ICE was Here

About 10 days ago, ICE was reportedly in Montecito and detained several hardworking gardeners on Hot Springs Road — individuals who are not criminals. This has raised serious concerns in the community.

Separately, the ongoing construction, particularly with the new roundabouts, is creating significant safety issues. The traffic flow and congestion are becoming increasingly dangerous for residents, pedestrians, and workers alike.

Given these developments, is there still an opportunity to commission a new safety study to help prevent further development in the area? Many of us are hoping we still have a fighting chance to preserve the character and safety of our neighborhood.

Susan Josephson We Can Stop  Immigration Today!

There has been an outcry for the Courts and Congress to curb the Administration’s actions on Immigration with arguments stressing that these actions are unconstitutional or immoral. I am tired of exhorting others to act when We the People can stop Immigration in its tracks! These actions are simple, immediate and based on data. All we have to do is:

STOP eating fruit and vegetables: est. 50% of agricultural workers in CA are undocumented 

STOP eating chicken, beef and pork: est. 23+% of meatpacking/processing workers are undocumented 

STOP buying homes: est. 26% of construction laborers in CA are undocumented workers 

STOP dining out (or wash your own dishes): est.10-40% of kitchen laborers are undocumented

STOP going to hotels or bring your own sheets and clean your own toilets: est. 20-30% of hospitality cleaning staff are undocumented (especially in budget hotels)

START doing the care yourself for your loved ones in nursing homes or in need of home healthcare: est. 8-15% of home health aides and nursing assistants are undocumented. This number does not include many home health aides hired privately, and there is a huge shortage of healthcare aides as baby boomers age. 

START paying more taxes: In 2022, undocumented immigrant households paid close to $90 billion in federal, state, and local taxes and held $299 billion in spending power. They also paid $25.7 billion in Social Security taxes, $6.4 billion in Medicare taxes, and $1.8 billion in unemployment insurances in 2022, programs for which they are ineligible.

START saving for the rising costs you will pay for food, housing, healthcare etc. in losing undocumented workers (https://tinyurl.com/JECSenateDeport)

So, the Power is in Our Hands! We can take the actions above or, as a wise saying suggests: 

“Don’t bite the hand the feeds you”  

Dorothy Largay