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continued from page 1
“challenging People to Shape
a Better Future now”
B ernie F OSTer
Founder/Publisher
B OBBie d Ore F OSTer
executive editor
T ed B anKS
advertising Manager
J errY F OSTer
account executive
l iSa l OVing
news editor
B rian S TimSOn
reporter
d aVid K idd
graphic Designer
m Onica J. F OSTer
Seattle office Coordinator
Although most of the requests are
still for print books, librarians have
seen a steady growth on requests
for electronic books as well as CDs
and audio books
said the library has limited
options when dealing with cuts of
this magnitude.
“There weren’t any easy choic-
es,” she said, noting that the
majority of the library’s budget
pays for personnel to run the
libraries. The remainder pays for
have had to cut more operating
hours or further reduce the book
budget,” she added.
The closure will reportedly save
the library about $650,000; it also
means reduced paychecks for
nearly 640 employees, according
to the press release.
When asked about how the
week-long closure would affect
his right to access library
resources, Johnston said the
impact is going to be negligible
but added that the closure to him
is a political move and the gov-
ernment should justify a little
more of their spending.
“I kind of feel bad for people
who work here,” Johnston said. “I
don’t like that we have to close
our libraries. A lot of things that
have been in place for years, now,
they don’t have it anymore. At the
same time, they are offering tens
and thousands of dollars for an
artist to come in. I am not against
art, but art to me isn’t a require-
ment. I just feel bad that these
guys have to forgo their work for
Read the rest online at
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continued from page 1
evolves, with its final shape
uncertain.
Department
of
Homeland Security Secretary
Janet Napolitano said that com-
munities will not have an
option of whether to join
when
the
program
becomes mandatory by
2013.
Immigrant right groups
say Secure Communities
can discourage immi-
grants from reporting
crimes and can lead to the depor-
tation of people who haven’t been
convicted of anything. Advocates
have gone on the offensive in the
past year, publishing internal doc-
uments through records requests,
lobbying lawmakers, and setting
up community groups.
“We need an immigration sys-
tem that’s dealing with immigra-
tion. There are a lot of mecha-
nisms in place for people who are
serious criminals. They can be
tracked now,” said Pramila
Jayapal, executive director of
OneAmerica, the state’s biggest
immigrant advocacy group. Her
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c
group has met with many of the
sheriffs making the decision on
whether to activate the program.
In Yakima County, the first coun-
Massachusetts, Illinois and New
York have said their states will not
participate.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval
Patrick’s office, citing
ICE statistics, said that
one-quarter of the peo-
ple who were deported
after being flagged by
Secure Communities
had committed a seri-
ous crime, while more
than half were “non-
criminals.” While Patrick’s office
has opposed Secure Communities,
it continues to work with ICE on
other local-federal agreements.
In Washington, ICE asked Gov.
Chris Gregoire in 2009 to make a
decision for all the counties. State
Patrol spokesman Bob Calkins
said the governor’s office decided
in 2010 not to undermine county
law enforcement authority, but
that the State Patrol would facili-
tate any jurisdiction that wanted to
join the local-federal partnership.
The State Patrol houses the
Washington fingerprint database
for the counties, but already
The pushback against Secure
Communities is nationwide,
as the program evolves, with
its final shape uncertain
IMM Publications Inc.,
Newspaper
books and materials, and fixed
costs, such as telecommunication,
Internet services and utilities.
“Without the closure, we would
immigration
J ulie K eeFe
S uSan F ried
Photographers
National
the closure,” said Lin Schnell,
interim chief executive officer for
the library, in a press release.
Regarding the closure, Schnell
sonally like to get a book and turn
the page myself.”
Reichert said more than 300
requests have been received since
the service launched June 13. She
noted that although most of the
requests are still for print books,
librarians have seen a steady
growth on requests for electronic
books as well as CDs and audio
books.
“People will say ‘can you try to
get me eBooks’ or ‘can you get
me eBooks when (a certain title)
becomes available,’” she added.
The upcoming temporary clo-
sure is a good opportunity for
local library users to plan ahead.
“For those who aren’t familiar
with our digital collection, this is
a good time to learn how to down-
load books, movies and music,
since they will be available during
o
m
m
u
n
ty to join, the group brought oppo-
nents of Secure Communities to
county council meetings after
county officials declined to meet
with them.
In June, ICE tweaked the pro-
gram’s guidelines to address some
concerns. A new policy directs
ICE officers and attorneys to use
appropriate discretion to make
sure victims and witnesses to
crimes are not put into deportation
proceedings. The Department of
Homeland Security’s Inspector
General’s office is also taking a
closer look at the program.
Still,
the
governors
of
I
t
y
c
a
l
e
n
d
shares the fingerprints with the
FBI. For now, the FBI sends fin-
gerprints from those counties that
have opted into the program to
ICE, for crossing-checking with
its database.
Lathim thinks the new program
won’t change much in Franklin
County. He said that for the past
two decades, immigration officers
have checked his jail bookings
routinely.
Secure Communities is part of
ICE’s efforts to target immigrants
with criminal records. The checks
of jail bookings have been in
place under the Criminal Alien
Program.
For a quarter century now,
Lathim has been a lawman in east-
ern Washington. He has seen first-
hand the changing demographics
of his county — the sharp rise of
the Latino immigrant population.
The last Census revealed that the
county is now majority Latino.
Lathim says he’s got a good rela-
tionship with the immigrant com-
See page 3
a
r
S eattle J uly 2011
the sheraton seattle Hotel, 7th ave. and union st.
Friday July 22
If you have an event you want to share
with the community, email it two weeks
in advance to The Skanner at
info@theskanner.com
JamaicaN JamBoree FuN Family FriDay! Themed
fun, activities, games and prizes. Fun for the
whole family. children must be accompanied by
an adult. admission is $4.75 adults, $3.25
youth/sr. munger Pool, 2535 32nd ave. w. 5:30
p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
saturday July 23
Thursday July 21
PuBlic GarDeN ParTy To celeBraTe New
GarDeN walk aT sHeraToN seaTTle HoTel: The
festive garden party will feature live
entertainment, the dedication of the garden
walk and much more. Noon – 1 p.m. adjacent to
Page 2 The Seattle Skanner July 20, 2011
Go DoG Go! caNiNe FesTiVal & DoG! admission
to the festival is free. walk is $20.00. This is a
family fun event for all ages games, contest,
demos and more. 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. snow
mountain ranch, kirkland, wa
sunday July 24
3rD aNNual Pike Place markeT FruiT FesTiVal!
make a special fun-filled day at Pike Place
market. Nosh as you stroll and enjoy a sit down
meal, and shop for among other things fresh,
locally grown fruits and veggies all day long.
Friday thru sunday
July 29 – 31
aNaND mela: JoyFul FesTiVal oF iNDia! enjoy
free concerts of monoghi Hi, Delhi2Dublin and
much more. lots of tasty indian food & other
attractions. For more details and times please
check website at www.anandamela.org.
redmond city Hall campus, 15670 Ne 85th st.
redmond, wa