Since strict immigration law was passed, this town has been quiet
GEOFF MULVIHILL
Associated Press
Sep 28, 2006
RIVERSIDE, N.J. - Dave Ercolani is glad he's retiring and closing his hardware store. It could be tough to stay in business now that the township, not long ago teeming with recent arrivals from Brazil, has adopted one of the nation's toughest anti-immigration laws.
The town council adopted an ordinance in July that makes it a crime for businesses to knowingly employ illegal immigrants or for landlords to rent to them.
Even though the law isn't being enforced, its effects can be felt because of a fast loss of hundreds of residents who have left town since the law was adopted.
"This town was starting to move," said Ercolani, who said he does not know whether the law was right or wrong. "I feel that they killed everything."
Riverside is an old industrial town on the banks of the Delaware River. Its downtown has wide sidewalks and wider streets lined with proud two-story buildings.
Many of them - more than a few months ago - have "Apartment for Rent" or "Store Closed" signs.
And on Wednesday afternoon, there was almost no life on the sidewalks. People who work downtown say that's a big change from before the ordinance was adopted.
Jose Victor, the Portugal-born owner of Victor's Market, said business at his grocery, which specializes in Brazilian and Portuguese fare, is down as much as 40 percent. Other merchants said their experience was similar.
"This is no good for town," said Victor, who has owned his store for 13 years. "No people, no business."
Riverside has about 8,000 residents. Before the ordinance, officials figured that perhaps 3,500 of them were illegal immigrants, mostly from Brazil.
