One could get whiplash trying to follow HPD decisionmaking. First HPD was photographing “day laborers” (our newest euphemism to describe illegal immigrants apparently) as a means of ID, then HPD said it wouldn’t take any more pictures after activists came unglued, and then we read in a story that HPD IS photographing “day laborers” after all!
Well, recently in the news there was a story about a sting conducted by HPD that ended up with thirty “day laborers” under arrest. Of course, all the usual illegal immigrant apologists were horrified at this outrageous act of law enforcement, so today we have HPD’s latest cave-in:
Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt said his department will not do any more day labor sting operations like the one mounted west of downtown earlier this month.
In a meeting with activists Monday, Hurtt said he wants to build trust with immigrants, and he was concerned about the way the operation was handled, according to a police spokesman.
Members of an HPD tactical unit dressed up as contractors and arrested 30 day laborers near the corner of Shepherd and Washington. The men were charged with soliciting work in the roadway, a misdemeanor.
“We will not be doing this again,” said Lt. Robert Manzo, an HPD spokesman.
Residents of the neighborhood west of downtown say the area has experienced a quick rise in the number of burglaries, which they link to the immigrant day laborers who loiter on the corners looking for work. Some expressed frustration at the chief’s decision.
“It sounds like we need to get together neighbors, the victims of crime, and have a meeting with the chief,” said Lisa Flores, who lives in the area. “If he has made a decision like that, he doesn’t understand how bad the crime is.”
Flores’ home was invaded last November by knife-wielding robbers, she said.
Juan Alvarez, leader of the Coalition Against Intolerance and For Respect, said he was pleased with the promise from the chief. Alvarez, who was in the meeting, said the chief explained that the operation was organized by a HPD tactical unit without proper input from the police command.
So there you go. Houston’s police chief wants to get along with law breakers. That’s nice.
UPDATE: Woops, I missed today’s Chron editorial applauding HPD’s decision. Dang, that was a fast editorial! We didn’t know the idealists had it in them! This must have been a critical issue in the comfy confines of the Chron’s editorial board room. I take it none of the editors lives in the area affected by “day laborer” loitering and knife-wielding robbers.
KEVIN WHITED ADDS: Actually, there’s a very simple explanation for the fast turnaround of the editorial. In my masochistic review of a week’s worth of Chron editorials, readers will recall I discovered a new Chron approach to editorializing: Simply write, “in the aftermath of Katrina,” followed by whatever opinion the Chron previously held on unrelated issues. So, today we get:
In Hurricane Katrina, mistrust of authorities compounded the tragedy that befell New Orleans’ poor. Even in ordinary times, citizens who fear police won’t report crimes and won’t inform on others’ illegal behavior. Their silence endangers everyone.
Translated: “In the aftermath of Katrina,” HPD should ignore laws it doesn’t want to enforce, just as we editorial idealists have advocated previously, because happy criminals are more likely to cooperate with law enforcement.
The idealists really might want to think of a new rhetorical strategy. They’ve about worn out the aftermath of Katrina.
