This past weekend was time well invested with community and getting the message out. We visited twelve business, stores and restaurants. They all reported a decrease in customers.
When engaged in conversation about the overall economic impact to our locality, they all understood the damage way beyond their personal business. Everyone understood the link between the implosion of the subprime financial market, the PWC housing market, and our local budget. Folks of both Democrat and Republican persuasion understood the need for low-wage workers in our economy and agreed with me that families who have been living in, working in and contributing to our community should be allowed to remain among us. My proposal to allow otherwise law-abiding county residents to work in the county using an individual tax identification number was widely understood and supported.
High school and middle school students I met were concerned about many of their classmates. When discussing the issues with them, my ideas made sense. They realized the importance of civic participation and expressed frustration of not being citizens of voting age. They offered to join me canvassing next weekend
I am attaching a couple of pictures, including one with a Republican Council Member from the city of Manassas. According to the Council Member, Latino students represent 50% of the student population in Manassas. He was extremely concerned about the impact of this law on city residents. We spoke about Plyler v. Doe, IRCA 86, and the proposals being discussed in Congress to prevent predatory mortgage lending going forward as well as to reform bankruptcy to help families at risk of foreclosure. At the end of our conversation, we realized that our values and commitment to community are very similar. Our only differences are the party labels we claim.
We’re on the last stretch of the campaign. Please join me canvassing. I will be going to commuter lots to greet commuters in the mornings, visiting businesses in the afternoons, and reaching out to the English and Spanish language media. Saturday and Sunday we will be out canvassing in full force. Join me! Make a difference! Make every vote count!
Write-in Aracely Panameno on Nov 6!
Abrazos,
Aracely
