Riverside threatened with suit
RICHARD PEARSALL
Courier-Post Staff
Sep 21, 2006
RIVERSIDE Drop the ordinance or face a lawsuit.
That is the message a coalition of Latino and civil rights groups delivered to the township committee here Wednesday in the latest exchange of views on the township's illegal immigration ordinance.
Asked if the committee would comply with the coalition's request and revoke the ordinance at its next meeting, scheduled for Sept. 27, Mayor Charles Hilton replied, "It's not likely."
The ordinance, enacted in July, prescribes fines of up to $2,000 for landlords who rent to or employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
Hilton estimated the number of illegal immigrants in his township then at somewhere between 1,500 and 3,500. He said Wednesday he believes there has been some decrease since then.
Led by the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, the coalition contemplating legal action contends the Riverside ordinance is unconstitutional and has already filed suit against the Hazleton, Pa., ordinance after which it is modeled.
In a letter to Hilton, the coalition threatened to sue Riverside, too, warning if it doesn't take action to rescind the ordinance, "the township will be subject to injunctive relief, possible monetary damages and the payment of attorney fees and costs which will likely be quite substantial."
