is his response a surprise to any of you? I don't think so, isn't he hispanic? Hello. Not to mention 80 percent of Chicago Heights is hispanic, come on now. While he does raise some possibly valid points, ILLEGAL is ILLEGAL. My grandparents immigrated to this country from Europe to make a better life for their family and did things the RIGHT way by becoming a US citizen.

I’m going to talk about the elephant in the room that I think the mayor and most seem to overlook in this issue the key term is ILLIGAL! Now I don’t care how you spend it or make it to be something that it not; the fact is they are breaking the law and the Mayor is saying he wants the police to turn and look the other way; or that they will not want to report crimes. Let see I see Weed out of my house and someone breaks into my house and I call the police will they come out and take a report and leave me along; will they over look that fact that I’m doing something illegal. Now some are going to say that this is apples and oranges and I say it not; both are breaking the laws of the land and they both should be treated the same. I find it to be a joke that as some who have travel out side of the US know that when you go to any other county they want to know how long you are going to be their and when you are going back; and just try to stay they will come looking for you. I find that out feelings on this issue to be something of jokes also as we want to say that they come here to make a living for their family; well that drug dealing; car thief; shoplifter and so are sometime doing the same thing; just trying to make a living for their family and all above are breaking the law!

Interesting answer. This is the first I've heard that CH has a community policing program. I know I certainly do not trust the CH police and do not call them unless there is a true emergency. I'm not about to call up and report minor violations or suspicious behavior because I don't know but what that minor report won't end up with busted heads or worse.

As long as the Mayor has decided to sidestep the illegal immigrant issue by invoking community policing he should try to actually institute some community policing. Community Policing starts with the recognition that most of the citizens are not perps and should be respected as law abiding citizens and treated as such. That is not the attitude I get out of the CH police department.

I’m going to talk about the elephant in the room that I think the mayor and most seem to overlook in this issue the key term is ILLIGAL! Now I don’t care how you spin it or make it to be something that it’s not; the fact is they are breaking the law and the Mayor is saying he wants the police to turn the other way; or that they will not want to report crimes. Let see I sell Weed out of my house and someone breaks into my house and I call the police will they come out and take a report and leave me along; will they over look that fact that I’m doing something illegal. Now some are going to say this is apples and oranges and I say it not; both are breaking the laws of the land and they both should be treated the same. I find it to be a joke that as some who have travel out side of the US know that when you go to any other county they want to know how long you are going to be there and when you are going back; and just try to stay they will come looking for you. I find that our feelings on this issue to be something of jokes also as we want to say that they come here to make a living for their family; well that drug dealing; car thief; shoplifter and on are sometime doing the same thing; just trying to make a living for their family and all above are breaking the law!

So he's going to do nothing but turn a blind eye. Then turn a blind eye to ALL of the other crime in CH. ALL of it. A law is a law is a law. Are you actually saying that a federal law is not a law in Chicago Heights? Really? And it's not the responsibility of the police to enforce a law if the perpetrator happens to be of a certain ethic origin? So it's ok to lock up the black teenager who has a half an ounce of weed on him but it's not ok to detain the hundreds of people who are here illegally because they are of a certain ethnic origin? Hmmm, well that sounds like racial profiling right there Mr. Gonzalaz, you are picking and choosing laws to enforce, if you enforce one federal law you should enforce them all. I guess the only way legal citizens can protect themselves is to get the federal agencies involved since it is their law. The immigration laws of others countries are a hell of a lot stricter, and they are actually enforced. This makes no sense to me and probably thousands of other legal residents of this city. Every person arrested or detained in Chicago Heights for any minor offense needs to sue the city for discrimination stating they were arrested due to racial profiling. If you can't detain and arrest people because they are hispanic, then you can't detain and arrest white or black people either. They drive without licenses or insurance, live five families to a house and get preferential treatment. Well I guess it pays to break the law, at least in the Heights.

And now that illegals know they are protected by the mayor it's going to get a lot worse. I'm sure he will be showered with gifts and praise by the lawbreakers. At least we know who's side you're on and its not the side of the law abiding citizens of this town. What a disappointment, but it's really what I expected to hear. That you will be doing absolutely nothing. If they can break this law without any consequences I'm sure you will let them get away with breaking all of the other laws as well, because if you detain or arrest them it will be racial profiling, and you can't have that can you? Just so I have this correct, if I know a family is here illegally and I notify the police there is nothing that they can do, but if I see drug deals going down they will swoop in and arrest the perpertrators?

The federal government is responsible for immigration. Do you call your congressman if your trash isn't picked up or if your sewers back up? Come on. This is a silly question and I'm surprised that Patch didn't see that someone was simply being antagonistic and playing the race card here.

There you go LEGAL CITIZENS of CHICAGO HEIGHTS....i been saying this the whole time....ALL TALK...NO ACTION...and he just proved me right...ty mayor...smh...You gotta be the most uneducated mayor ive seen in office...smh...let see i gotta buy a dog license to have my dog in chgo hts...or i get a fine...but illegal immigrants can stay and no consequences...are you high or what??? so im seeing that if the police officers or anyone working for you or the city dosent follow through with your stupid idea...they will someone loose thier job....and dont say no thats not true...its exactly what you said...how do you sleep at night?...how do our chpd or anyone else sleep at night? so let me get this straight...ITS OK TO BREAK THE LAW because you think this will help our town? how about using "COMMON SENSE" and follow the LAWS and 'CLEAN UP OUR TOWN"!!!!!!! Can you honestly say your proud to be mayor of this town, or any other town knowing your breaking the law??? At least many moons ago when the "MAFIA" ran this town...yea they broke many laws...but our town was safe, clean, respectful..etc...they didnt NEED THE RESIDENTS TO HELP RUN IT!!!!! Do your job already...you wanted to be mayor..NOW FOLLOW THE LAW AND CLEAN UP OUR TOWN!!!!!... this ???? to aked the mayor is so stupid...he hasent answered 1 ? to help our town in anyway...but it wasent no suprise to me...smh..smh..smh.."CLEAN UP OUR TOWN"!!!!!!!

Winston A-- kissing again,it is the Mayors job to enforce the Code violations!More than 1 family in a house,how about 10 beds in a 2 bedroom house?How does this happen?

This issue make me think, if I get into a car crash with someone that is here illegal and I’m at fault however, they don’t have a DL and they should not be driving anyway does this fact sill make me at fault? After all if they were not here and were not driving illegal then they would not have been at that spot at that time and I would not have hit them; it just something to think about. The said fact about what the mayor had to say is the view of most of Illinois and it just does not stop with there as you can be here illegal and apply for Link and public funds and you will get it. I found it funny that when I had to sign my children up for school, I had to show proof of birth and a SS Card and I ask what if I did not have them; I was told that I could not sign them up; however if we were a different race then it would be ok. I don’t care who or what your race might be; I feel that Lady Justice should not swing one way and what the mayor had to say tells me that it does just this in CH. If someone gets pull over by CH and has an outstanding warrant will the police just let them go? The Mayor of CH should not be the mayor and that just my views; but the people of Heights will vote him back in as they don’t vote in large numbers anyway. They can’t say that he will get back in because illegal will vote him in; because the last time I check they could not vote unless he is letting them do that also.

Ok Let me say this Immigration is a federal issues when it comes to the crime and when someone brakes the law they are to be held and turn over to the Feds; it just like if someone breaks into a bank or take someone across state line; as these are also federal crimes and the local police have a duty to enforce the laws and detain the person. Now; it has nothing to do with race, and this was not a race card being played it just something that has been over look for far too long and as a African American who see young brother lock up everyday for having a joint on them; to seeing women arrested for trying to feed their children if we are going to enforce one law we should do the same for all. Now; the issue of race can be look into this way; out county has a standing that if you swim over here from Cuba and hit the shores you can stay; however you do the same and come from Haiti they will put you on the next boat back!

You can vote in Chicago Hts if you have a library card,Mahdee look at the large spike in library cards last election per month,it is 5 and 6 times cities triple our size. I'm just saying.

Jason , In my opinion "You are a Racist "
I'm just saying

Give me a break! This Mayor won't do a thing about illegals. Notice how he kicked the can down the road by saying it's up to the Federal Government? Well we all know the Federal position on immigration under the Obama administration? We all know the position in Illinois and Chicago on immigration under Democrat leadership. Chicago is a sanctuary city. Ask the Mayor what he thinks about Chicago being a sanctuary city? Ask the Mayor what he thinks about Obama's latest move to allow illegals basically a free pass to live and work in the United States without fear of deportation? His response will tell you all you need to know, I will gurantee it. ;)

I did not know that all you need to vote in the heights; and if that is so then that not in line with Cook County and the issue about the federal government is not correct from the numbers I have read about; this administration has deported more Illegal then any other; now I can’t say where they have gone and I have to take into fact that this would be true as we have more numbers over here now… And it all comes back the States and local law enforcements; they have to do their jobs and then the fed can do theirs. If the local law was locking up more and cracking down on the places that hire them then the fed would have no choice but to send those back that should not be here. We can look just at how so many people were upset about how the fed’s wanted to open up a holding place in Crete and so many people were not for it; but then they want to talk about how the Feds are not doing enough. I take it back to the basic; the local police arrest or detain those who break federal laws and turn then over too the feds, ICE will only set up a raid on a company after the local have push the issues and when they don’t then they tend not to give a care.

Ok looking at most of the coments posted I see a lot of ignorannnt ppl.. First of all if your gradparents were imigrants and you claim they didbthe right thing to become citizena well go to the libary and look up history of this imigranta and how imigration laws were so differnt then make an oppinio.. To the ppl mad because of ppl driving wt no LD go to markham see how Many U.S citizents are doing SWAP because they no longer have a liscese... You take a guess why... Now to the ppl qyestioning why not a crack down on illegal imigration... Ok leta say theres one.. What u think is going to happend to the local economy..? Notice whose buying the forclosure homes??? Check all that

Most of your problems are from us citizens anyway. The kids that may have come from illegal immigrants are now us citizens and those individuals are for the most part lazy and don't want to work but they are legal

you guys all sound so dumb to me .... what are these people doing to you ?? they come here to make a better life for them self's they are not hurting up in anyway we are all here talking about immigrants really ?? we are all immigrants all of our aunt sisters come from other country's this belonged to the Indians not any of us we took it from them ... im sorry but i don't agree with any of you guys saying they should crack down on immigrants they are not turning there heads its up to the federal government to deal with all that stuff i think the police of Chicago heights have there hands full with fools like yous then to be worried about if someone has a visa or papers to be here all these drug dealers and prostitutes thieves rapist and murders that live in the city worry about if your neighbor is a rapist not a immigrant...

TO ALL OF YOU LEGAL RESIDENTS OF CHICAGO HEIGHTS...OUR COMMENTS WE LEAVE ON HERE ARE SO LIGIT AND WE ARE LETTING THE MAYOR KNOW...BUT IN THE END RESULT WE KNOW NOTHING IS GONNA BE DONE...I THINK WE ALLLLL NEED TO GET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVED AND SEE WHAT THIER OPINION IS ABOU THIS???

the feds will not give a flying rats butt !!!

Mrs. Paisley explain why the library won't issue a copy of all new library card holders when I sent a FOIA request,they said I can only receive totals not names?You work there,take a close look at who signed up all the new card holders. And yes you can vote with a library card,no photo ID just mailing address. I'm not racist!but if 15 people can live in one house,don't have a ordinance that states otherwise.

Well, that's easy Mr. Amos. We don't release names for privacy issues. We only release the statistics for when cards were issued. It would be a violation of privacy to release names/address of those who requested cards. And perhaps you should report whoever let you vote with only a library card, because even I, an employee of the library, had to show a picture ID to cast my vote.

I forgot who hires city/library workers?

I forgot the Mayor.

Might want to find out why it was on the Mayors agenda,and your husbands article on Aug 5 on the patch new library board hire. Just saying.

I'm guessing that you are referring to the article that Patch ran on Monday, stating the City Council was going to vote on new Library Board members. That's because the Library Board members are selected and approved by the City Council. The library empolyees (like me!) are approved by the actual board, not the Mayor. And, may it be noted again, I was hired before the current Mayor was elected to office.

Sharon look at foren policy tell me whats wrong with why does central and south america get discriminated when it comes to coming here legaly why does the U.S goverment so strict?? Do you know why? You dont thats why is easyy to draw the conclution that immigrants CHose to be ilegal.. The goverment keeps their ppl in the dark bout so many things

As far as whos at fault for the high crime rate thars on all races regardless of where there from... Where theres a murder do you really think it matters what ethnicity they are??? Now look at national headlines, what do you see?? I see american ppl killing american ppl I dnt see terrorist or mexican cartels doing it like the U.S tries to portrait it now do you knw why most cities turn a blind eye to illegals.. It all comes to money to what ppl that dnr exist cant claim social security benefits , workers comp, or simply gets pulled over taken their car aaway and having to pay over 550$ to get a police realease... Tell me where does all that money go???

Now saying that kids of illegal imigrants are lazy ... That goes for any race look at the crap on tv.. Shows like 16 and preagnant, Highschool Mom, Jersey Shore, Rap music the social enviroment kids grow in ita crap thata an issue all kids are exposed to... "ohh im from the hood im gonna act like a thug" that tipe of thougts is whata wrong

This is clearly an emotional issues, as 38 comments in a few hours shows. The fact remains that the Supreme Court has stated that the enforcement of federal immigration laws is the responsibility of the federal government. Asking what a local mayor will do about immigration makes no sense.

True mr wolf

Since it is the federal governments job to enforce federal law in CH then robbing banks, treason,etc are no longer going to be enforced by CHPD? The mayor knows his voter base perfectly well. Enforce illegal alien laws and start looking for a new job is basically what it means to him. He would have to go back to his office in SOUTH Chicago Heights and work for a living and kiss all of his political aspirations goodbye.

Winston, the supreme court did not say the federal government was the only body of government that could enforce immigration laws, they said that the states and local governments could not change the immigration laws to suit their own purposes.

BTW, going back and rereading some of the comments here reminded me of one other thing. If the mayor wants cooperation from everybody reporting crimes, does he mean that reporting the crime of illegal immigration is to be ignored and not reported? I'm older than most of the commenters here I'm sure but I can remember when I was in my twenties a bus or a series of vans and I.N.S. agents would surround a business and literally handcuff and haul away the illegal immigrants (no matter what country they are from). Then the business owner would be cited for employing illegals. What happened to those days?

Can we get info on what our retired Fire and Police make off their pension that taxpayers are paying ? There is where you need to go if your looking for a crime . I'm sure Tom would have an opinion on that . But let's find a scapegoat ? Oh yes , illegal immigration ?

Tom they still do raids havent u heard the obama administration has the record for the highest deportation rate but hey look aruond you deportation isnt the keep legal reform is the goverment just turns tthe other way wastes millions on imigration enforcement and building fences abd not enough on social improvemen to prevent drug use and social brake down of comunity

ArtM what in the world are you talking about?since when does a pension have to do with crime?you seem to be the one looking for a scapegoat. Your ELECTED officials approve any and all pension increases and agreed to them in the first place. I worked for 45 years in a factory job and it wasn't until the last five years before I retired that we even had a pension plan, but I can't condemn fire and police officers for the pension they receive. These plans were in place before most of them were even born.

Tom theres over 6million illegal immigrants in the U.S. That work buy things and pay taxes.. Benifets in the millions that they camnot claim.. What do you think? You really thinl the goverment dont use that money?? That is why the decayinng social security system isnt dead yet... Im disgusted to see ppl sselling there link card money in exchange for booze and going montha in unemploment cause there too lazy to find a job

That would be a good story and information for the Patch . I'm sure it is Public Record what our past Fire Chief and others are getting paid i and how is it funded ? I keep hearing about is at a State level , let's see how it affects us at the local level . Can that be a question for Mayor or a story ?

Ty Tom..my point exactly...you cant pick and choose what crime you want to handle and which ones you dont!!!!!! Breaking the law is breaking the law...bottom line..and thats a good ?...if we call the chpd and the crime is by someone here thats illegal...what is done? id like an HONEST answer to that? Or is that the ones that they turn thier heads away from? So whats the point of calling? Now we just wasted time and money on that call for another call of someone who is legally committing a crime and got away!!!! So look at the picture...2 crimes committed..no consequences...smh...and for the record to everyone on here...the "mayor" was very aware of the ? he was being asked before he was going live for the public to see...everyones turning this into a racist thing...i will say it again...i dont care what race you are...the laws are the laws...obey them....and no one has yet to answer my ? why dont they do it legally? things that make you go hmmmm??? smh..just as no one can answer the ?? about other federal crimes and the way there handled...but illegal immigration...the mayor nor chpd has anything to do with?? makes no sense...i mean i was born late..but not last night...51 yrs in this town..i have the right to say what i want,.i wont say anything i havent seen...i was here back in the good ol days..and im still here totally ashamed of what this town has become...and no i wont move..ive wrkd, paid for my house, taxes, etc.LEGALLY!!!! As im sure many of us have..LEGALLY!!!

Again Sharon thr reason why ilegal imigrants cant become legal or come here legaly is because the goverment wont allow it again its because of money every issue that has to do with natiomal security gets blame on illegal imigration... Now saying that who cares bout the rest of the country and focus on our town is wrong because the country is supposed to bbe a union what happends here and what happends anywhere else has an effect everywhere

It's easy to be self-righteous when you were lucky enough to be born in the richest country on earth. I assume (based upon their writing skills) that most of those screaming about illegal immigrants are lower-middle class Americans. They, and even the poor in America, are FAR more comfortable than the average Mexican. I doubt that any of you understand the situation from the point of view of a person living in what is becoming a third-world country, looking for an opportunity to live a better life. Of course they "should" emigrate legally, but desperation is a fact of life. It's not their fault if we don't police our borders, nor is it the fault of a local police force.

Everyone should take a deep breath and remember that unless we slaughtered the only real Native Americans, America as we know it wouldn't even exist.

Mahdee, your post made me laugh as well. :)

My mother told me not to toss rocks when you live in a glass house and I have to say some people live in a house full of glass! The last time I check USA was not and is not the richest county on earth.... I want to ask what part of Mexico have you been to where you feel they all live so bad? As I was just there early this year and I did not see a land that you speak about; now if you want to talk about poor; try taking a trip to Haiti and then talk to me about poor people. And you talk about people being desperate; I once more say should be give a break to the woman or man that stills form Ultra to feed their family as I can recalled someone was just arrested for this early this year... and you are right we can't police all the borders but we sure can police RT 30... And Americana as you talk about would have become what it is as it was here from the start! And last point tell me if I'm wrong; but was this the same mayor that asks those who work in the CH to leave their job if they had a family member in office as he wanted to have a clear and open CH?

Trust me I will be voting again in the next election and my vote will not go to someone who refuses to enforce the laws of this country. I always thought a law was a law once it was on the books but I guess our elected officials can pick and chose which laws to enforce. Can I in turn pick and choose which laws to obey and not fear arrest? Of course not, because I would be breaking the law and should be punished. But, if legal citizens call regarding illegal residents our calls will go unanswered or answered with "that's not our department". I thought enforcing the law was the responsibility of the police department, but not in Chicago Heights. And Winston (mayor, or mayors relative) I will make a few calls to the government agency responsible for enforcing this law since it obviously is not the responsibility of the city of Chicago Heights. Now that every illegal knows that this city is a safe haven they will take advantage of it. And yes, illegal immigrants do commit crimes but now they know they won't be arrested or detained for it. Good job Mayor. Now where is the number to ICE? Ahhhhh, here it is.

A sharon I just told you look into the imigration laws, that the U.S has you hane any ckue what they say?? You keep sayingg do it legaly but do you know what legal means??? To enlighten you coming here legal means that you have to have money in the bank that you must be educated that if u apply for residentsy it takes an average of 15yrs wait..that goes for central and south america yet a cuban touches US soil auttomaticly his good to stay PuertoRico isnt even a state buy they can be here middle easter groups can come here start a bussiness even though some come from terrorist countries.... You see whats wrong wtt this picture???

Now mr nit bullying corret me if im wrong but wasnt this country founded by excons , protestants and undesierbles and England called em... Did they not betray the locals and slaugther thousands for land, did they not invade forend territory when the U.S wasnt the US yet... Did your ancestors follow the rules??? Im not even from here and I prob know more bout your history and policies than you guys claim to know answer wt facts not wt assumtions and ignorance and excuse my grammar im using a phome and its annoying to go back and correct stuff

As far as why the mayor is in office now dont look at me I cant even vote this is your town like u say its the way it is cause u guys alowed it to be like that

Now calling ICE will be an expence on your taxpayers money and lets say you get rid of all the illegals in town... What do u think will happend to the economy?? Look at the mayor intown markets and stores who owns them?? Hint hint it aint "American"citizents... Think bout all the empty housing it will cause who you think will comw fill in?? Anybody has heard of section 8?? And what does section 8bring?? Drugdealers... Dnt beliebe it ?? Look at Ford Heights

You idiots don't know a damn thing about your own hardworking neighbors, the "undocumented". These people have come to this country because of extreme poverty and lack of socioeconomic mobility in their homelands. First off, everyone needs to understand that few people will willingly leave a place in which their language and customs are the norm to go off into a strange country in which we are the targets of discrimination for our color and of a culture of heavy jobs and poor pay. Two things that need to be understood in reference to the nonactive stance of Chicago Heights is that a large part of the money spent is coming from undocumented people and also that communities are kept safer if more people are able to report crime to the police without being afraid of deportation. Finally, everyone un/documented needs to understand that yes, you can into the country legally, but the wait is very long(18) and counting... I'm from the Heights and I've been around people of all ethnicities and all I say is that I know heights is fucked up but I love my people.

Paco Mendez, YOU are the main reason there is so much trouble with not undocumented but ILLEGAL aliens from Central and South America as well as Europe and Russia. YOU feel that you are entitled to be here, this is not the case at all. Please check your own homelands policies regarding immigration, they are far and away more strict than they are here.So please forgive me if I don't show a lot of sympathy for illegals. The only way to change the govenment policies is from within, it will never get any better until your own people force the government and businesses there to change." Undocumented " is just candy coating the true nature of illegal.

If 18 years is a true length of time waiting for documents to come here legally then ther is a real problem internally with Mexico.

Alex let me say that when we tend to make assumption we tend to make ourselves to be anal… Now; I rented a car and took a nice drive and I saw more then as you say the vacation spots. I did like how they had armed guys post up with AK 47 along the way. And what does the poverty rate have to do with it; if we are going to deal with just that we can look at many other places that are much worst off then Mexico; real 3 world counties where they don’t have running water or plumbing and how would you feel if we took them in to battle for the few jobs that we do have; now let see that $20 a hr for a job that someone is making $5 would go down to $1; as Im sure some one from those parts of the world would love to make that $1. Now; I have to ask do them have a Wal-Mart’s in Mexico or some other USA stores. Have you ever been to Haiti or some of the African nations like the Congo, Niger and so on and seen what real poor people live like? For all that have you been down south to some of the towns down there and seen what real poor people live like right here in USA? We should not give anyone a reason for why they should be allowed to break the law; because if we do then the drug dealer you spoke about might have a said story for why he does what he or she does.

I find that some people for whatever reason are over looking the big picture and you have some that are just way off base it does not make one different what anyone of us feel the facts are and will be that CH has a large amount of Illegal’s that just happen to be from south of the borders. Now the issue is that they are here and they are not going back anytime soon; so we have to live with them and try to find a way to work them into the US system. Now this is an issue of black and white with no gray. Some say that we have bigger issues to deal with in CH then this and we do; like the fact we are facing a budget in the neg in CH and IL and US government and for the life of me I can’t see how some don't see what some of the roots to this is. The banks made a bad bet on the housing market and when the housing market crash that sent us downward. And then to add presser to the bubble the job market fell in and that came from the out source of jobs and NAFTA and made in American became made in everywhere else.
Now; the issues with Illegal’s; and I hate to break this to some people; but that what they are Illegal's; as they came to this country in the back door and bypass a lot of people whom live in worst conditions that also would love to come here and some don’t cross borders but swim in shark water just to be sent back. Now once they get here they do a Wal-Mart’s on the job market; they would do the same job for way much less. .

(Cont) Now this took away the fair market as why would you pay me $50 to cut your yard when someone else would do it for $10, you would not. As they won’t do a better job; it more so they would do the same job but for less money and this is what hurts the job market.
My daughter was home for the summer and wanted to work at Mc-D and she was told that they don’t hire Student’s as they don’t work as hard; yes you can hire a bus load of people whom will work like slaves for little money and not care about things like benefits; as someone told me before I want to work a grow folks job and get paid a grown folks pay; Mc-d was a job for Students that wanted to make side money. Now this does not just hurt the average person it hurts us all as you see I have to pay taxes and I can't use your SSN or get paid under the table (it laws in place to stop me) so I pay into a tax system that has more going out then coming in, because everyone is not paying their fair share.
Someone talk about how most of those here illegal are paying into the tax systems and I want to ask them how so; they don't have a SSN and they can't get one so how are they? ...

(Cont) And please don't talk about the food they buy or anything like that as this does little to pay into the tax system; the biggest tax we all (that work and use a real SSN) have to pay is Federal, FICA, State and Medicare and these are the taxes that are use to pay for the health care that those whom work here illegal are using and Edu system and so one...Someone talk about how some come here illegal and have children here; did some of you know that go to any other part of the world and have a child there and that child is not a citizen just by being born on that soil; so why do we do this in the USA

im done goin back and forth....the law is the law...and our mayor clearly stated he's bending it and ignoring it...you think with all the past city officials that have went to prison for breaking the laws....ppl would learn...guess not...im tired of the stories..on and on and on...WE HAVE LAWS FOR A REASON PPL...quit trying to bend them to your advantage...smh...i live in chgo hts...i wanna foucus on chgo hts...enforce the law...clean up the town...zerooooo tolerance....will be setting a good example to other neighboring towns...etc...thats all i gotta say...

Belinda you are wrong with that fact; you can apply and get link and public funding; med-card; wic and all others state issue support and be here illegally as they can’t ask about you about your status. Now; I don’t pull this out of the air as my sister works for the offices in the south sub and she let me read the paper work that came from down state telling them such. And this is not just the children as a child can’t get link it will be base on the family size and members in the house and reported income.. Now on the state web site where you can apply on line it tell you such and if you don’t have a SSN you can by pass that part.. Now; if you are born and raise here and have a SSN and you go to apply for this they are going to run your SSN into the state data base and if you lie you can face Jail time and will have to pay back what ever you got..

Mahdee: Just for a moment, try to imagine the good you could have done with the time and energy you have expended with your posts on this topic.

Have a nice day.

Now I know why I cant find a good job and am living homeless with my family in Chicago Heights! Thanks a lot Mayor Gonzalez!

and I shoud have taking the (is) out...

Let also say Mr. Knight this might help you; Use a comma + a little conjunction (and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so) to connect two independent clause, as in "He hit the ball well, but he ran toward third base." Contending that the coordinating conjunction is adequate separation, some writers will leave out the comma in a sentence with short, balanced independent clauses (such as we see in the example just given). If there is ever any doubt, however, use the comma, as it is always correct in this situation.
One of the most frequent errors in comma usage is the placement of a comma after a coordinating conjunction. We cannot say that the comma will always come before the conjunction and never after, but it would be a rare event, indeed, that we need to follow a coordinating conjunction with a comma. When speaking, we do sometimes pause after the little conjunction, but there is seldom a good reason to put a comma there….; Now; I hate to say that the last time I check this was not a class and if someone want to teach they should learn first themselves

And Mr. Knight I don’t have to type as my phone let’s me speak into it and it does the typing; and if you have not guess or might not have read the older post, as I’m sure you don’t have a clue as to what the belly of the beast might be, well I’m of the race that Mr. Fox (ex President to Mexico) said were too lazy to do the work that why USA needed his people to come here! It’s not that we are too lazy but more so we don’t tend to work for free anymore and I sure don’t work for non union wages..

I guess it will be ok with the mayor if I decide to break a few laws since they shouldnt be enforced anyway. I mean hell, I shouldn't be arrested for it or ticketed or fined since I'm sure they don't want to decrease my trust factor. I can't trust the police if they enforce the laws.

Fed Up he is in a great article in the Chicago Tribune Thursday

"Son Courts Business from Speakers Allies"
2 Page story Mayor Gonzalez and Chicago Hts in a scandal again,didn't see that coming,can someone put a link up?

Thanks Mahdee.

Chris can you start a article on this?Would bring some great responses.

I'm sure we won't hear from Winston on this,or his response will be why is the newspaper wasting time on this.

It's not a scandal. The contract was competitively bid, and Mesirow had the contract before Andrew Madigan was hired (and before Gonzalez was mayor). Trib didn't have room for those facts, though.

Yes Winston its a conspiracy against the Mayor.

I think John Couger Melloncamp sang it best,when the walls come tumbling down the walls.

Hardly. The Trib is obsessed with Madigan, so I'm sure their omissions had nothing to do with Mayor Gonzalez.

All the people saying that local police should be enforcing immigration law are silly. Do you expect them to enforce the tax code too and go after tax evaders? No.

Immigration Law is under the federal government's jurisidiction. period. end of story.

seriously, the fact that this guy is our mayor is ridiculous. id rather go back in time and deal with the corrupt mayor and his peeps that were sent to the cushy jail than have this idiot as our mayor. Bring Chucky P back!

A mayor that endorses looking the other way when it comes to illegal immigrants? I wonder what other crimes the mayor deems it's okay to over look. Call me naive, but I thought that it was the responsibility of law enforcement to prosecute violators of ANY crime---not those crimes they select. If an officer pulls over a person that ran a stop sign, with no driver's license or other form of ID and during the course of his interrogation of this person the officer determines they are in the country illegally shouldn't that person be arrested and deported?

I just don't understand what this country is coming to. I'm sick of pressing 1 for English. I'm tired of flipping government documents & forms over so that I can read the English portion. I'm tired of hearing of another college creating special grants and scholarships for undocumented college students.

Please don't think that I am a racist, because I am not. I'm a law abiding AMERICAN who doesn't believe we should continue enabling illegal immigrants by in essence rewarding them for breaking into this country by making things easier for them.

Jane, You must of flunked the Constitution test if you think Local law enforcement can prosecute ANY Crime. First they don't prosecute, thats the Court System (Judicial govt) . I guess it did not take much for the Mayor to beat his opposition with the type of people posting here. What a group of racist and uneducated people. You can vote wtih a library card? Really? is that what you think?. I don't live in the Heights anymore, but I guess this Mayor will be in for quite some time if you guys are the alternative. Must be very stressful having to push 1 for English. That is so complicated. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ....I think we learned that in grade school. If this Jason Amos and SharonC put thier brains together, I think you guys would still only come up with half a brain. Perhaps , I can suggest a History class or religion class to increase your knowledge in law and being a human being.

I have to say that this issue has brought out so much hate and personal feelings and there is no reason for such. I feel that some might be over looking the big picture and those feelings might make them say things out of hate or they have a feeling of self guilt. I don’t personally know the Mayor of Chicago Heights. I’m not able to vote for him anyway as I live in County. Now, I want to come to bat for some on here and make this point as clear as I can. The facts are the fact and we need to stop trying to make them so grey. We all know the job of the police is to enforce the laws and we look to them just to do that. Now, once they decide or directed not to enforce all the laws then we are not living a true justice system and lady justice is swinging one way. The facts are that it is the job of the CH police is to question someone during trafficstops. Now, in the process of stopping someone for committing any type of major traffic offenses (as you just can’t stop people just to stop them) or in the job of investigate a crime the police will question that person and ask for some information i.e. DL or state issue Id.

(Cont) Now if this person does not have such then they will ask Name, DOB and SSN. This is a fact and some might not want to admit it. If you look at any police report you will see this to be true. Now, if that person dose not or can not supply this information to prove who they are then that officer should take it to the next step and that is to inquire does this person have anything to hide and it’s a fact that being in this country illegally is something to hide. Now, if the officer finds that this person is in fact here illegally, they are to detain that person; transport them to Markham or make a call to ICE; at that stage the justice system will do the rest. Now, if the feds want to send this person back to their country then that is on them; but that local police officer has done their job. Now, the Mayor should have kept his mouth shut or side step the question, but his remarks were a shock to me.

(cont) When the mayor talks about over looking some laws to justify having people tell on others breaking the law or to report crimes then I go back to where does he draw the line? If I’m a drug dealer in the Heights and I get arrested I should have my crimes over looked. Or I’m a single woman in the Heights and my children are hungry and I go into Food 4 Less and take some meat to feed my children and I get caught; well once more I should have my crime over looked. Now those who say that this is apples and oranges just might want to think about why they feel that way. I will say this one more time we should not throw rocks when we live in a glass house or question what anyone feels or thinks. Now it a fact that some parts of IL and all of Chicago have been Sanctuary Cities and it’s a fact that Chicago Heights is one also; just in case no one knew

I have to say that this issue has brought out so much hate and personal feelings and there is no reason for such. I feel that some might be over looking the big picture and those feelings might make them say things out of hate or they have a feeling of self guilt. I don’t personally know the Mayor of Chicago Heights. I’m not able to vote for him anyway as I live in County. Now, I want to come to bat for some on here and make this point as clear as I can. The facts are the fact and we need to stop trying to make them so grey. We all know the job of the police is to enforce the laws and we look to them just to do that. Now, once they decide or directed not to enforce all the laws then we are not living a true justice system and lady justice is swinging one way. The facts are that it is the job of the CH police is to question someone during trafficstops. Now, in the process of stopping someone for committing any type of major traffic offenses (as you just can’t stop people just to stop them) or in the job of investigate a crime the police will question that person and ask for some information i.e. DL or state issue Id.

I agree...some have gotton personal and attacking individuals...but to me that shows thier ignorance bliss of what kind of person they are...i dont really care what anyone says about me...but like you said..the facts are the facts...i just wish EVERYONE would ask thierselves this ? ....if this wasent a law...and mr mayor wasent breaking it? why did he make that statement to begin with? And for the record...just cuz thiers only so many of us writting on the patch...dont think the whole town dosent know this...and if you think were all gonna brush it under the table...think again....yea mr mayor created a big stink for hisself...im seeing an investigation on this town and officails coming real soon...after all he did make the chgo tribune last week...anyone read that article?? Just a matter of time ppl...

What happened to unity? I see alot of racist comments, and the day will come when God judges you on that. This is what is wrong with the world today. I happen to know alot of nice people in the heights, but I don't go around asking their legal status here. They are human just like the rest of us. They pay taxes too!!!!

Ok how about this; I come across the state line from IN to CH with over 50 pack of tobacco and get pulled over do they let me go or call the feds; or I take a trip to Ultra and have a nice fake $100 bill. Ok I can go on with all a lot of crimes that fall under the Feds and in each and ever case it will be the local police that would take someone to jail and turn them over to the feds… So it’s not about what type of crime they do as any crime is just that a crime and when we bend and shape the laws to fit our needs and wanted then we have broken systems. I understand why some don’t want to see this and why some want to over look this fact; and I agree it easy to say let look the other way; or if it does not personal effect me then why should I care. And this notion that we are this color blind county is a joke; each and every one of us have some type of deep feeling when it comes to race. Shit I lock my door when I pull up on a group of young guys standing on the block; as I call and check my bank info each and everyday to make sure my money has not gone over seas.

I personal know many Hispanic people and they don’t like me just because my skin is darker then theirs; and the funny thing about that is they have family member who are darker then me. I can say that we have many races of people that are here in this country illegal and they tend to blend in the very best way they can and learn to speak English; and we don’t cater to them and their needs. Now; don’t get me wrong we need to go after the mayor and make sure he is remove from offices as his views are the reason we have so many illegal in the heights in the 1st place. They can live; work and get paid under the table and nothing is done about it. And please people who like to say that illegal’s pay taxes; how in heck can they pay taxes when they don’t have a SS number and they are not working on a work visa or student visa; as if they were then they would not be called ILLEGALS

So please stop with the post about how someone is racist; as to know what he word mean you will see that we all have some type of racism in us we are a system of ism; be is sex; age or race. The woman that stand next to me in the line at the store and grabs her purse and pulls it close; is she raciest or just a dam fool; when in hell would I take her purse when I can just take the money out of the store; and where in hell can I run anyway. Like I said we all have some type of fears and things we don’t like; I hate to go anywhere and have some Spanish people talking some type of English and then start speaking Spanish when I walk up; shit if you have been in this country more then 2 years you should know how to speak English. If you leave this county and go anywhere you are going to speak the language spoken their or you are SOL. Just Because I Support My Own; Does Not Mean I'm Anti Anyone Else!

wow 138 comments on this article...smh...and at the end of the day guess what ppl....the laws the law...mr mayor is ignoring it no matter how many ppl try to sugar coat it...and they know it...we can go back and forth forever...and it will still be the same...mr mayor needs to fix the prolbem hisself..he knows what he's gotta do..and if he dosent? well...theres always consequences for ppl that break the law...we know that...so i wish him the best and pray he does the right thing...and speaking for myself...i want to add i am not a racist..this has nothing to do with any race..it has to do with the law...somthing that should be enforced..not ignored..

Really people? With all the crime in Chicago Heights and you're arguing about immigration laws? Most crimes in the Heights is committed by either citizens or legal residents. Im not saying that illegal immigrants should get passed over but come on people. we have more serious issues to deal with