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Collier cuts benefits for non-profits that don’t verify the legal status of those they serve
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Unless a non-profit Collier County agency can document its clients as legal citizens, it will not receive impact fee deferral assistance, according to a motion adopted by Collier County Commissioners Tuesday.
Before the vote, Commissioner Jim Coletta tried to institute exceptions for Fun Time Early Childhood Academy and the Shelter for Abused Women, which applied for impact fee deferrals for new construction projects. But County Attorney Jeff Klatzkow advised the commission that exemptions could create sticky legal challenges from other organizations.
Commissioner Donna Fiala made the motion, which passed 4-1 with Coletta dissenting.
Up to $200,000 per year is available through the impact fee deferral program for charities in Collier County trying to expand or build new facilities. Applicants can apply for up to $100,000 per project.
Collier commissioners have long cited illegal immigration as one of the county’s greatest problems, noting that millions of dollars are spent on educating, feeding and housing those who aren’t citizens.
They sought harsher penalties from the Legislature, but their requests died in the past session.
Marci Sanders, operations manager of the Shelter for Abused Women, told commissioners that certain charities are required by federal or state law to provide services, said Marci Sanders,
“Federal law prohibits services from discriminating against immigration status,” Sanders said.
Domestic shelters have no obligation to require proof of immigration status, nor any requirement to report illegal status.
Commissioner Fred Coyle remained attached to his position.
“As long as you spend your own private money to (provide services,) fine,” Coyle said. “This is a federal unfunded mandate on Collier County that I am not willing to accept.”
Coyle added that he is not inclined to spend local taxpayer money to cover up deficiencies of the federal government to protect U.S. borders.
“This (ordinance change) will hurt documented citizens more than undocumented,” Sanders said. “People are not coming into our country to become victims of domestic violence.”
Fun Time co-chair Peter Manion was also concerned about what this would mean for the academy’s new development. While he couldn’t say that all of the children are here legally, most of them were born here, making them legal, Manion said. However, there are no such federal or state laws requiring Fun Time to serve anyone who walks through the door.
Fiala said the county is not responsible for illegal aliens.
If the community wants to tax itself to support non-profits that do not verify legal residency status, they are welcome to do so, Fiala said.
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Smart move, I wish this was done at a Federal level. We need to begin denying other services as well.
#1 Posted by personalj on May 13, 2008 at 8:13 p.m. (Suggest removal)
about blasted time
#2 Posted by coolkraft on May 13, 2008 at 10:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No kidding looks like someone got smart. there may be hope after all.
#3 Posted by sunburnt on May 13, 2008 at 11:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Alright!
#4 Posted by oldnaples on May 14, 2008 at 1:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
A great idea but hard to verify and enforce.
Too many "charities" receiving state money and local tax and fee exemptions coach illegals on how to beat the system and get government benefits meant for citizens. State law prohibits illegals getting certain benefits, but state aid that is funneled through these private organizations gets distributed to illegals anyway.
Also, some of these "charities" were running low on clients and had to dig into the illegal immigrant community to bump up their service numbers. Now illegals make up the bulk of thier clientele.
Commissioners were warned a long time ago that they would be creating problems for themselves and the community by creating impact fee deferals and exemptions for charities.
Maybe time to stop that giveaway or at least limit it to needy organizations with incomes of $50,000 or less. Many of these charities are very well off financially (millionaires!) and yet force community to subsidize them with property tax, sales tax exemptions.
It might also be better to insist that all charities asking for county help provide full financial disclosure and salaries of top paid executive staff and managers.
#5 Posted by Bramble on May 14, 2008 at 5:28 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Boycott illegals!!!!!!!!!!
#6 Posted by techie on May 14, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Thank You, Collier County Commissioners!
#7 Posted by streetrodder on May 14, 2008 at 7:10 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Bravo! These are the stories I want to read!
#8 Posted by wonderwoman on May 14, 2008 at 7:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Fiala said the county is not responsible for illegal aliens.
Another DO NOTHING commissioner ...
#9 Posted by naplestrek on May 14, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm sure a lot of you posters employ illegals, directly or indirectly, to mow your lawn, wash your windows, maintain your golf courses, bus your tables, take up your trash, change your oil...
Blame the businesses who profit from the slave labor. They should pay to support those who need assistance. After all, by paying slave wages and providing no benefits or worker rights, they externalize the high costs to the unwitting public, who, they know, will blame the starving Mexican just trying to feed his family instead of their dirty enterprises.
#10 Posted by leftovers on May 14, 2008 at 7:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Kick em' all out! Good going Commissioners!
#11 Posted by rocknfla on May 14, 2008 at 7:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
ITS ABOUT TIME!!!!!!! finally the county is stepping up, let them go a step further and start checking the status of people working for the county and the sub contractors.
#12 Posted by grouper25 on May 14, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Good start......I hope they don't stop here.
#13 Posted by Native on May 14, 2008 at 8:09 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Absolutely. I think all real Americans should accept a microchip implant in their arms so that the government can quickly verify one's "status" with a quick scan of the wrist.
You'll need the implanted chip to work, buy food, fly on a plane, go to school...
Besides stamping out the illegal workforce we now all depend on to provide menial services "Americans" won't do, this will help fight the terrorists too.
If you have nothing to hide, you'll accept the chip.
Now, where was I, yes, I need someone to sweep my chimney. I'll only pay $5 per hour. Any takers?
#14 Posted by leftovers on May 14, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I thought I was reading wrong when I first saw this! I'm shocked, thrilled, but shocked that somebody actually did something to finally try to stop some of this crap!
#15 Posted by camarogirl79 on May 14, 2008 at 8:44 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Leftovers, I totally AGREE with you.
We NEED these chips.
And they should be implanted AT BIRTH.
Who the heck has a working chimney in Naples any way?
Maybe 1/2 of 1%.
#16 Posted by RockfordGrad on May 14, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Now, can we do something about illegals using the hospital emergency room for all their medical problems? How about banning them from using food stamps? How about if you don't speak English, you don't go to a public school until you can understand what the teacher is trying to say? Let's take back America!
#17 Posted by mpulsivebat on May 14, 2008 at 10:02 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Before the vote, Commissioner Jim Coletta tried to institute exceptions for Fun Time Early Childhood Academy and the Shelter for Abused Women, which applied for impact fee deferrals for new construction projects.
What's this, a couple more pet projects for King Coletta?
Great job done by 4 of our Commissioners. And grouper25 - you're right about the County's own workforce - check the status of their subcontractor's employees.
#18 Posted by msboo96 on May 14, 2008 at 10:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Seems like you guys already have a chip. It's right there on your shoulder.
Goverment has no business in the welfare business, they can barely run their real duties effeciently.
If we all played on a level feild we wouldn't care how you got here.
#19 Posted by cupcake on May 14, 2008 at 10:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)
NO MORE Gov't. Assistance, Handouts, Free Healthcare, or Sanctuary for ILLEGAL ALIENS!!!
Yes, Yes, Yes!!! Finally the light can be seen at the end of the tunnel by LEGAL TAXPAYING U.S. CITIZENS!!!
Cut off their FREE life support and they will go home or to somewhere else!!!
#20 Posted by What_Say_You on May 14, 2008 at 12:55 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Sounds like collier county is going against the grain.
If we want to be on the right side of history we should really look inward and ask if this the right thing to do.
Cutting benefits during a time of economic slow down just on illegal immigrants will only make those immigrants more likely to harbor ill thoughts towards those who cut the benefits.
But they are still here and still in need of benefits.
The state did nothing with the 9 bills that were presented and the FED is doing nothing with immigraiton problem.
So what is going to happen?
Oh a rift in the community.....
WAY TO GO>>>>>>>>
greedy people...
greedy greedy people.
#21 Posted by NaplesTaco on May 14, 2008 at 1:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
NaplesTaco - Illegals that "harbor ill thoughts against those who cut the benefits" and choose resorting to Illegal means to survive should familiarize themselves with these names: Smith and Wesson, Colt, Ruger, Glock, Beretta, Sig Sauer, Desert Eagle, Browning, and HK!!!
They might be staring into the barrel of one of the above when their harbored ill thoughts turn into actions!!!
Just like in Physics, "For every action ther is a reaction"!
#22 Posted by What_Say_You on May 14, 2008 at 1:39 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The illegals don't have to stay here if they don't like it. Nobody asked them to sneak across the border to begin with, so they can sneak back.
#23 Posted by mpulsivebat on May 14, 2008 at 1:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
That would be "Equal and Opposite reaction".
Newtons third law.
#24 Posted by cupcake on May 14, 2008 at 2:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
naplestrek....Fiala said the county is not responsible for illegal aliens... I believe u r not understanding what she means. In my opinion, she means citizens should come first when it comes to county/gov funding, we should verify all clients for all non profit orgs are being funded for legal aliens. We are giving away alot of $$$ to those here illegally when our elder and fixed income citizens stuggle everyday to buy everday needs. Some may think they are doing "slave labor" but come on...us americans are too good to do the grunt wk!!! Illegals make a big wage compared to what they may have made in their own country. All assistants should be cut off if you are not here legally...period. No HUD hses or Habitat Humanity homes for us!!
#25 Posted by lmm777 on May 26, 2008 at 12:50 p.m. (Suggest removal)
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