Placentia, Calif. public works director Gerry Hubble cited after allegedly hiring two illegal immigrants...

Tuesday, March 25, 2008



Placentia official in hot water over day laborer incident Public works director Gerry Hubble cited after allegedly hiring two illegal immigrants.



By ERIC NEFF THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER



PLACENTIA – Public Works Director Gerry Hubble is facing trespassing charges for allegedly driving into a Lake Forest strip mall and hiring two immigrants as day laborers.

A sheriff's report alleges that Hubble stopped his truck on private property at 25252 Jeronimo Road in Lake Forest Sept. 15 and "made no attempt to patronize any of the business on the property."

A security guard hired by the property owner called sheriff's deputies, who pulled over Hubble's truck and arrested him and two men described as illegal immigrants.

Hubble, a Modjeska Canyon resident, has pled not guilty to the trespassing charge. A pre-trial date has been set for April 2. A conviction carries a maximum sentence of six months in prison and a $1,000 fine.

Activists associated with the Minuteman Project verbally confronted Hubble at Placentia's most recent City Council meeting and have posted pictures of Hubble trying to hire the workers on their website.

Hubble sat quietly shaking his head as six activists took turns criticizing him during the public comments portion of the meeting, calling him a "criminal," "pathetic" and a "piss-poor American."

A woman sat in the back of the chambers holding a sign, "Gerry Hubble Law Breaker," and Minuteman bloggers posted photos of the scene online.

"It was kind of tough having to sit there and listen without being able to respond," Hubble said.

Activists organized the protests after Hubble appeared in front of Lake Forest's City Council March 4 to protest the city's decision to prosecute.

Lake Forest has been trying to halt day laborer hires at the Jeronimo site, arresting workers and residents for trespassing and some workers for having illegal documents. The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the city on behalf of the workers.

"I think it would be a great time to hold a rally in front of Placentia City Hall and let Mr. Hubble know what you think about his actions in front of his peers at the City Council meeting," read a message board entry on saveourstate.org. "If this man gets away with this, we have lost."

According to transcripts from the Lake Forest council meeting, Hubble said that he was on the property "to hire a couple of day laborers but second to pick up a couple bottles of water," debating the sheriff's claim that he did not attempt to patronize any of the business.

"I kind of liken it to shopping at Mervyn's or Macy's where you go to look for a shirt, you don't see what you want so you don't buy it," the transcript reads. He also stated that he was hiring the laborers to help "load a couple units of railroad ties." The truck that was pulled over was registered to Hubble.

After getting pulled over and questioned, Hubble allegedly told the deputy: "My intent was to hire day laborers."

According to the sheriff's report, two men that Hubble had picked up on the property were arrested for trespassing and having counterfeit Matrícula Consular cards, an identification card issued by the Mexican government.

Hubble declined comment on the allegations themselves, only pointing out that he had not been read his Miranda rights before talking with the officer.

Placentia Mayor Scott Nelson thanked the activists for their input and said that further investigation was needed before the city made any sort of comment. City Administrator Bob Dominguez declined to comment on any potential actions taken by the city.



http://www.ocregister.com/articles/hubble-city-prop
erty-2005239-laborers-placentia