Arizona vs. The Good People of Los Angeles

Arizona Corporation Commission member responds to Los Angeles City Council Boycott over SB1070 Featured Add comments

Gary Pierce, elected member of the Arizona Corporation Commission, was not very happy with the Los Angeles City Council vote to boycott Arizona passing SB 1070. Commissioner Pierce offers his services to help, as he explains in a letter to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa:

http://www.maricopagop.org/2010/05/18/arizona-corporation-commission-member-responds-to-los-angeles-city-council-boycott-over-sb1070/

Dear Mayor Villaraigosa,

I was dismayed to learn that the Los Angeles City Council voted to boycott Arizona and Arizona-based companies — a vote you strongly supported — to show opposition to SB 1070 (Support our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act).

You explained your support of the boycott as follows: “While we recognize that as neighbors, we share resources and ties with the State of Arizona that may be difficult to sever, our goal is not to hurt the local economy of Los Angeles, but to impact the economy of Arizona. Our intent is to use our dollars — or the withholding of our dollars — to send a message.” (emphasis added)

I received your message; please receive mine. As a state-wide elected member of the Arizona Corporation Commission overseeing Arizona’s electric and water utilities, I too am keenly aware of the “resources and ties” we share with the City of Los Angeles. In fact, approximately twenty-five percent of the electricity consumed in Los Angeles is generated by power plants in Arizona.

If an economic boycott is truly what you desire, I will be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements so Los Angeles no longer receives any power from Arizona-based generation. I am confident that Arizona’s utilities would be happy to take those electrons off your hands.

If, however, you find that the City Council lacks the strength of its convictions to turn off the lights in Los Angeles and boycott Arizona power, please reconsider the wisdom of attempting to harm Arizona’s economy.

People of goodwill can disagree over the merits of SB 1070. A state-wide economic boycott of Arizona is not a message sent in goodwill.

Sincerely,

Commissioner Gary Pierce

DIBS!!

m

In reply to Woody:

I heard about this last week. let's see if LA will put thier money where thier mouth is.

Now if this was only in the correct forum...

Cone_Junky wrote: Now if this was only in the correct forum...

Sorry, habit...

Just click "Latest Topics" and you won't know the difference.

Now, forget your rolling brown-outs. Heck, stop the water getting to them as well.

Man it would really suck if LA caved. Hope they can get electricity and power from elsewhere.

In a cloak and dagger political climate, where it seems as though its nearly impossible to get to the truth in what you hear or read, I absolutely love it when a message can be read loud and clear. Thanks Arizona for having some testicular fortitude!

Absolutely, how many of these idiots in LA have actually read the bill, there is no way it can be seen as being based on race, it is based upon being a legal resident and showing proof of legality if you are stopped for any other legal purpose.

It is not dis-similar to the Federal law that the Federal Government refuses to enforce.

I hope LA continues this, because they are doing so well with their own problems, they will only hurt their residents further. The only reason they are behind this is in an obvious attempt to gain minority votes.

What ever happened to being for the good of the people (US People).

Oh and I came here legally and eventually became a citizen, why can't these illegals do the same.

aussiesmg wrote: Absolutely, how many of these idiots in LA have actually read the bill, there is no way it can be seen as being based on race, it is based upon being a legal resident and showing proof of legality if you are stopped for any other legal purpose. It is not dis-similar to the Federal law that the Federal Government refuses to enforce. I hope LA continues this, because they are doing so well with their own problems, they will only hurt their residents further. The only reason they are behind this is in an obvious attempt to gain minority votes. What ever happened to being for the good of the people (US People). Oh and I came here legally and eventually became a citizen, why can't these illegals do the same.

What sucks is that it implicitly allows racial profiling. If you were Hispanic-looking, would you want to live in Arizona right now?

GameboyRMH wrote:

aussiesmg wrote: Absolutely, how many of these idiots in LA have actually read the bill, there is no way it can be seen as being based on race, it is based upon being a legal resident and showing proof of legality if you are stopped for any other legal purpose. It is not dis-similar to the Federal law that the Federal Government refuses to enforce. I hope LA continues this, because they are doing so well with their own problems, they will only hurt their residents further. The only reason they are behind this is in an obvious attempt to gain minority votes. What ever happened to being for the good of the people (US People). Oh and I came here legally and eventually became a citizen, why can't these illegals do the same.

What sucks is that it implicitly allows racial profiling. If you were Hispanic-looking, would you want to live in Arizona right now?

Po-po must have Probable cause to question you, search you, detain you, or arrest you - This is the standard by which a police officer has the authority to make an arrest, conduct a personal or property search, or to obtain a warrant for arrest based on intelligence that suggests a person has or will committ a crime. The right to be free of illegal search and seizure is protected by the 4th amendment of the Constitution of the United States - protection an illegal immigrant is not afforded in this country. By its nature, the investigation of a persons legal occupation of the US can be granted through probable cause based on their race in a given proximity to a border to another country whose primary inhabitants are that race. Racial profiling is a necessary part of law enforcement - there are no 2 ways about it.

One thing that I know about cops is that they really don't want to do any more work than they have to.

I don't expect any Arizona cops to pull over someone simply for driving while Hispanic. But this law allows them to check someone's immigration status in the course of processing them for legitimate offenses.

4cylndrfury wrote: The right to be free of illegal search and seizure is protected by the 4th amendment of the Constitution of the United States - protection an illegal immigrant is not afforded in this country.

The Constitution and its amendments apply to everyone inside the borders, whether here legally or illegally.

At least, that's the intent.

And how exactly do you prove you a legal citizen? I mean a license doesn't prove you are here legally so basically everyone has to carry around green papers, their passport or birth certificate. I am sorry but this law is text book racial profiling.

I don't carry papers... What if I forget my wallet! I don't want to get deported!

Joey

joey48442 wrote: I don't carry papers... What if I forget my wallet! I don't want to get deported! Joey

My point is even if you have your wallet a license doesn't prove you are here legally. Most people don't carry the paper work required to prove that with them.

In reply to 96DXCivic:

If you are a resident alien, the law already says that you have to carry around your papers, to get a drivers license you have to show a birth certificate. The regulations for people carrying their proof of legal residence are already there.

Everything has to be perfect to do something, but it only takes one lousy excuse to not do anything.

If you are not a citizen, you are required to carry identifying paperwork. Same rules apply when you go to most any other country. If you are hear legally and are a citizen, then a simple check on the police computer will verify it, as you will be in the system (non-citizens have to carry their info because they are not in the system).

Yeah, at least one part of this country is growing that balls to be a good leader, not a follower in the leaders chair.

In reply to blaze86vic:

Funny how it's being a leader when it's something you want, but a follower when it's something you don't.

Joey

Hello Mexican person.

We have no reason to search you but please present your papers to prove your citizenship. While we have your stuff we will go ahead and run a check for any outstanding warrants etc..... oh and while your stopped could we go ahead and search you and your car. If you give us permission were aloud to do it!

Oh you forgot your papers at home and your of south american descent. Thats cool, your under arrest. Good white people of Arizona, continue on your way.

GlennS wrote: Hello Mexican person. We have no reason to search you but please present your papers to prove your citizenship. While we have your stuff we will go ahead and run a check for any outstanding warrants etc..... oh and while your stopped could we go ahead and search you and your car. If you give us permission were aloud to do it! Oh you forgot your papers at home and your of south american descent. Thats cool, your under arrest. Good white people of Arizona, continue on your way.

+1 million that is my point. Legal citizens that happen to be of Hispanic can get pulled over for no reason and do you think they are going to be carrying proof of citizenship?

In reply to Datsun1500:

I thought America was supposed to be above that kind of behavior.

Strizzo wrote: In reply to 96DXCivic: If you are a resident alien, the law already says that you have to carry around your papers, to get a drivers license you have to show a birth certificate. The regulations for people carrying their proof of legal residence are already there.

I never had to show my birth certificate to get a driver's license and most any one else I have talked to hasn't either.

Datsun1500 wrote: In reply to Knurled: Nope, only Citizens. From the 14th Admendment: Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws

Note where they use the word "person" instead of "citizen".

There's a little lawyer-room in here.

96DXCivic wrote: In reply to Datsun1500: I thought CITIZENS were supposed to be above that kind of behavior.

Fixed it.

Have you actually read the law? Because it specifically forbids racial profiling, and only allows an officer to inquire about immigration status during a traffic stop that has already occurred for other reasons.