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Noel Chavez stated that he is a student at Canada College and is representing the <br />Young Leaders in the Boys of Latinos. He then continued his comments in Spanish. <br />Jennifer Castello, a resident of Redwood City for thirty -two years, an English as a <br />Second Language professor and ESL program coordinator at Canada College, stated <br />that she is speaking on behalf of the faculty and administration of Canada College. She <br />stated their concerns about students knowing their rights and the need for them to be <br />able to study and successfully complete their educations so that they can contribute to <br />the community in the future. As a member of the 2000 PACT program, she stated that <br />she was very impressed with the dedication of the employees of Redwood City. She <br />stated that she is here to stand up for people that she does not know and say that she <br />is here to help them. <br />Librada Valencia (spoke only in Spanish) — Mayor Pierce asked Cheryl Bergman to <br />translate: The community is present here today because there are a lot of children in <br />our community whose parents have been deported and it is the children who are <br />suffering. She stated that is why they are here to support legalization for immigrants so <br />that the children do not have to suffer the deportation of their mothers and their fathers. <br />Erien Lucien stated that he is a life long Redwood City resident, a contractor, and that <br />he is directly affected by the illegal alien population. He stated his support for legal <br />immigration and his concerns about problems, regarding illegal immigration. He stated <br />that he is not in favor of sanctuary and asked that our illegal immigration problems be <br />fixed now. <br />Margarita Garcia stated that she emigrated from Mexico and has lived in Redwood City <br />for the past sixteen years with her family. She stated that she used to be an illegal alien <br />but has been able to go to school due to the Dream Act. She asked that the City <br />support students like her as well as their parents, so that they can pursue higher <br />education and be able to work legally when they graduate. She stated her hope that <br />there would no longer be any more deportations anywhere. <br />Mark Silverman stated that he is representing the Immigrant Legal Resource Center <br />and stated their support for the people within the community who are urging Council to <br />put pressure on ICE to stop the raids for a number of reasons. He stated that the <br />Dream Act is now pending before Congress and it has support from all local Bay Area <br />Congress people. He stated his concerns that the practices of ICE (Immigration and <br />Customs Enforcement) is endangering the public safety of Redwood City and national <br />security by focusing on illegal immigrants as opposed to focusing on increasing customs <br />inspection of more shipping containers. <br />Deborah Applie stated that she is representing CORA (Community Overcoming <br />Relationship Abuse — a nonprofit domestic violence agency). She stated her concerns <br />that actions by ICE will destroy the trust built within the immigrant community between <br />the cities and counties. She stated her disbelief that anyone thinks it will be a good <br />JOINT CITY COUNCIL /REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD AND APRIL 23, 2007 <br />PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY MEETING MINUTES PAGE 3 <br />MINUTE BOOK NO. 61 <br />Page No. 379 <br />