US District Judge Sam Lindsay extended an injunction that prevents Farmers Branch , Texas from implementing an ordinance which would fine landlords who rent to illegal aliens. The ordinance was put on a ballot and voters in Farmers Branch approved it by nearly 70% on May 13, 2007. The injunction against the ordinance was extended until June 19th.
Judge Sam Lindsay |
In addition Judge Lindsay has dismissed a federal lawsuit brought by a group of business owners who made claims that talk of the ordinance has caused their business to slump off. Judge Lindsay said that the businesses had no way to show that any decline in business could be attributed to talk of the ordinance. Lindsay was appointed by President Clinton and has expressed opinion that the ordinance is not constitutional.
Houston Chronicle
Lindsay will decide by [June 19] whether to issue a temporary injunction requested by lawyers for landlords and renters who have filed suit to block the local immigration measure. An injunction would stop the rental rules from taking effect until the lawsuits are resolved.
The ordinance, overwhelmingly approved last month by voters, would require apartment managers to verify that tenants are U.S. citizens or legal immigrants, with some exceptions made for the elderly and minors. Landlords who don't comply would face fines of up to $500 per tenant per day.
Opponents of the bill came out with lame excuses on why it should be thrown out even though voters in the community overwhelmingly voted in favor of it.
"I think it should all be tossed," said Jim Renard, a lawyer representing three apartment complexes. "Farmers Branch should not be in the business of determining who is in the country legally."
Nina Perales, a lawyer for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said it would be difficult for the judge to strike down part of the measure and leave other parts standing. MALDEF and the American Civil Liberties Union have filed suit on behalf of renters and several landlords.
"It's all interwoven," Perales said, adding, "A judge's role is not to rewrite city laws."
Hmm, I wonder just how much Jim Renard's clients are relying on illegal aliens in order to have a "profitable" business? Would it be 10% or maybe 20%? It certainly couldn't be 30% or more could it?
Renard, citing affidavits from apartment managers, told the judge that one complex he represents is likely to lose 30 percent of its business and another may lose 40 percent, if the measure were allowed to go into effect.
40$! Renard tries to say it will be due to corporate renters, but I just can't fathom that 40% of renters in Farmers Branch Texas are corporate renters. He also said that Internet renters would decline. I don't see how since they can provide the same legal documents as those locally. Give me a break!
The lies are thick on the "plaintiff's" - read illegal alien supporters - side
