Citizen Expresses Concerns to City Commission About Illegal Workers

John S Keppy

Viewed: 4582

Posted by: JSKeppy
Date: Jul 27 2010 6:41 PM

Dothan: Jeff Kelley is a long time Dothan resident who today took "Privileges of the Floor" to address the Dothan City Commission. Mr. Kelly expressed concerns about the ever growing number of workers not entitled to work in the United States.

Kelley told commissioners of a friend of his who had a good paying job with a local granite company who had lost his job and had been replaced by, in his opinion, two persons not entitled to work in the U.S. who were doing the work for substantially lower wages than his friend. Kelley went on to recount how two hospitals in California had gone bankrupt due to the costs of having to provide health care to illegal aliens.

Kelley’s question to the commissioners was what was being done in the Dothan area to protect the jobs of people legally employed. City Manager West told him that Dothan requires all entities that sign contracts with the city to agree to employee only people that can lawfully work in the United States. West added that there were federal laws, but did not about local enforcement. Mayor Schmitz said that the matter would be looked in to.

Then Commissioner Reading addressed Mr. Kelley. Commissioner Reading, in a stern voice, told him that in his prior term, he had said that people addressing the commission should do so dressed in a shirt and tie. He then berated Mr. Kelly because he was wearing a t-shirt and shorts. Kelley was told by Commissioner Reading he was disrespecting the commission. Reading did nothing to address Kelley’s concerns. Mayor Schmitz put a stop to Reading’s comments and brought the discussion back on track to addressing Kelley’s concerns. He assured Kelley that the issue would be looked into. Most commissioners nodded their heads in agreement.

The next person that took "Privileges of the Floor" was a woman who was a former speech instructor. She was there to talk to commissioners about taking back neighborhoods from gangs and those involved in drug activities. But first, she had some words for Commissioner Reading.

She told Commissioner Reading that she knew Mr. Kelley, and that he was a very quiet person who had never spoken in public before. She said that Kelley had done a great job in his address to the commission, but Reading, in his remarks to Kelley, had put Kelley "two years back" in the progress that he had made. Reading remained silent after she addressed him.

Given Reading’s concerns for decorum and etiquette, perhaps he should consider the image he portrays when he parks his car to attend the commission meeting.

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My husband has been in the masonry business for 30 years in Dothan and for the past 5, we have watched illegal workers put us in a position of being close to unemployed. We have to provide licensing, insurance, permits, workman's comp., etc.. I personally called the City of Dothan last year and was transfered 11 times. NO ONE could tell me who is in charge of checking the construction sites and these illegals for business licenses. I was finally told to contact I.C.E.- in Montgomery. As far as medical expenses for them- our personal health insurance has tripled in less than 5 years.. I had an illegal tell me personally that he had a head on collison w/ a gas company truck on 431 and when he got the medical bill, he simply got a different social security number and name. BRAVO Mr. Kelly!
ole man, notice that there are two open spaces. Maybe the car that was in front of whats his name car left while whats his name was busy playing Mr. Commissioner. So I guess whats his name did not accomplish what he set out to do. Let's just say he was out smarted!
Not taking up for Reading..... But help me out here. In the photo above I do see a black car not in a parking space but I do not see a car or truck blocked in..... If Reading (and I hope you noticed by now I am leaving off Mr)did not like what Mr. Kelley was wearing I can not wait to be at the next meeting to see what the attire looks like. It will probably be a good likeness to a Let's Make A Deal show.
Not taking up for Reading..... But help me out here. In the photo above I do see a black car not in a parking space but I do not see a car or truck blocked in.
Did he forget who he works for?? I think so. Also . Furthermore, I'll address him in any attire that I wish. The next meetings dress code should be; Bluejeans, T-shirts and sneakers. I'll be there wearing exactly that. OBW
Mr Reading owes Mr Kelley an profound, personal apology. Elected officials shouldn't insult law-abiding citizens as Mr Reading did. * Why wasn't Mr Reading's car towed? If I parked like that, my auto would be history. * Mr Kelley is correct. I live in California. Our county hospital is about to go under due to illegal aliens. California AND the Federal Government reduced or quit reimbursing doctors and hospitals for illegal alien services while ordering docs and hosps to provide services. Primary care doctors are leaving California and hospitals are closing because they cannot afford to provide free services to illegal aliens. Nevada is collapsing under the weight of illegal aliens leaving California or going directly to NV and demanding services. * Don't Californicate Alabama!
Good job Jeff!!! Don't let James Reading derail you. All that anyone has to do to get an idea of the number of illegal aliens in the Dothan area has to do is to walk into the Southside Walmart on Saturday and Sunday when they do all their shopping.
Seems to me that Mr. Reading needs to practice what he seems to want to preach to others! Mr. Reading the next time you decide to put someone down for their clothing please remember we are in a recession, and not everyone is as fortunate as you. I personally think you should have been called out of order by the Mayor.
See you all at next Tuesday's Meeting at 10:00 am in the Civic Center Commissioners Meeting. "Yea, I'm that rebel. I tried to warn ya. I'm a fear destroyer. And I'm coming for ya." (Michael Franti and The Spearheads)
Good job Jeff!!! Don't let James Reading derail you. All that anyone has to do to get an idea of the number of illegal aliens in the Dothan area has to do is to walk into the Southside Walmart on Saturday and Sunday when they do all their shopping.
Hello Everyone, Once again, I am Mr. Kelley. This post is for the person that stated "the hospitals closing in California was a myth." You need to do your homework because I have done mine. In 2004, Elastar Community Hospital in East Los Angeles, "had racked up more than $10 million in debt and it couldn't afford to pay its roughly 400 workers." Please copy and paste this li nk to the article. http://network.nshp.org/profiles/blogs/bankrupt-hospital-serving "Bankrupt hospital serving Hispanic immigrants closing" Elastar was the third hospital with an emergency room to close in East Los Angeles county in 2004. A total of 5 were closed. How much debt can our hospitals and clinics continue to write off.
To begin with...as long as modesty was attained....Mr. Kelly was enti tled to wear whatever clothing he so chooses. This wasn't a courtroom where a JUDGE can dictate peoples attire. A citizen comes before the ELECTED commision concerned with civic & community affairs& he's berated because he's not "up to snuff" in one particular commisioner's OPINION. And also....i noticed this particular commisioner's car blocking a driving lane at the civic center...which i'm sure was seen by police patrol. I wonder...if it were a "Regular" person's car...would they have been cited? just wondering
I think he was out of line with the comment, But as for the parking space I agree he should be ticketed, but rickey nor the police don't care. I sent Rickey a picture of a marked Dothan Police car parked (not for just a second, but parked)in a handicapped spot in front of the police dept and nothing was done. I thought with all those spaces thay have reserved down there they didn't need to use a handicap spot. It was disrepecful and against the law!
Shame on Mr. Reading. He owes Mr. Kelley a public apology --- NOW! A little advice for Mr. Reading - "Do not let power go to your head."
If you don't like Mr. Reading's comments send him an email at district1@dothan.org
Whats funny is I ride by road construction on Fortner St. everyday and i would be willing to bet that there is atleast one person on that crew that is illegaly in the United States.
Mr Reading-YOU were out of line. Mr. Kelley-THANK YOU. I have watched as lawn care, construction, brick workers, concrete workers and road crews have become largely hispanic, while the citizens holding those jobs are put out of work. I have called Senator Smith and Governor Riley to demand English only laws, and an Arizona st yle anti illegal immirant law. Time to send them home and take our jobs back. Mr, Reading appears to be towing the party line on this one, Too bad, half of his constituents have been put out of work by those illegals. Maybe they can vote him back in, as the outof work will not.
Mr. Kelly didn't identify the local granite company where his friend was employed so I feel compelled to let it be known here that Southside Granite Company, the area's oldest granite company, founded in 1941, is certainly not the one he is alluding to.Southside Granite Co.is an equal opportunity employer. However, every person employed by Southside Granite Co. was, in fact, born a U.S. citizen and most of them right here in the Dothan area.While I understand that in no way did Mr. Kelly infer that his friend's former employer was Southside Granite Co., I think it is important to remove any conjecture in any readers mind that he might have.
It is funny how a mere position as a commisioner gives a person a Godlike complex,by the way, I don't think that God ever wore a suit and tie!! JUST SAYIN
LETS SEE what the mayor is going to do with Mr.Reading.He uses the color of his skin to hold his ti tle and nobody stands up to him.Mr.reading the skin thing is gone if you can not address the problems then get out of office.
Mr. Reading, Who in the world do you think you are? Why are you embarrassing Mr. Kelly in front of the city commission meeting just because his clothes don't meet your standards. Does the City of Dothan have a dress code for anyone who wants to address the commissioners? You don't know what the man's situation was, he might have been at work and didn't have time to change clothes before he came to the meeting. Mr. Reading, remember this, you don't have any rights to be throwing any stones at anyone, just like the BIBLE says, he who is without sin, cast the first stone! Thank you Mayor Mike Schmitz for stopping this attack on Mr. Kelly, James Reading owes Mr. Kelly an apology.
Mr Kelly makes very REAL/VALID points, everyday more illegals are in the wiregrass, utilizing services provided by tax payers such as the health dept, overcrowding classrooms with their "anchor babies", in an environment where we cant even afford to keep teachers. This issue better be addressed before it's too late. Mr. Reading should be reprimanded, Kelly is a citizen there on his own accord, HE'S NOT ON TRIAL IN A COURTROOM. I applaud the lady that put Reading in his place.
I watched with humilation when I witnessed a Judge down dressing a man before him . The man did not have his shirt tucked in his pants ! Maybe everyone should go through a dressing room and be approved before addrssing anyone in such HIGH POSITIONS ! The judge and commissioner would have time to put on more pressing matters then.
I would like to address the concerns of Mr. Kelly. I am disappointed to hear that the mass hysteria and paranoia regarding illegals we see elsewhere has come to Dothan. He makes some fantastic claims. Can he document that the two workers that replaced his friend are actually illegal? The old myth of California hospitals going broke due to illegals has been dis-proven long ago. All the fear about illegals is grossly misplaced. If his friends former employer truly did fire him and replace him with illegals then it is the employer who is breaking the law - but unfortunately in Alabama the friend has little recourse. the fault ultimately lies with lax employment protection laws that favor the rich.
Commissioner Reading was way out of line when he basically told Mr. Kelly that he had no right to address the commission. What nonsense. Perhaps Mr. Reading has something or someone to hide. Does he employ illegal immigrants? Did he get his toes stepped on by Mr. Kelly? I feel that he owes Mr. Kelly a public apology for his tactics. This not the type of action that a commissioner should take when a resident comes forward with a request from our "elected" officials. Thank you Mayor Schmitz for getting him "back on track".
Mr. Reading sounds like a real piece of @^%#...glad I don't live in Dothan and have to deal with that idiot!
James Reading had absolutely no right whatsoever to demean a citizen. He is not a judge and has no authority over a citizen. In the picture, it looks someone may have been in Reading's courtesy parking space, and he apparently parked behind to block them. If so, his actions were against the law, and he should have been fined. Those spots are a courtesy only and do not constitute possession or law. Only handicapped spaces are protected by law. HE was parked illegally and was guilty of "kidnapping" if he had someone blocked into a space against his will. Rickey, show this to the police chief and demand that Reading be dealt with and please report the outcome to your readers. Reading is not above the law, and this is evidence of his contempt for the law and taxpayers.
Mr Reading seems to have a problem with understanding how he got into office, I bet everyone who voted for him wasn't dressed in a shirt & tie at the polls, he needs to understand that he was elected to represent THE PEOPLE he works for THE PEOPLE. Critism of the people you work for can have bad effects down the road. There's an an old saying that he might keep in mind." Be careful of the toes you step on, cause they might be connected to the butt you'll have to kiss at a later date!" Mr Reading has always been an idiot I don't really understand how he got elected anyway. I'm glad the Mayor stepped in and got things rolling again.