Rancho day laborers say job center needed

Plea made to city leaders after several workers arrested for standing at corner

By Monica Rodriguez, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Article Launched:10/21/2006 12:00:00 AM PDT

RANCHO CUCAMONGA - Day laborers who gather in the area of Grove Avenue and Arrow Route called on city officials Friday to help re-establish a job center at the site.

Accompanying the workers were students from the Claremont Colleges, members of the Pomona Day Labor Center and others sympathetic to their cause. Workers said Friday that San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies have been telling them they will be arrested if they are found standing waiting for prospective employers.

Since a day laborer center near the intersection closed earlier this year, workers have been standing on the northeast corner of Grove and Arrow seeking work. The location was designated as the area workers could gather in accordance with an agreement with city and law enforcement officials.

Recently a handful of workers, including Rafael Cornejo of Rancho Cucamonga, were arrested while standing on the south side of Arrow.

"They said if they saw us again there they would arrest us and that we couldn't stand there," Cornejo said in Spanish. "They never told us that before."

Workers, such as Rancho Cucamonga resident Jose Fernando Pedraza, said if a center was available through which they could secure work, such problems would be avoided.

While most officers have been understanding, recently some new officers in the area have used crude language when workers tried to show them fliers saying a city ordinance permits people to seek work if they're standing on city sidewalks.

Among those who turned out Friday was Jose Calderon, a Pitzer College professor and the president of the Inland Valley and San Gabriel Valley Latino and Latina Roundtable. He said he plans on taking the matter of Rancho Cucamonga workers to his organization's membership in hopes of getting the group's involvement in the matter.

The Roundtable could "help find a long-term plan for the redevelopment of a day labor center," he said.

"The reason I got involved is I've steadily seen the situation there is becoming more and more critical and not positive," Calderon said.

Rancho Cucamonga Mayor Bill Alexander said Friday he hadn't heard about any conflicts between laborers and law enforcement officials but would look into the matter.

Alexander visits the area and hasn't seen any problems.

"I do go down there periodically and for the most part people behave themselves," he said.

Alexander would like to see a center created with the cooperation of Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario and Upland and the private sector - including businesses and residents - who use the services of the laborers.

So far no one has shown interest, he said, adding that the controversial nature of the issues tends to keep people away.

Should Calderon approach Rancho Cucamonga and the neighboring cities with a desire to help resolve the current situation, "I don't think he would be met by a closed door," Alexander said.