(h)(2) United States Code preempts any State or local law imposing civil or criminal sanctions (other than through licensing and similar laws) upon those who employ, or recruit or refer for a fee for employment, unauthorized aliens.
10. Title 8, sub-section 1357(g) United States Code authorizes the United States Attorney General to enter into a written agreement (memorandum of understanding) with a State or any political subdivision of a State, pursuant to which an officer or employee of the State or subdivision, who is determined by the Attorney General to be qualified to perform a function of an immigration officer in relation to the investigation, apprehension, or detention of aliens in the United States (including the transportation of such aliens across State lines to detention centers), may carry out such function at the expense of the State or political subdivision and to the extent consistent with the State and local law.
WHEREAS, Federal enforcement of the Immigration laws has failed to effectively regulate illegal immigration within the City of Morristown and surrounding community; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council for the City of Morristown, Tennessee, that this local governing body urges its members of Congress to take those measures necessary and reasonable to insure statutorily mandated regulation of illegal immigration within the United States.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the governing body requests the assistance of its members of Congress in implementing a memorandum of understanding between the City of Morristown and the United States Attorney General pursuant to Title 8, sub-section 1357(g) United States Code.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this Resolution be forewarded to the Honorable David Davis, U.S. House of Representatives, Honorable Lamar Alexander, U.S. Senate, and the Honorable Bob Corker, U.S. Senate.
Passed in Regular Session of City Council this ____ day ofDecember, 2007.
CITY OF MORRISTOWN, TENNESSEE
BY: ___________________________________ MAYOR
ATTEST:_____________________________________
December 5, 2007 Morristown City Council Illegal Immigration Resolution #1 (State)
The City of Morristown supports ACTION to reduce illegal immigration.
The following is the text of a Resolution that was introduced and passed unanimously at Morristown City Council yesterday. It will be forwarded to Tennessee State Rep. John Litz and State Sen. Steve Southerland.
[NOTE: A Resolution that will be forwarded to United States Sen. Lamar Alexander, Sen. Bob Corker, and Congressman David Davis also passed. See text on a separate post.]
RESOLUTION NO. ______________BEING a resolution of the City Council for the City of Morristown, Tennessee, petitioning its State Representative and State Senator to introduce and support legislation aimed at reducing the growing population of illegal immigrants being harbored and employed in the City of Morristown.
WHEREAS, the City Council for the City of Morristown, Tennessee, after due consideration, makes the following findings:
1. A significant and growing population of persons reside in, are employed in, or otherwise frequent the City, who have come to, entered or remained in the United States in violation of Federal Immigration Law.
2. The City has finite resources with which to provide public services to its citizens.
3. It is desirable to secure to those lawfully present in theUnited States and the City, regardless of their status as citizens, the right to live in peace, free of the threat of crime, and to enjoy the public services provided by the City without being burdened by the costs of providing goods, support and services to aliens unlawfully present in the United States and the City to the extent these goals can be achieved consistently with the Constitution and laws of the United States and the State of Tennessee.
4. The increasing population of illegal aliens has compromised City and other local resources to provide essential and desirable public services to the citizens of the community, including medical services, law enforcement and public assistance.
5. The unlawful employment, the harboring of illegal ailens in dwelling units in the City of Morristown, and crime committed by illegal aliens harm the health, safety and welfare of authorized United States workers and legal residents in the City of Morristown. Illegal immigration leads to higher crime rates, subjects our hospitals to fiscal hardship and legal residents to substandard quality of care, contributes to other burdensome public services, increasing their costs and diminishing their availability to legal residents, and diminishes the overall quality of life within the City.
6. Title 8, sub-section 1324 (a) (1) (A) United States Code prohibits the harboring of illegal aliens. The provision of housing to illegal aliens is a fundamental component of harboring.
7. Title 8, sub-section 1324a(a)(1) United States Code prohibits employment or referral of employment for a fee of unauthorized aliens.
8. Harboring through provision of housing to and employing illegal aliens greatly contributes to the growth of the population of illegal aliens within the City of Morristown and the surrounding community.
WHEREAS, Federal enforcement of the Immigration laws has failed to effectively regulate illegal immigration within the City of Morristown and surrounding community; and
WHEREAS, facing similar circumstances, certain states including Georgia, Arizona, Colorado and Oklahoma have adopted comprehensive legislation aimed at dealing with their growing populations of illegal aliens, a copy of Oklahoma's legislation (HB 1804, effective November 1, 2007) being attached hereto.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council for the City of Morristown, Tennessee, that this local governing body urges its state representative and state senator to introduce and work for passage of legislation similar in substance to Oklahoma's HB 1804.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this Resolution be forewarded to the Honorable John Litz, State Representative, and the Honorable Steve Southerland, State Senator.
Passed in Regular Session of City Council this ____ day ofDecember, 2007.
CITY OF MORRISTOWN, TENNESSEE
BY: ___________________________________ MAYOR
ATTEST:_____________________________________CITY ADMINISTRATOR
The following is the text of a Resolution that was introduced and passed unanimously at Morristown City Council yesterday. It will be forwarded to Tennessee State Rep. John Litz and State Sen. Steve Southerland.
[NOTE: A Resolution that will be forwarded to United States Sen. Lamar Alexander, Sen. Bob Corker, and Congressman David Davis also passed. See text on a separate post.]
RESOLUTION NO. ______________BEING a resolution of the City Council for the City of Morristown, Tennessee, petitioning its State Representative and State Senator to introduce and support legislation aimed at reducing the growing population of illegal immigrants being harbored and employed in the City of Morristown.
WHEREAS, the City Council for the City of Morristown, Tennessee, after due consideration, makes the following findings:
1. A significant and growing population of persons reside in, are employed in, or otherwise frequent the City, who have come to, entered or remained in the United States in violation of Federal Immigration Law.
2. The City has finite resources with which to provide public services to its citizens.
3. It is desirable to secure to those lawfully present in theUnited States and the City, regardless of their status as citizens, the right to live in peace, free of the threat of crime, and to enjoy the public services provided by the City without being burdened by the costs of providing goods, support and services to aliens unlawfully present in the United States and the City to the extent these goals can be achieved consistently with the Constitution and laws of the United States and the State of Tennessee.
4. The increasing population of illegal aliens has compromised City and other local resources to provide essential and desirable public services to the citizens of the community, including medical services, law enforcement and public assistance.
5. The unlawful employment, the harboring of illegal ailens in dwelling units in the City of Morristown, and crime committed by illegal aliens harm the health, safety and welfare of authorized United States workers and legal residents in the City of Morristown. Illegal immigration leads to higher crime rates, subjects our hospitals to fiscal hardship and legal residents to substandard quality of care, contributes to other burdensome public services, increasing their costs and diminishing their availability to legal residents, and diminishes the overall quality of life within the City.
6. Title 8, sub-section 1324 (a) (1) (A) United States Code prohibits the harboring of illegal aliens. The provision of housing to illegal aliens is a fundamental component of harboring.
7. Title 8, sub-section 1324a(a)(1) United States Code prohibits employment or referral of employment for a fee of unauthorized aliens.
8. Harboring through provision of housing to and employing illegal aliens greatly contributes to the growth of the population of illegal aliens within the City of Morristown and the surrounding community.
WHEREAS, Federal enforcement of the Immigration laws has failed to effectively regulate illegal immigration within the City of Morristown and surrounding community; and
WHEREAS, facing similar circumstances, certain states including Georgia, Arizona, Colorado and Oklahoma have adopted comprehensive legislation aimed at dealing with their growing populations of illegal aliens, a copy of Oklahoma's legislation (HB 1804, effective November 1, 2007) being attached hereto.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council for the City of Morristown, Tennessee, that this local governing body urges its state representative and state senator to introduce and work for passage of legislation similar in substance to Oklahoma's HB 1804.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this Resolution be forewarded to the Honorable John Litz, State Representative, and the Honorable Steve Southerland, State Senator.
Passed in Regular Session of City Council this ____ day ofDecember, 2007.
CITY OF MORRISTOWN, TENNESSEE
BY: ___________________________________ MAYOR
ATTEST:_____________________________________CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Monday, December 03, 2007
December 3, 2007 Commission Minutes: "Key Word" Feature Needed
In my previous post, I mentioned that Minutes of Hamblen County Commission meetings are available on online.
If you are having trouble getting or viewing the minutes--and some people let me know they were having difficulty--this is what works for me.
Go to http://www.hamblencountygovernment.us/
Then click on "visit the county clerk's new website..."
Then click on "Commission Minutes List"
You'll see a huge list of links -- not in chronological order--to Hamblen County Commission meetings.
EXAMPLE: If you want to see the June 22, 2006, minutes, click on June 2006 minutes. The first page that you will see is a July 26, 2006, signature page. Don't let that throw you. This page just shows approval in July 2006 of the June 2006 minutes that follow.
To view the June 2006 minutes, use your "down arrow" or "page down" key to scroll to the next page which should be the first page of the June 2006 minutes. Continue scrolling down page-by-page to view all the minutes for June 2006.
You may have to make some adjustments and do some fine tuning with your computer to enlarge the print to be able to actually read the minutes.
The good news is that the minute are online. Hopefully, the next action will be to make them a lot more user-friendly.
A "key words" search feature--like you find on many websites--should definitely be added.
Right now, if you don't know exactly when something was voted on, you may have to plow through years of minutes to find the vote you are searching for.
A "key words" feature was discussed several years ago with county attorney Rusty Cantwell.
Cantwell said then that a "key words" feature would be helpful for him because when he calls the clerk to find out when a particular resolution passed or to get a copy of a resolution, the clerk may have to search through the index at the beginning of several books before he or she can locate the minutes that Cantwell wants.
The "key words" feature would not only help Cantwell and the clerks, it would also help anyone searching the online minutes for a particular vote---"Dollar Store rezoning" "Budget 2003" "Urban Growth Boundary."
Right now, if you want to find something in the online minutes, it's like searching for a very small needle in a very large haystack. A "key words" feature is definitely needed.
If you are having trouble getting or viewing the minutes--and some people let me know they were having difficulty--this is what works for me.
Go to http://www.hamblencountygovernment.us/
Then click on "visit the county clerk's new website..."
Then click on "Commission Minutes List"
You'll see a huge list of links -- not in chronological order--to Hamblen County Commission meetings.
EXAMPLE: If you want to see the June 22, 2006, minutes, click on June 2006 minutes. The first page that you will see is a July 26, 2006, signature page. Don't let that throw you. This page just shows approval in July 2006 of the June 2006 minutes that follow.
To view the June 2006 minutes, use your "down arrow" or "page down" key to scroll to the next page which should be the first page of the June 2006 minutes. Continue scrolling down page-by-page to view all the minutes for June 2006.
You may have to make some adjustments and do some fine tuning with your computer to enlarge the print to be able to actually read the minutes.
The good news is that the minute are online. Hopefully, the next action will be to make them a lot more user-friendly.
A "key words" search feature--like you find on many websites--should definitely be added.
Right now, if you don't know exactly when something was voted on, you may have to plow through years of minutes to find the vote you are searching for.
A "key words" feature was discussed several years ago with county attorney Rusty Cantwell.
Cantwell said then that a "key words" feature would be helpful for him because when he calls the clerk to find out when a particular resolution passed or to get a copy of a resolution, the clerk may have to search through the index at the beginning of several books before he or she can locate the minutes that Cantwell wants.
The "key words" feature would not only help Cantwell and the clerks, it would also help anyone searching the online minutes for a particular vote---"Dollar Store rezoning" "Budget 2003" "Urban Growth Boundary."
Right now, if you want to find something in the online minutes, it's like searching for a very small needle in a very large haystack. A "key words" feature is definitely needed.
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