Dan's Papers -February 13, 2009 - RALLY IN SOUTHAMPTON ON IMMIGRATION

The illegal immigration issue is currently being overshadowed by the present economic crisis throughout the world. However it came front and center here recently because of Facundo Gonzalez, a construction worker who died in Southampton Hospital from injuries he sustained when a collapsed foundation buried him at a job site on 232 North Sea Road in Southampton. Over a month later, Gonzalez' legal status in this country is still unclear. That is being investigated, along with how he died and who might be responsible.

This last Sunday, demonstrations were held in his honor at the site to bring attention to the plight of workers not protected properly on many job sites across the country. (At one time there were more news people at the demonstration than participants.) The protesters in attendance represented groups such as Organizacion Latino Americano of Eastern Long Island, Long Island Immigrant Alliance, The Immigrant Worker Occupational Health and Safety Committee of the Workplace Projects, Jobs with Justice and the East Hampton Anti-Bias Task Force. With fewer than 75 people arriving throughout the day, Saul Linares of the Workplace Project started things off with his megaphone by saying, "We are here to protect the workers who have come here to build this great nation and to remember those who die at the work place trying to have a better living."

Executive Director of the The Workplace Project, Nadia Marin Molina, stated a need for more site inspection and supervision, adding that it is tragic that shortcuts are taken because the lives of certain workers are not deemed valuable enough to warrant proper safety precautions.

Across the street was Tom Wedell who owns a home improvement business that at one time employed 30 workers. His believes the immigrant worker situation has gotten out of hand. "In a country of laws, the existing laws are not being enforced," said Wedell. "Therefore, 20 million jobs have been taken by 20 million illegal workers and, in an effort to perhaps save money, no supervisors were in proper position on that job."

It has not been made clear if the death of Gonzalez, who was from Hidalgo, Mexico, was the responsibility of site contractor, Berube and Son, or subcontractor Saldena's Concrete Corporation, or homeowner Valerie Revere. Ironically, this tragedy happened within 100 yards of the locations where so many immigrants line up each morning to get work. Someone said it was "as if the Lord himself was making a statement."

As Linares lead cheers in Spanish and English, and as the leaders of the other groups made passionate speeches about the cause of safety in the workplace, the main issue is still how illegal immigration will be handled by the new administration. Will it be swept under the rug while millions of jobs are being lost in this economy, or will it be addressed in a fair, humane, but legal way?

Facundo Gonzalez is perhaps a causality of a failed policy of neglect of responsibility by the federal government. Congressman Tim Bishop, still celebrating the inauguration, can not call it the failed Bush policy. It's time for him, as a member of the reigning party, to do something it. The policy in place now is the Obama/Bishop Policy. Hopefully the talents of the new charge will bring a clear head to what to do on this explosive issue, and it will not be buried in the "do not do anything" heap because of the economy.