DID CLOSED BUSINESSES SEND A MESSAGE? STORES SHUT FOR DEMONSTRATION.Byline: EUGENE TONG Staff Writer SANTA CLARITA Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, - Darkened dark·en v. dark·ened, dark·en·ing, dark·ens v.tr. 1. a. To make dark or darker. b. To give a darker hue to. 2. To fill with sadness; make gloomy. 3. storefronts and an eerie silence descended Monday on businesses throughout the city as immigrant workers, primarily Latino, and sympathizers joined a nationwide ``Day Without Immigrants'' economic boycott. On Newhall's San Fernando Road San Fernando Road is a major street in the city and county of Los Angeles. It starts off in Castaic as The Old Road, passing through Santa Clarita and the Newhall Pass, where upon its intersection with Sierra Highway near the junction of the Golden State (I-5) and the - the center of local Latino commerce where up to 30 day laborers might congregate each day in search of work - fewer than a dozen stood along its misty sidewalks early Monday. During the busy lunch hour, signs reading Cerrado - Closed - hung outside dozens of restaurants, shops and markets. Instead, small bands - some wearing green Mexico soccer jerseys, others carrying the Stars and Stripes Stars and Stripes nickname for the U.S. flag. [Am. Hist.: Brewer Dictionary, 8567] See : America - arrived at the Newhall Metrolink station, waiting for the train to take them to the two rallies in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . Organizers intended the protests to demonstrate the economic contribution of immigrants regardless of legal status, and to push for the rights of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants currently in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. . ``I'm going to the march because I want the people in the government to know we are important to this nation,'' said Angel Saucedo, 38, who skipped work as a painter for the trip downtown. Vicki Stock, 50, of Newhall said she was joining the protest in support of the immigrant Latinos she grew up with. ``They were my best friends,'' she said. ``These people are the hardest-working people we've got.'' It also was a slow morning at AV Equipment Rental, which leases construction and gardening machines for small businesses and homeowners. Manager Daniel Flores Daniel Flores may refer to:
``A lot of our contractors are saying they're letting their workers off today, or they had them work Saturday to make up for Monday. ... We'll have to find some way to adjust. One day is OK. Two days and it's going to start causing problems.'' But Joe Jasik, who immigrated with his family to the United States from Czechoslovakia in 1983 and operates an auto repair shop in Newhall, opposed any push to legalize le·gal·ize tr.v. le·gal·ized, le·gal·iz·ing, le·gal·iz·es To make legal or lawful; authorize or sanction by law. le the undocumented. ``It's like living in Mexico and refusing to learn Spanish,'' Jasik, 39, said. ``I think it's a slap in the face to all the hard-working people who came out here the right way.'' Outside of Newhall, at least one carwash closed for the day, and fast-food restaurants appeared short-staffed during the lunch hour. Both the Valencia and Newhall outlets of the El Pollo Loco El Pollo Loco is a fast-food restaurant chain and Mexican grilled chicken franchise. "El Pollo Loco" is Spanish for "The Crazy Chicken". Juan Francisco Ochoa started the restaurant in Guasave, Mexico, in 1975. chain went dark - paper signs on the door and the drive-through menu apologized to patrons. ``I think it's a load of crap,'' said a woman who declined to give her name as she exited the chicken restaurant's drive-through line in Valencia. Steve Swanson Steve Swanson, of Tampa, Florida, is the current lead guitarist for the death metal band, Six Feet Under. He took over guitar duties from Allen West (of Obituary). Allen left the band in late 1997, when Chris Barnes was fired from Cannibal Corpse. , 43, also came looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. lunch but went away hungry. ``They are entitled to their opinion,'' he said. ``But I think they're hurting themselves. ... It's like the (grocery) strike. They're just helping other people who would take their jobs.'' Jack Kyser, chief economist The Chief Economist is a single position job class having primary responsibility for the development, coordination, and production of economic and financial analysis. It is distinguished from the other economist positions by the broader scope of responsibility encompassing the of the Los Angeles Economic Development Corp., said businesses that are owned, staffed or serve Latinos throughout the county have abided by the boycott. ``They just shut down,'' he said. ``You have a lot of people taking the day off and it just rippled through California.'' Kyser said it was too early to calculate the actual economic impact of the one-day boycott on the county, though he estimated it could be as high as $200 million - a fraction of the $1.2 billion in economic activity generated in the county daily. As for signs of backlash, Kyser said: ``I've heard people say we're not going to any Mexican restaurants this week or we're not buying any Corona.'' Still, there were exceptions. Valencia Auto Spa owner Randy Cressall said all of his workers showed up Monday. Days earlier, he had discussed the significance of the May 1 protests with his crew. ``We talked to them about the value of showing their support for the community and the country they live in rather than going to the demonstration,'' he said. Cressall said he also would pay 1 1/2 times the normal wage from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. - when a march down Wilshire Boulevard Wilshire Boulevard is one of the principal east-west arterial roads in Los Angeles, California, United States. It was named for H. Gaylord Wilshire (1861-1927), an Ohio native who made and lost fortunes in real estate, farming, and gold mining. in Los Angeles was scheduled. ``We certainly understand the motive behind the call to this National Day of Action,'' he said. ``We asked our employees to consider all of the facts before you ... participate. ... Their rights will be better served if they show the support for the country they live in, that has provided for them income and hope for the future.'' Juan Bernabe, owner of Jazmin's Bakery in Newhall, split the difference and closed at noon. Only four people - instead of the usual staff of 10 - came to work Monday. ``I get orders in the morning,'' he said. ``I'm working for my customers. I try to make my customers happy. ``It's tough. I came here (as an immigrant) in the same way, too. I'm trying to work hard and support my family.'' Also Monday, about a dozen protesters waving American flags at the corner of McBean Parkway and Valencia Boulevard demonstrated in support of the boycott, holding signs that read, ``Fair labor.'' A counterdemonstration coun·ter·dem·on·stra·tion n. A demonstration held in opposition to another demonstration. coun , also with about a dozen participants, took place across the street. Asked whether the boycott and protest would influence the immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. debate in Congress, Kyser said it's not likely as the Senate discussion continues out of the public eye. ``I'm afraid no matter how the message was sent, they don't want it,'' Kyser said. The Associated Press contributed to this story. eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com (661) 257-5253 CAPTION(S): 3 photos Photo: (1 -- color) Many of the businesses in Old Newhall along San Fernando Road, such as Taco Llama llama (lä`mə), South American domesticated ruminant mammal, Lama glama, of the camel family. Genetic studies indicate that it is descended from the guanaco. , were closed Monday. Many employees didn't show up so they could attend immigration demonstrations. (2 -- color) Pedestrians pass by a closed Tresierras Market on Monday as many of the businesses in Old Newhall along San Fernando Road were closed for the immigration demonstrations. (3 -- color) Many of the businesses in Old Newhall along San Fernando Road were closed Monday for the boycott and immigration demonstrations. David Crane/Staff Photographer |
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