Shamnesty?

I find that hard to imagine of you Max, even though you seem to think New York is entitled to low cost construction labor instead of the pain of, say, a correction in the cost of living disparity in NY.

Sorry for the winded reply?..Every major city a has higher cost of living index than suburban or rural areas. The regulations in NYC create added expenses. There are not enough skilled workers in NYC to contruct the 20 billion in new construction.. Tell me how we correct for the cost of living disparity? You misunderstand my past remarks. Illegals are hurting legal workers in my field. Cengel and I both agree, but the Middle and Upper Middle Class benefit. The poor are hurt too as Tully points out.. I was complaining that entry-level positions for semi-skilled American laborers are over-priced in NYC. I guarantee a Z visa worker isn?t going to demand $40,000 to start. Work in my field is based on performance, not alleged experience. The real change will come when contractors get $75,000 fines for hiring illegals. I am impressed how hard they work. We will better off letting many in. Many of my peers could use the legal competition and labor. Then I?ll see my income rise. Nowhere did I say I want to PRETEND that the situation will be resolved. I actually hurt myself, by advocating Amnesty and not joining the deportation crowd, but my Liberal instinct is too strong. The question is how to change this BAD situation. Making illegals legal will raise the wages of those of us trying to compete with contractors who use illegals. The influx of legal labor will lower the higher bids because of the labor pool, but so what? I can?t see deportation work so I am forced to accept Amnesty. Will I favor a B.S. Bill? No. I will see what comes out of the meat grinder and look here for reviews of the bill..

I do not favor a bill that will not enforce labor laws or pretend to close the borders. Again, the reason I favor qualified Amnesty is because of the less damaging effect to the South as we build a wall ( we have to see long term) and the absurdity of deporting 12 million people. Immigrants will make the playing field more level and raise the present wages of those of us working hard and by the rules. Frankly, a good painter should be making at least $50,000 a year. A decent minor contractor should be making closer to $80,000 for quality work. I know several contractors making far more than that, but most use illegals and make the added money from their labor. My comments about over-priced legal workers does not mean skilled workers who work hard aren't due a good living wage. Of course a floor in NYC or Palm Beach is going to cost more than Norwalk CT or Newark, NJ.

If I wanted cheap labor Brian, I would do what the Democrats are doing ?try to push Amnesty without a real plan to enforce labor laws. I am hoping, but we will see. I felt compelled to throw my voice in behind qualified Amnesty. The situation is bad and deportation will fuel the anti-American fire as Chavez prepares military resistance against the US. LOL You were the one talking PR and blow back. The present situation in the renovation sector is too many illegals driving down the labor wages (but often not what the crooked contractor takes in) and sub contractors over charging to make up the difference.

Here is an example. I bid $8,000 to restore a floor. The client?s buddy contractor underbids my price and leaves an illegal at the site to do the work! No friggin insurance, but I keep my mouth closed. It's the client's potential problem. The worker is a nice guy and works very hard, but the work isn?t great. The contractor doesn't even supply the right tools. The contractor throws another illegal at the work. I supply the knee pads. The client shows some patience hoping the job will turn out for the price. It doesn?t. He fires the contractor and asks me to complete the work. I tell the client no. My price was reasonable and he tried to save money on the back of semi-skilled labor. In fact I leave the job as soon as my work is done disgusted by the client?s effort to save a buck. The guy paid close to $1,000,000 for 1050 sq. ft. and he wants to save a few thousand by using illegals? That was months ago with 20% left to do. The client still hasn't moved in. It happens all the time. So I empathize with Cengel. I am feeling the brunt of illegals more than most on this blog. My position is based on principle, reality and a desire to find a just solution. If nothing happens, I may leave the city and make far more money working in Mass or Upstate. Stamford, CT and White Plains, NY, Jersey City and New Haven CT are all feeling the effect of illegals. Greenwich CT service industry now runs on illegals. Take a walk on Greenwich Avenue these days. Florida thrives on illegals. We have to end the exploitation, enforce our laws and control the needed influx of labor. I am sorry if I did not make my position clear. I am eager to see what Congress comes up with. My gut tells me to object to deportation, but I have lost considerable trust in the Democrats these last several years. If the Bill is a joke, I will fight against it.