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<br />
<br />one beyond the scope of land-use planning.
<br />However, those interested in the day-to-day
<br />operations of day labor centers can find links
<br />and citations to further reading atthe end of the
<br />article.
<br />
<br />CONTROVERSi ~.ND MYTHS
<br />The polarizing debate around immigration
<br />casts a long shadow over the issue of day
<br />labor. It is impossible to discuss worker cen-
<br />ters without briefly addressing some of the
<br />more pervasive and offensive myths surround- ,
<br />ing worker centers. City staff, officials, and day
<br />labor advocates must undertake public out-
<br />reach concurrent with the establishment of a
<br />worker center in order to deflate these myths,
<br />so everyone can move on to substantive
<br />issues ratherthan getting tangled in a thicket
<br />of rhetoric and misinformation.
<br />
<br />ftlly"th #1; Worker (~n~crs promote Hiegal
<br />
<br />immigration
<br />
<br />Contrary to the assertions of some anti-immi-
<br />grant groups, the majority of immigrant day
<br />laborers do not know about worker centers, let
<br />alone day labor, when they first arrive in the
<br />United States. According to the National Day
<br />Labor Survey conducted in 2006,78 percent
<br />of immigrant day laborers learned of the prac-
<br />tice once they were in the country (Valenzuela
<br />et a12006, p. 18). Moreover, when someone
<br />begins work as a day laborer, he* often shows
<br />up at an informal corner, and only becomes
<br />aware of the center through fellow workers or
<br />through the outreach efforts of worker center
<br />staff. Finally, not all day laborers are undocu-
<br />mented. Seven percent were born in the
<br />United States, and nearly double that number
<br />are legal immigrants. (ibid.)
<br />
<br />At a local level, day
<br />
<br />J b . .-r-
<br />la' or cemers OTTer
<br />
<br />I r l ~
<br />nope wr p anner::,
<br />
<br />.. f" . 1 I
<br />aLlempllng TO oatance
<br />
<br />day laborers' need
<br />
<br />~ , '
<br />TOr employment
<br />against the vvider
<br />
<br />.., , . r . ,
<br />communrry's ImereST
<br />
<br />'In '," a' I
<br />maimalnlng or. eLY
<br />
<br />appearances and
<br />
<br />,;-r" r,
<br />TrarriC 5areT~v.
<br />
<br />Myth #2: bVorker centers engage in !..miamrful
<br />
<br />act!V~ty by empioyhlg iHegat immigrants
<br />
<br />Unlike temporary agencies, worker centers do
<br />not employ day laborers: They help match day
<br />laborers with employers, who pay the workers
<br />for their services directly. Worker centers are
<br />therefore not required by federal law to check
<br />on immigration status; instead,. it is the
<br />responsibility of employers to make sure that
<br />the individuals they hire are eligible to work,
<br />as well as pay taxes and contribute to social
<br />security, unemployment, and disability funds.'
<br />Staff members also make the argument
<br />that, without their worker centers, the same,
<br />transactions would still happen between day
<br />laborers and employers, but they would be
<br />more likely to result in abuse of workers.
<br />Existing labor laws clearly state that illegal
<br />immigrants are entitled to the same labor pro-
<br />tections as other workers; consequently, cen-
<br />
<br />ters that help workers collect unpaid wages
<br />without regard to immigration status are pro-
<br />moting the rule of law.
<br />
<br />Myth #3: Day laborers abuse drugs and alco-
<br />
<br />nOl 2nd commit crimes
<br />
<br />No study has ever been able to directly attrib-
<br />ute increased criminal activity to day laborers.
<br />Nearly all evidence cited by day labor oppo-
<br />nents is circumstantial, and often no docu-
<br />mentation is offered to back up allegations,
<br />When there is a real problem, the culprits are
<br />often unrelated substance users and criminals
<br />who use the anonY1!1ity offered by the large
<br />crowd of workers to engagein violence and
<br />disorder, sometimes preying on day laborers
<br />themselves. Nevertheless, occasionally there
<br />are workers with substance abuse problems
<br />or who engage in criminal activity. Fortunately,
<br />nearly all worker centers ,have rules specifi-
<br />cally prohibiting these activities that are
<br />enforced by on-site staff, which increases
<br />their appeal from a public safety perspective.
<br />In fact, some centers regularly work with local
<br />law enforcement officials to address any prob-
<br />lems that arise.
<br />
<br />ivlyth #-4: There iftfHl be no fiiore day Laborers
<br />5~anciing on S~Teet corners once the ~orker
<br />
<br />cen~ei ODens
<br />
<br />For several reasons, even the best situated
<br />and administered worker center will not com-
<br />pletely eliminate informal day labor corners.
<br />In most communities, new day laborers arrive
<br />regularly, often without knowing about or
<br />immediately trusting the worker center. For
<br />that reason, center staff need to conduct out-
<br />reach regularly to inform new arrjvals about
<br />the center and encourage them to use its
<br />
<br />ZONINGPR.".CT1G 9.07
<br />AMERICAN PLANNING P5S0CIATION 6'9' 3
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