Community Support Grows for Man Facing Possible Deportation
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Vol. 45 No. 13 Thursday, April 12, 2012 Inside... IWSD opens new doors with groundbreaking Harvest- By Patty Brant region, marking similar projects in Immokalee Bulletin LaBelle and Moore Haven as well. Balloon Fest! The Immokalee project is be- April 3 was a very big day for ing paid for with federal Recovery ...Page 2 Immokalee Water and Sewer Act funds, including a $4.9 million District Executive Director Eva low interest loan and $3.4 million Deyo and for the community grant. IWSD will kick in some of Immokalee. Dignitaries from $800,000. The project encom- Washington, DC, joined represen- passes an increase in capacity and Letters to tatives of state agencies and local construction of a forced main to visionaries for what was deemed expand the transmission system. the Editor “a critical waste water project” - At its completion in about 18 Patty Brant the groundbreaking for Immoka- months, the project will add some Immokalee Bulletin/ ...Page 3 Dignitaries from Washington, D.C., and Gainesville lent their lee Water and Sewer District’s $8.3 142 families and businesses to the million waste water treatment support to ceremonies in Immokalee celebrating the approval of funding for the community’s waste water treatment treatment plant expansion project. See IWSD — Page 2 Run/Ride It was a big day for the entire plant improvements and expansion on April 3. for literacy Saturday! ...Page 4 Community support Changes for I HOPE grows for man facing ...Page 7 possible deportation New By Jordan Buckley Customs Enforcement’s “Secure Chamber Special to the Immokalee Bulletin Communities” program. Mr. Po- members blano, who was in immigration Community campaign custody at Broward County Transi- ...Page 8 tional Center for 10 days, is facing frees LaBelle father deportation. from federal custody Earlier in the ordeal, his wife, Maria Poblano, had stated, “I can’t A son’s visit to the hospital has take care of my children by myself. put Lazaro Poblano of LaBelle Right now, I am barely eating. This in deportation proceedings. On is bad for my baby but also for March 6, Mr. Poblano drove his me because I am diabetic. I don’t know how I am going to pay this See Page 2 for information about 14 year-old son to the hospital be- month’s rent. I am trying to be how to contact the newspaper. cause he was suffering side pains. Special to the Immokalee Bulletin/Tammy Means strong in this situation for my chil- On their way back home, Mr. Po- dren, but I just don’t know what to blano and his family – his son, his newszap.com Easter basket giveaway do,” she said. Free Speech Free Ads Immokalee organization, Girlfriends Getaway founder, wife and their 6 week-old baby -- Grey Torrico, a community or- Tammy Means brings a big smile for this happy young man were stopped by a Fort Myers po- ganizer with the Collier County in the way of an Easter basket handed out to more thank lice offi cer. Neighborhood Stories Project, ex- 60 local children as part of a giveaway project for the Girl- Lazaro Poblano was arrested in plained, “Mr. Poblano’s case illus- friends group. See more on this newly founded local organiza- front of his family for driving with- trates how Secure Communities is tion on Page 3. out a license and placed in deten- tion through the Immigration and See POBLANO — Page 2 2 Immokalee Bulletin April 12, 2012 Rural Utilities Administrator Jonathan stein said supported the Recovery Act and IWSD Adelstein came from Washington for the cares about rural Florida, also had a repre- occasion. Appointed to the position in July sentative at the ceremony. Continued From Page 1 2009 by President Obama, Mr. Adelstein is IWSD Executive Director Eva Deyo noted the 17th administrator of the USDA/RUS. He that the project, which began in 2007, will Immokalee water treatment system. has a background with the Federal Com- be a .75 mgp upgrade, She said eventually Fred Thomas, chairman of the Water and munications Commission, championed the customers will see an increase in their rates, Sewer District Governing Baord, kicked off expansion of rural broadband in 2009 and but that typically does not occur till two the celebration by eluding to the “enormous is a member of the White House National magnitude” of the project, which will in- years after construction. Residents of Arrow- Science and Technology Council. head will have to pay a connection fee for crease the wastewater treatment plant’s ca- Mr. Adelstein commended the leadership the forced main being put in to the waste- pacity from 2.5 mgd (million gallons per day) in Immokalee for “creating jobs and invest- to 3.25 mgd. Only about one mgd is used at ing in the future.” He noted that Immoka- water treatment plant. this time, but the scope of the project looks lee “seized the opportunity” to plan for its Resident Floyd Crews attended the cere- toward a bright future for Immokalee. future and faced the enormous competition mony. He said the Immokalee water district Immokalee Bulletin/Patty Brant Richard Macheck, USDA Rural Develop- and rigorous evaluation process required to was started by a “bunch of farmers” in 1967. Rural Utilities Administrator Jonathan ment State Director, said the completion of secure this funding, which will provide an In 1978 it became a special district; with Adelstein, left, came from Washing- this project will enhance the community’s upgrade of 70 percent over current capacity sewer added in 1982. ton, along with USDA Rural Develop- ability to plan ahead. Mr. Macheck noted as well as provide connections to the Arrow- The ceremony focused a spotlight on met State Director Richard Machek that he sees the economy and construction head community for a total of some 5,000 how the IWSD is living up to its hallmark: from Gainesville to break ground on rising again, adding that, in a couple years, business and residential connections. “Technology and Ecology a Winning Com- Immokalee’s wastewater improve- “We’ll be back on track.” US Sen. Bill Nelson, who Director Adel- bination.” ments - investments in its future. makes our communities, in fact, insecure.” ty of Collier County and a number of local erodes public trust in the police. POBLANO Three days after Mr. Poblano’s arrest, an churches and civic organizations. Due to its negative impact on public safe- The petition, initiated by Collier County Continued From Page 1 online campaign was launched demanding ty, numerous metropolitan cities as well as his release under the Obama Administra- Neighborhood Stories Project, also calls for the governors of Illinois, Massachusetts, and tion’s Prosecutorial Discretion policy that di- an end to the Secure Communities program New York have rejected the Secure Commu- that has harmed thousands of families like criminalizing the very act of caring for our rects ICE offi cers to release individuals who nities program. Florida Governor Rick Scott children and families. A father or mother fall into certain criteria. As an immigrant Mr. Poblano’s. While Secure Communities stated mandate is to target persons convict- has not taken that position. should never have to make a choice on with deep ties to the community, a father of For more information, contact the Collier whether to drive their children to a hospital ed of serious crimes, according to the De- U.S.-born children and breadwinner for his County Neighborhood Stories Project at 239- for fear of deportation. This program has partment of Homeland Security’s own data family, Mr. Poblano was released under the over 50% of those 271-2423. created fear in our communities and distrust prosecutorial discretion policy. deported through of the police. It has made us less safe. We Many Collier County residents took part Secure Communi- demand that the Obama Administration in the campaign for Mr. Poblano’s release, ties have actually end Mr. Poblano’s deportation and stop the phoning ICE and sending emails of support, not ever been con- Secure Communities program, because it including members of the Democratic Par- victed of a crime, or they have only minor misdemean- Balloons and Harvest fest this weekend ors such as traffi c Events include Dawn Glow to orful balloons engage in games throughout violations. the weekend. In the convergent navigational Last month, the a Live Orchestra, Mass task, the target is a grid at the festival site. Pi- Chairwoman of the Democratic Ex- Ascension and Sundown Glow lots will fl y in and drop their markers on the grid. Scoring is based on the marker’s accu- ecutive Committee of Collier County, racy and how the pilot fl ew over the target. More than 30 custom hot air balloons will Mickey Gargan, For both contests, the fi rst place prize is fi ll the skies, participating in fun activities and denounced Collier $500, second place is $300 and third place competing in races on April 14 and April 15 County Sheriff’s is $200. at Seminole Casino Immokalee’s “Balloons Offi ce’s collabora- The colorful balloons will kick off each tion with federal Over Paradise.” Pilots will navigate their bal- morning at 6 a.m. with an illuminated light immigration en- loons to compete for their share of $4,000. forcement, calling Special to the Immokalee Bulletin show to the music of a live orchestra. Fes- The Poblano family of LaBelle is not unlike many local un- The inaugural festival is free to the public their policy “overly tival-goers will be able to walk among the documented families in the Southwest Florida region.