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York Conservatives' Group to Discuss Judgeship, ImmigrationThursday, September 16, 2010 Political winds swirl around Tuscany’s coffee shop once a month and September and October will be no exception. The Tuscany Forum, a York County group of fiscal and political conservatives, has been attracting various state and national politicians to speak at monthly meetings and the group’s agendas always contain politically charged issues.September’s meeting, which will be held Thursday evening, will feature two state lawmakers who have squared off over filling a vacant judgeship in the York-Poquoson Circuit Court. Since late 2008 when the former judge died, state Sen. Tommy Norment and state Del. Tom Gear, both Republicans, have failed to come to an agreement over the appointment. The men will visit Tuscany’s coffee house on Route 17 and Denbigh Boulevard to talk to the Forum on court appointments, refinery closure, immigration, and “other pertinent issues,” according to the agenda. For the October meeting, York County Supervisor Tom Shepperd was invited to address five county issues identified by the main decision makers for the group, called the “Tuscany core group.” One of these issues Shepperd was asked to address is “the potential nuisance of probable illegal immigrants congregating on the Yorktown waterfront and picnic areas on weekends.” Realtor Greg Garrett and York County Sherriff Danny Diggs, both members of the core group, say they don’t know how the item got on the agenda. “I was puzzled by that as well,” said Diggs. He says several people who some believe could be illegals do tend to visit the picnic area on the beach on Sunday, but his deputies haven’t experienced any problems, nor do they ask people on the beach for evidence of citizenship. False citizenship status is a civil case, and if someone was found to be in the country illegally they would only receive a summons to appear in court and they’d be allowed to go on their way, unless they were engaged in illegal activity, said Diggs. As for any issues York County has with illegal immigrants, Diggs believes that is “a lot of it is media-driven hype.” The hype may have been fueled by Rep. Rob Wittman’s visit to the Tuscany Forum at the end of August. He told the audience one “simple truth” about the U.S. is that it’s a sovereign nation that needs to enforce its immigration laws, and that the U.S. is the only country that doesn’t vigorously defend its borders. He followed that statement with an anecdote about illegal immigrants in Virginia involved in criminal activity. Shepperd says he also hasn’t heard that illegal immigrants congregating in Yorktown is a problem. He talked with his staff, and he’s also done some research into immigration-related rules so he can share some thoughts with the group. “I’m curious how people who are asking this question came up with the identification [of people as illegal immigrants],” he said. He suggested this is “profiling” of the people in question. Shepperd said he’s only ever received one email from a county resident raising concerns about the idea. Other items on the agenda for discussion at the October 21 meeting are the York refinery closing, litter on the roads, hazards of using cell phones while driving, and the high deer population. Tuscany Forum meetings are held the third Thursday of each month.
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Comments
I go to this area on the weekends and it's been nothing but good times for families & friends. People go there to enjoy the beautiful beach and spend quality time with loved ones, the same reason I do. I never see any problems.
If Rep. Wittman wants to stir fear about illegal's criminal actions, that's his political agenda. But let's leave good folks alone until a "potential" problem becomes a reality.