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Pickers can't afford event honoring them
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Karen Quincy Loberg / Star staff Juvenal Solano, 22, a strawberry picker from Oxnard, can't afford to attend Oxnard's Strawberry Festival, which says it honors farmworkers. He's at the United Farm Workers of America office in Oxnard on Wednesday.
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More from BusinessJuvenal Solano has been picking strawberries in the Oxnard Plain for five years, but he has never been to the California Strawberry Festival.
The 22-year-old said he can't afford the $12 ticket.
Farmworkers like Solano are largely absent from the annual festival that is supposed to honor those in the industry, some advocacy group officials say
Last weekend's festival, which drew more than 65,000 people to Oxnard's College Park, offers discounts to seniors and the military, and distributes thousands of free tickets. There is no ticket program for farmworkers, according to Oxnard Councilman Dean Maulhardt, who chaired this year's event.
"One of the biggest issues is that the majority of pickers can't even afford to get into the festival," said Ester Marie Dominguez, regional director for the United Farm Workers of America in Oxnard.
"They can't take part in something they are such a big part of," she said.
Jeffrey Ponting, an attorney with California Rural Legal Assistance in Oxnard, said he believes farmworkers should play a greater role in the festival.
"Those strawberries don't just pop out of the ground into those baskets," he said.
Maulhardt said the festival has "never excluded anybody from participating," adding that some farmworkers take part in the activities of some nonprofits at the festival.
The event has generated a lot of money over the years for scholarships that go to children of farmworkers, he added.
At the festival, there were no displays about the men and women who pick strawberries or faces of them in the program.
Dominguez said the festival should give farmworkers a discount and provide visitors an understanding of the pickers' living and working conditions.
"That would show respect," she said.
No one has ever requested a discount for the pickers, said Bonnie Weigel, the festival's manager, adding that she would take up the issue with the festival board.
Even though he couldn't afford to attend the festival, Solano did not complain about it.
His focus is on making ends meet on $400 a week. He shares a place with two other men, buys only the basics and sends money to help his parents in Oaxaca, Mexico.
"I hardly have anything left over," he said.
Even though he has made little financial progress in the past five years, Solano said he is better off in the United States than in Mexico. There's no work in Oaxaca, he said. And he still cherishes the dream of saving enough money to return to Mexico someday and open a business.
According to Rural Legal Assistance's Ponting, the average strawberry picker in the county makes $12,000 for nine to 10 months of work a year. Some make more by traveling to other parts of the state during the local off-season.
The average hourly wage of farmworkers is $9.11, said Patrick Joyce of the California Employment Development Department.
That includes the piece wage paid per box of fruit. Strawberry pickers get $1.30 to $1.60 for each eight- to 12-pound box.
The typical strawberry picker is in his 20s or 30s and stays in the industry 10 to 12 years, said Matt Conroy, operations manager for Conroy Farms, which employs nearly 300 people.
Many of the new pickers are from the Mexican state of Oaxaca and about 70 percent are not U.S. citizens, Ponting said.
Strawberries exceed all other crops in Ventura County, with sales of $366.3 million in 2006, the latest available figure.
Farmworkers in Ventura County generally fare better than those in other parts of California because there are more eyes on them here, he said. Still, he said, his office remains busy dealing with violations of workers' rights.
"It's hard work," said Conroy, who knows from personal experience because his dad used to make him pick crops when he misbehaved as a child. "My hat is off to most of these people."
For some, farm work is the first rung in the American economic ladder.
Last Sunday, Jaime Lugo drove 62 miles from Los Angeles to attend the festival with his wife and four children. He said it was their first time and they enjoyed it.
Lugo, a driver for UPS, said he considers himself middle class. But he admitted that he might not be where he is today if his Mexican parents had not worked many years in the fields to give him a better life.
It cost his family $39 to get into the festival. "If I was on minimum wage, I might think twice," Lugo said.
Posted by AnnaWhaat on May 24, 2008 at 7:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Yeah if its in thier honor they should recieve a discount at the very least.
Posted by dwilson on May 24, 2008 at 8:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The festival is not in their honor. Never was. This article is about migrant rights, not the festival. A worthy subject but lets not drag the festival into it. The festival has always been about fun for the community. It's grown beyond Oxnard and gotten too big in my opinion, but definitely not about a specific group. Why do people want to make everything a civil rights issue?
Posted by RedTail on May 24, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, I would like to believe the various festivals such as Conejo Valley Days and the Ventura County Fair are in my honor as a resident, taxpayer and longtime community volunteer, but I don't go because I think they are too expensive as well.
That is just how things work.
Posted by 50_years_in_Snard on May 24, 2008 at 9:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That is the stupidest contrived issue I've ever read. Gimmee, Gimmee, Gimmee.
Posted by jill on May 24, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's see. Learn English, go to school, get a better job and then pay to get into the Strawberry Festival! Other "immigrants" manage to do it.
Posted by just_a_thought on May 24, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Interesting that he makes enough U.S. money to "sends money to help his parents in Oaxaca, Mexico" but he doesn't keep 20 bucks of that, once a year, to go to the Strawberry Festival (which, up until I read this article, I had no idea was put on solely to recognize the people who pick the fruit!). I would tend to believe that if this young man had any desire to attend this annual event, he would!
This article shows me that there are always people looking for a new band wagon to jump on.
Posted by teesdin on May 24, 2008 at 11:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)
And people wonder why our economy is doing a nosedive. Billions of dollars paid in the US and shipped out of the country every year, with nothing going back into the economy.
To top it off they are here illegally. And do not try saying that the article 'didn't say he was illegal'. really, just don't bother.
Posted by reporterguy on May 24, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm the reporter who wrote this story. I wrote that the festival is supposed to honor "those in the industry." I did not write that the festival is supposed to honor strawberry pickers exclusively. The plain meaning of the word "those" is farmers, farmworkers, wholesalers, retailers, and others involved in the industry. jlsanchezjr@venturacountystar.com
Posted by Face on May 24, 2008 at 1:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Uh, this is a Strawberry Festival, not a Strawberry Picker Festival. Proceeds go to give their kids a chance at an education, that should be enough you think?
Posted by jill on May 24, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I love how they've got the profile of the guy looking up with Cesar Chavez in the background. Oh, so dramatic. Please spare me! If you don't like it here, go back to Mexico where you are a citizen. Oh, yeah. I forgot. You can't make a living there. I'm sick of this crap.
Posted by Face on May 24, 2008 at 4:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
High Society is a pig, gets free tickets and throws them away when Hilario the fruit picker could use them. How bourgeois!
Posted by sickofsimi on May 24, 2008 at 9:51 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow... To read the comments related to this article, you'd think that most of the readers of the VC Star are white-bread, racist, elitist, ignorant, uneducated hicks!
Oh wait, they are.
Posted by McLovin420 on May 25, 2008 at 12:33 a.m. (Suggest removal)
are you kidding me??? You're lucky enough to live in a country to have a job, and the option of either a)sending money home, or b) going to the damn festival.
You chose a).... Thanks for your efforts, they're delicious! Don't look for a hand out, you have a job, and a choice.... Pay to go to the festival like the rest of us.... or don't go!
For those of you who chose to make this a race issue..... The Cajun Festival is in Simi Valley this weekend ;)
Posted by iproducer4u on May 25, 2008 at 9:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Danfuga, you took the words right out of my mouth!! Half of them are probably relatives of those who chose to abuse the cheap labor, but yet forget about it and sit here to grip about the stories!! Its so easy to say send them all back to Mexico, but if that were to happen, they`d all be here eating their words, not knowing who would pamper them and do all those labor intense chores!!! Ive never seen where it says the fest honors anyone, but I was there on Sunday and even their headliner artist, Sheila E. said out loud to the crowd during her performance, "Where are all the people who work hard everyday picking the strawberries, raise your hands" and not one hand went up, I think she was miss informed. She did look a little embarrased, but it was felt in the crowd and you could over hear everyone repeating the same thing that is was to expensive for them to attend!!
Posted by RedTail on May 25, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm thinking if you allow all the pickers to go for free, where do you draw the line? Will they want free food there as well, because after all, they did pick the strawberries (and I'm sure the food isn't cheap there)? Will they want their entire families go for free as well? If they can't pay for themselves, they probably can't pay for their entire families. Will others in the industry want to go for free? Such as packers, etc.?
Posted by gopicker1 on May 26, 2008 at 7:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I commend the pickers. They should all be allowed into the festival for free. If it is to honor them then so be it.
I drive by these people everyday and never see a young white or black teenager trying to get a job as a picker.
If the Mexican pickers are content with their jobs then great. Give them a ticket to a festival where the industry makes hundreds of millions of dollars off of their sweat and toil.
These workers certainly are not taking a job away from the Ventura County's spoiled young adults. They are too busy listening to their ipods, playing electronic games, and giving their parents a hard time.
The negative comments on this topic are terrible. Where is the heart of the Ventura County residents? You know for a fact you would never stoop so low as to get down on your hands and knees and pick anything. Let's honor these workers. Give them all tickets.
Posted by teesdin on May 26, 2008 at 3:04 p.m. (Suggest removal)
gopicker1 said:
I drive by these people everyday and never see a young white or black teenager trying to get a job as a picker.
um that is the point. The illegals have driven down the pay scale so badly that there is no incentive for any legal citizen to work there. The only ones making money here are the disgusting farm owners; disgusting for hiring illegals and disgusting for killing the economy.
If you looked at the big picture, you'd see that when jobs open and competition rises, the pay and economy does as well. That's what capitalism is for. When you throw out all of the rules and hire illegal immigrants that have no place here and work for nothing just because it is more than they'd made at home, the system cannot work. Minimum wage rules are irrelevant as well as explaining the reasons you don't see LEGAL citizens there. Legal citizens can work in [shrinking] other industries for the same pay. Take away the aforementioned illegal practices and you will see the jobs magically filled.
Are you that ignorant yourself to really think that 'white' people won't take these jobs? That is the most pathetic and overused line ever imagined. Somehow 'white' people managed to plant and harvest crops by themselves before, somehow I have a feeling us 'white' people can figure it out again.
Posted by ironwoman on May 26, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Is this article for real?
Posted by teesdin on May 26, 2008 at 7:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)
sadly I think so
why? I have no idea
very newsworthy news and competent objective reporters
Posted by getreal on May 26, 2008 at 7:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)
maybe we should give every minimum wage worker in the county a discount then. No one is forcing these people to do this job and honestly we shouldn't be hiring illegals anyways! And to then send his money to Mexico and say he doesn't have enough? Well, then keep your money in the country you earned it and you might have enough.
Posted by ironwoman on May 26, 2008 at 8:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I didn't realize that the Strawberry Festival was in honor of the pickers. I thought it was because our County was known for its Strawberry Fields....ie. Gilroy and garlic. The Avocado Festival in Santa Cruz (is it Santa Cruz?) and the Citrus Festival in Santa Paula.
So since when is the Strawberry Festival in honor of the pickers?
My goodness. What is next?
This article should be titled "Sense of Entitlement".
Posted by imbetnonit on May 26, 2008 at 10:41 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Boo Hoo, I can't afford to go either.
Posted by Will on May 27, 2008 at 8:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
No doubt they hate the smell of strawberries and do not want to go to the festival. Probably they are prudent enough to SAVE their hard earned money for something else they value more than going to the festival.
Posted by getreal on May 27, 2008 at 11:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
My thoughts exactly Bruce. I'm tired of hearing the poor me sob story from "minorities". What I want to know is why schools are allowed to have the MECCA club abd BSU. If I were to start a WSU or caucasion club that would be racist would it not? Why the special programs for others. They complain they want equality but strive to remain segrated at the same time then complain all along the way. I've had enough. You want special clubs? Well so do I. You want special housing handed to you for making minimum wage? Well so do I. Let's really get back to equality if thats what the "minorites" want.
Posted by BeaHappi on May 27, 2008 at 12:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"The plain meaning of the word "those" is farmers, farmworkers, wholesalers, retailers, and others involved in the industry."
Thanks for the clarification. If that's the case, then shouldn't discounts be available for all who are involved with the industry? Heck, I buy and eat strawberries so doesn't that make me involved in the industry too?
When does this stuff stop? I love the point made by just_a_thought that Mr. Solano can't afford to attend the festival (supporting this economy) but does send money to his family in Mexico (supporting that economy). Totally his right to do that but we all make choices in how to spend our money.
The Strawberry Festival is here every year folks...save $2 per month and you can get into the festival and have yourself a treat.
Posted by FedUp on May 27, 2008 at 12:26 p.m. (Suggest removal)
last time I checked, the festival was not to honor the pickers of the fruit. it was honoring the area which is know for strawberries.
seriously, $12 is a rip-off for that festival though. the food inside is expensive and crappy anyways.
I am sorry there is no work in Oaxaca, but does that mean there is no work in any Mexican city? you have to come here to get work?
$9/hr is more than minimum wage. perhaps the festival can give free tickets to the busboys, waiters, dishwashers, bellman, etc, etc for next years festival.
this is just another "woe is me" article written by the Red STAR, looking to drum up more sympathy for the plight of the ILLEGAL ALIENS who are invading this country.
(and yes, I do believe it is our governments fault for how bad it is)
Posted by BeaHappi on May 27, 2008 at 12:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)
FedUp...I totally agree with everything in your post.
And the responsibility for fixing the illegal immigration problem lays entirely with our government.
Our chain-gang plan is just waiting in the wings...that is who can pick the produce and for even less than $9/hour! I think the prisoner workers in Arizona' tent city get about 50 cents per hour or less for the community jobs they do.
It's a win-win.
Posted by FedUp on May 27, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
the chain gang thing is such a perfect idea. but sadly, the ACLU would be all over it, as being inhumane to those who would be on it. :(
Posted by BeaHappi on May 27, 2008 at 12:40 p.m. (Suggest removal)
FedUp...I know, you're right but being the democratic society that we are we could put it to a vote...with the prisoners.
Sample Ballot - please pick one:
1)Outside, fresh air, earning some $$ and points towards good behavior.
2)Inside your cell or in prison yard, with other lazy criminals, possibly getting in a fight over God knows what and tacking time onto your sentence.
Please vote now...
Posted by FedUp on May 27, 2008 at 12:48 p.m. (Suggest removal)
haha! that was a good one Bea.
I would bet it would be a 50/50 split though.
Posted by BeaHappi on May 27, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay, well those who voted for "outside" would get to go. That way we'd only have willing participants. Thus, nothing for the ACLU to whine about.
Again, win/win.
Boy, I hope that our county and state officials are reading some of these ideas. Between all of us we can come up with some decent solutions.
Posted by FedUp on May 27, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree. and I am still waiting for you to run for governor!
Posted by getreal on May 27, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm in!
Posted by Mr_E_Man on May 27, 2008 at 4 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Here's a thought. What would happen if the Strawberry Festival didn't have an entrance fee?
Since most of the products being sold there are targeted to a higher income crowd, does the city want to reduced the number of attendees that don't shop for overpriced street fair products? If so, the $12 fee is a good way to go.
On the other hand, if the event is a community event, 12 bucks is the absolute wrong way to go.
The real kicker here is that organizers like to act like this is a "community event," but market specifically to people outside the area. After all, it's not the "Oxnard" Strawberry Festival anymore.
Well guess what... There are a great many locals who would be perfectly happy if this crappy excuse for a community event just went the way of the dodo bird so that we could start over again with an ag event that actually catered to the local community.
So it's not just the migrant workers who think the festival is a waste of time and money.
Posted by mamaof2 on May 27, 2008 at 4:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I can't believe some of the comments you people are making on here! In the article anywhere did it say that the workers are complaining? NO it said they werent. I make well over $9/hr and I cant even afford to go to the strawberry festival so I can understand these workers not being able to afford it. All you people against illegals need to realize most of use wouldn't even be here if it weren't for our realtives coming to the states unless you are full blooded native american! At one point someone from your blood line was an immigrant. And why is it any of your business if he sends his money to his family in Mexico, dont tell me if your mom was poor and living out of this country you would not do whatever you can to help her out and pass up going to the strawberry festival once a year? I say give them discounts, union workers and other variuos workers get disocounts off of theme park tickets and movie tickets why not give them at least $2 off per ticket? They'll probably get more people coming to the strawberry festival this way, not like they need it. Seriously you people are ignorant...
Posted by BeaHappi on May 27, 2008 at 5:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mamaof2...you're right; it's none of our business what anyone does with their money. But once the information is shared in an article that is available for the public to read...well we can comment on whatever we want. Mr. Solano's parents would probably be okay with the son sending $20 less to them so that he could attend the festival if he wanted to.
And even if they didn't complain about it those profiled in the article still agreed to be in the article; the purpose of this article is still in question in my mind. If not to invoke sympathy, then what?
My point is that there are plenty of people who don't earn a good living who might like to attend the festival and why not offer discounts to all of them? Since we're so concerned about things being equitable.
If you support ILLEGAL immigration and don't think that it's a problem, then you are the one who is ignorant.
Personally I could care less if the organizers made the festival free for everyone. I stopped attending when it was moved from the beach to the field.
Posted by keepermel on May 28, 2008 at 5:43 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Mamaof2, If you can't see the difference between LEGAL Immigration and Illegal immigration YOU are the ignorant one as BeaHappi stated above! I know of many people who have immigrated from other countris who have done it the correct and legal way, and guess what? They learned English, they fly American Flags, and are VERY proud to call themselves Americans! JUST AMERICANS! No dashes or anything else. They dive in with both feet and commit to our country. No one foot in the U.S. and one foot back in their country. As far as the article above....I work VERY hard for my money and there is none left over for savings or emergencies. I can't set any aside for college for my kids or even more education for myself. The government takes so much of my hard earned money to pay for all of these discounts, handouts, intitlments that illegals get, that there is nothing left for me to do any of those things. So when an article states just how upside down things are....YES it makes me mad. To even write an article on this seems stupid! Just because you work in an industry does not mean you are intitled to anything involving that industry. That would not fly for anyone else. I build buildings....I should then get free rent in any of the buildings that I have participated in building? I worked really hard....rent is too exspensive...come on PLEASE!!! Poor me...
Posted by keepermel on May 28, 2008 at 11:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The festival does not "Honor" the workers.....it keeps them employed. It is good business for the farm owners.
Posted by Face on May 28, 2008 at 6:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Plenty of money for liquor and tobacco though right?
Posted by gopicker1 on May 28, 2008 at 9:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I like the idea of using prisoners to do the picking. However, why stop at just picking? Let's have them work other jobs as well. Maybe painters, construction, auto workers, busboys, waiters, etc., etc., etc.
If you pay them $5.00 per hour. half of it should go to pay for their incarceration as well.
I doubt if this idea would fly with the various labor unions. What it would turn out to be is legal slavery.
OR ... want a job? Get busted and go to prison. Then let the prisoners bring in their families too.
NO folks ... it sounds like a good idea having the convicts do it but it will never happen. Maybe picking up bottles and cans along the freeways, which is done in many communities... but have them pick fruit? Nope. Won't fly.
I would like the name of one young person from Ventura County who applied for the job of strawberry picker. Just one, please.
If the Mexican workers did not pick the fruit it would spoil in the fields.
Just look at the idea of using prisoners. If you are without a job and really hungry you would do anything to eat. We are just too spoiled around here to get down on our hands and kness for anything.
Pickers unite. Long live the pickers.
Posted by moralygray on May 29, 2008 at 1:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
This seemed to be a very good article, but apparently no one here seemes to know what it is actually about. I noticed that althought the article mentions that 70% of the pickers are not legal citizen, it does not say whether Mr Solano is here legaly or not, So just assuming he is an illegal is really not fair. It is as unfair as anyone assuming just because most to the commentors on this site make seemingly racist remarks, that they must all be part of the KKK? Wrong! It really bothers me when people try to make this a race issue, what ever side of that coin you are. I realize it is hard to do when you have such rediculous comments as Teesdin's "white people planted & harvested they're own crops before & they can figure it out again"...Um? that is because they did not plant & harvest they're own crops before...Um, they use to have slaves for that, or is teesdin saying maybe we should bring back slavery? Then there is the comment of sickofsimi's "whitebread racist, ignorant, uneducated, hicks". Wrong, you have no idea who is behind the comment, so to just assume they are white is asinine. I have met plenty of uneducated, ignorant, brown, yellow & black people who make the same kind of comments that have angered you so. Also all of the "white" people I know are kind, generous, educated & are actually supportive of the immigrants (legal or illega) because they know it is not a race issue, it is the have's vs the have not's issue. They know that blamming the most disadvantaged in our country for the problems in our country is just plain STUPID! Finally I would like to finish by saying I can afford to go to the Strawberry Festival & I can even afford to pay for all of you, but to pay $12.00 to fight traffic, suffer the heat & kicked up dust, & then get gouged again at every booth...Well, that really is a BIG RIP OFF! Truth is even if it was affortable, I still don't think I would pay for any of you. Fact is I think you are all nothing more than fecal matter rapped in human skin...I guess that means I don't like you...please don't feel too bad, I am sure you can not help being what you are, so just go on. Be happy terds in the sun and live & let live.
Posted by keepermel on May 29, 2008 at 5:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
AGAIN....for the slow people.....Anti Illegal DOES NOT mean racist!!!!!!! Good Lord!!! Is that the only argument you people have when it comes to the facts...because we don't seem to hear anything else from you guys. NO ONE wants to stop people from following the American dream and making a better life....LEGALLY!
Posted by ironwoman on May 29, 2008 at 7:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Moralgray- How do people make this a race issue? Hmmmmmmm. Most of the pickers are one race. Duh. I am Mexican myself but I don't agree that I should use my race or low-paying job to get free rides and hand-outs.
Nothing is free so Mr. Solano in the picture needs to realize that if he wants the better things in life, he needs to go back to school, get a College Education and figure out how he's going to afford next year's Strawberry Festival. He has plenty of time to start saving.
I know plenty of people right now that aren't going out to dinner as much because of the price of gas, and saving for their kid's college.
So get over it. Life is what you make it.
Posted by teesdin on May 29, 2008 at 7:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
keepermel,
Yes! I couldn't agree more. Every post I make I even always say that same line just to attempt to save people from bothering with that 'racist' remark. But it doesn't matter.
For whatever reason, most people in this country or actually I should say just the southwest have no argument except to just throw the word RACIST around like it's the flu. Like you said, there is NOTHING, repeat NOTHING 'racist' about taking a political stance against ILLEGAL immigrants that are in our country ILLEGALLY. Has nothing to do with racism whatsoever. People obviously don't even understand what the term means anymore, which is very sad.
I also think part of the problem and misunderstanding that people have is that in this part of the country, the Southwest: the ILLEGAL immigrants come here are OVERWHELMINGLY from South America and broken down even more, from Mexico. We very rarely have to deal with illegals from Italy, Cuba, Sudan, Pakistan, and so on. Of course there are most likely some illegals here from those countries, but it is such a small number that it's not something we run into every minute like we do with the Mexican illegals.
That is just pure scientific statistical fact, as much as we know that the sky is blue! To deny this is just ignorant, foolish and uneducated. These statistics aren't pulled from some pharmaceutical company looking to push their own agenda by sifting through the data to find pieces that fit what they need. We have accurate data on immigration trends that plainly show that in esp. Southwestern US states, there is an enormous number of ILLEGAL immigrants living here. It also shows that the huge majority of those illegals came from South America, namely Mexico. And even more, any margin of error would make those statistics on the LOWEST side of the true numbers of illegals because of the fact that they are illegal, making it impossible to track them all.
So no matter how you look at it, the SW USA and other states that are only starting to see a problem with the illegals here migrating north & east, there are undeniable & undebatable statistics that show that our country IS indeed being 'overrun' by ILLEGAL immigrants. They are here ILLEGALLY. They deserve NO rights. Mexican, Sudanese, Italian, whatever I believe they ALL should be deported.
And I think that most people here who are also against ILLEGAL immigration would probably agree with my post. Point being that there is absolutely NOTHING being said that makes ANY of us 'racist'. Taking a stance on ILLEGAL immigration is no more racist than taking a stance on gun control or Medicare benefit coverage. Please think about this before labeling people with logical and differing views than your own as 'racist' because it doesn't add up whatsoever.
Posted by BeaHappi on May 29, 2008 at 9:19 a.m. (Suggest removal)
moralygray wrote:
"Fact is I think you are all nothing more than fecal matter rapped in human skin...I guess that means I don't like you...please don't feel too bad, I am sure you can not help being what you are, so just go on. Be happy terds in the sun and live & let live."
I find it ironic that in one breath you call people "fecal matter rapped in human skin" and in the next tell people to "live and let live."
I don't think that staying up late at night posting on-line brings out the best in you. Or maybe it does which is even scarier. I'm okay with you not liking me; actually it's kind of a compliment.
And BTW, it's WRAPPED, not RAPPED.
Posted by mamaof2 on May 29, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok since everyone thinks no one should get a discount, lets take away the seniors and military, why should they get one?
Posted by keepermel on May 29, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
WOW mamaof2.....you honestly can't see why the military deserve discounts?!? How about they get payed very little to go risk their lives for our freedom.....and way to many of them actually give those lives. They have EARNED at least a discount for just about everything. As for seniors I do not have as much of an argument becasue there is no way to prove they have been putting into the system, but I do believe some respect is due for the seniors of our society.
Posted by keepermel on May 29, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Another thing....those senior discounts are for ALL seniors. It is not broken down into different groups of seniors getting different things because they are feeling intitled. EVERYONE who lives long enough qualifies...not just one group or another.
Posted by mamaof2 on May 29, 2008 at 2:58 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Exactly my point keepermel! Military get discounts off of alot of things and they get to shop at the commisary and NEX and not have to pay taxes, that is part of there benefits for there line of duty. I work for an insurance company the benefit of that is I get full medical beinifits without having to pay a dime.
This strawberry festival is suppose to be in honor of our agricultural heritage, a tribute to the local harvest and its WORKERS. It says so on the festival site. I am pretty sure vendors and sponsors and other people who are involved in the strawberry festival get discounts or free tickets so why not give the workers a discount.
My last post was not to bash the military or seniors and say they dont deserve it I'm just making a point to those of you who do not think the workers should get discounts. Am I the only one who thinks this way?
Posted by getreal on May 29, 2008 at 4:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Umm, the military pays taxes, just not on items purchased at the NEX. The strawberry festival is to honor the STRAWBERRY, thats all, the fruit. Not the workers, not the fields, the strawberries. As per the Strawberry festival flyer itself, "a tribute to the tasty fruit that wears its seeds on the outside." No where does it mention to honor illegals, field workers, supervisors, agriculture, nope none of that. To honor the STRAWBERRY.
Posted by BeaHappi on May 29, 2008 at 4:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Okay, here is some interesting information about the proceeds from the festival and how they are used to benefit the community:
Over the past three decades, the celebration has earned ranking among the nation's top outdoor Festivals, with close to $2 million benefiting 20-plus southland charities, while annual scholarships for children of field workers range in the multiple thousands, a $25,000 endowment scholarship at California State University Channel Islands is completely funded and stipends for services along with Capital Club annual membership, offer involvement for individuals and businesses large and small. Any reserve funds available after securing the operational budget for the next Festival are returned to the community - an additional $50,000 in grants was awarded to 23 charitable groups from the 2005 celebration.
So the families of farmworkers do benefit from this event.
Posted by mamaof2 on May 29, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"Since the Festival's inception in 1984, the founders sought to create an exceptional event that paid tribute to the prized local harvest and its workers while increasing tourism in the area and bolstering civic pride." "With a mission of benefiting the community and honoring our agricultural heritage, the California Strawberry Festival is a non-profit 501©(3) organization run by an all-volunteer board."These are direct quotes from the website. The strawberry festival is not just a tribute to only them but is also held to raise money for a variety of orginazations. Maybe you should of read a little more getreal, lol.
Posted by BeaHappi on May 29, 2008 at 5:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's just give discounts to anyone who works in the fields, the packing houses, the distribution warehouses, grocery stores (produce deparment workers), checkers (they ring up the strawberries), and consumers who buy strawberries.
I think it's cool that so much of the $$ from the festival is given back to the community. That is a good thing!
Posted by moralygray on May 30, 2008 at 1:03 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well, well it seems that today there were a few more commentors that actually had some resonable ideas to share. "Beahappi" sincerly thank you for the correction on the hole "Rappet" vs "Wrapped" typo...Oh um, catlover how did people make this a race issue, did you not read the comments of say Sickofsimi who said "whitebread, racist,ignorant, uneducated, hicks", if those are not racist comments then I suppose you consider them terms of endearment. As for the whole "LEGAL!!!" vs "ILLEGAL!!!" issue goes...Yes indeed it is true, physically crossing a boundry to enter this country without permission is in fact "ILLEGAL!!!". That is indeed the "LAW". Just the same the only thing this from of criminalization accomplishes is that a certain faction of our society has a leagal means with which to support the oppression of the most disadvantaged and poor. I know many "Illegal Aliens" personally. I have never known any of them to be on the government "tit" as they say. Fact is they all work really hard, pay taxes. Yes thier paychecks do have Taxes withheld, which is one of the many ways they keep under the radar (that particular bone to pick you should take up with your government). They pay taxes every time they make purchases, gas up thier cars, buy food etc. I have never heard any of them express anyform of "ENTITLEMENT". If I were in thier shoes, giving the choices of staying somewhere and possibly starving to death & having my family suffer sever hardships or deciding to break a law by crossing a border to survive...Well now that choice is easy. Waiting for the mountainous bureaucratic process for applying for that permission, while your family starves is obsurd. In my line of work I interact with many families that are on welfare. All of them are "CITIZENS". All of them are born & raised here. They all have learned to work the system & get on that government "tit". I know of several families that are very well off, but have drug addicted offspring, & they have used thier influences to get their little miscreant on social security. I know of whole families that generation upon generation have learned how to get on SSI or Disability & thier is nothing wrong with them other than they are just plain lazy. I know of one family that even kicked out one of their sons, because he failed to convinces a psychiatrist that he was mentally ill, so he did not qualify for his Disability or SSI. No Income, so he was "OUT"! If they spent half of the energy they do getting on welfare, they might actually have a better shot at having a better life. You tell me who the real burden on our society is here. Criminalizing crossing the border without permission is "ILLEGAL" no doubt about it, but it dose not change the fact that even a "LEGAL" form of oppression is still "IMMORAL & EVIL".
Posted by daugtherofimmigrant on May 30, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
LOL!! I still get tickled by how upset and angry commenters can get when the subject of farm laborers, immigrants or illegals comes up, then everyone starts attacking everyone else commenting. If you read the article I believe the 3rd paragraph says that thousands of free tickets are distributed and oddly enough none go to the farm workers. So who are they going to that deserve them more than they do? I am not saying they should all go to them, but hey why not hand them a few? If they are handing free tickets out why not a couple to those who actually pick those strawberries.
The article also says that "even though Solano couldn't attend, he wasn't complaining about it" Did you guys miss that part?
The story was going to be written, so of course they had to find a farm worker who didnt go and they had to ask him why he didn't attend?
Some of you are already attacking the poor guy wanting to send him back to Mex? Geesh! Chill!
Hell, I had a few people ask me if I went and my answer was always the same, "I can't afford it I have bills to pay", where are you going to send me? I would love to go to Mexico the beaches are wonderful, but I can't afford that either, Airline prices are in sane. If my priority was to by a case of beer rather than go to the festival than more power to me! I had to throw that in because one of the comments above said they could surely afford going to AM PM but couldn't afford the festival? WTF??? You don't even know this guy and you already saying he would rather go to AM PM??
I guess the point of the story was "we are giving out free tickets to Strawberry festival but none go those who pick them" I am sure those who organized the festival have to pay 12.00 bucks to get in right, just like their family and friends? LOL!!!
On another note, this commenting thing is really a stress reliever, I can complain and complain, hate on everyone and anything, this is better than the old car at the Fillmore fair (back in the 90's), you paid a buck and hit the car with the bat as many times as you felt necessary. TGIF!!
Posted by BeaHappi on May 30, 2008 at 12:31 p.m. (Suggest removal)
daugtherofimmigrant...I love reading your posts! I thought about you today with the story about the stabbing in...Oxnard...of course. I cringed and waited for the bashing. So far, so good in that department. :~)
Posting is a stress-reliever isn't it? And it does get people to think about what is happening in our communities.
Posted by BeaHappi on May 30, 2008 at 3:56 p.m. (Suggest removal)
mmshoot...now maybe if I actually went to the Strawberry Festival I would know that!
Now wait a minute...what are you doing here? :~)
Posted by kelly13 on May 31, 2008 at 4:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
For all those that throw in the "they do the work Americans won't do", how do you think everything got done before the illegal invasion? And in other parts of this great country there are still people working the fields. They are called "farmers" and "farm workers". The difference is that they are legal, hard working, tax paying, proud people that don't ask for or expect everyone else to take care of them. They don't demand anything for free. They earn what they have. The same could be said for these tickets. The workers don't have any problem going to the mini market the minute they get off work and load up on beer. Most of the people have more parties than any group I have ever seen...bands and jolly jumps everywhere. A ticket to the Strawberry Festival would be a drop in the bucket compared to the festive way they celebrate on their own.
How disgusting to see in print that 70% of the pickers are illegal and you then think we should celebrate that fact? And give them more freebies to do it? How much more should we give and why? Is there no end in sight?
Illegals being here is wrong on so many levels and time and time again the people speak up and let the people who write these articles know how they feel. When anything is said, someone plays the racist card and thinks it will win the argument. It has nothing to do with race and never will. It is legal and illegal. Right and wrong. Pride in earning something or expecting more free rewards for illegal behavior.
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