Jared Huffman flames SJV Republicans (and others) over their hypocrisy towards farmworkers

Submitted by Morpheus on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 21:38

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I am getting very tired of seeing front groups like the Latino Water Coalition or Piedad Ayala's Water for All (www.thewaterforall.com) speak out in favor of gutting the Endangered Species Act to increase water exports from the SF Bay-Delta watershed. It hurts me see them lash out at environmentalists and Democrats, for putting a 2 inch fish before farm jobs in the San Joaquin Valley. It hurts me to see them gain influence in the legislature, as elected officials do not want to be branded as being insensitive to the plight of farm workers.

Well today I just learned how the GOP and big Corporate Ag could not get themselves to support a major farm workers rights bill: SB 789, sponsored by the United Farm Workers and introduced by Senator Steinberg. Surely the Westlands Water District, folks at the Delta Mendota Water Authority, or the southernmost Westside irrigation district, the Kern County Water Authority could have expressed their support for this flagship bill, right?

What about Westside farm labor contractor Piedad Ayala, the largest farm labor contractor in the U.S.? He has bused over a thousand of his farm workers to advocate for more water for jobs at various events including the march for water to Congressman Miller’s office on August 13^th, (which some of us progressives counter-rallied) and a recent rally with the Tea Party Patriots at the state capital on August 28^th. Piedad Ayala sure seems good at grass roots organizing, so one would think he really cares about his worker’s rights. I would think he would have YouTube videos and stuff on his website in support of SB 789! WRONG!

So today I am very proud to see one of my favorite elected officials, Assemblyman Jared Huffman, call these groups and the elected officials from the districts they belong to the matt for advocating and voting against the bill. Please see video coverage of the Assembly floor debate that preceded a vote on the bill here: http://www.calchannel.com/channel/viewvideo/662. (scroll to 1:48:04, or about 48 minutes into the session.)

Jared Huffman states: “Do you care about farmworkers or not? I think we have seen over the past year a convenient backdrop for photo opportunities and press conferences; many of the same folks opposing this bill have paid farmworkers to get on buses to the capital to stand at rallies; have paid them to hold signs. Many who have spoken (here) in opposition have stood at these rally’s. And it seems that when it comes to fighting for things that you want; like weakening the Endangered Species Act or arguing for subsidies for large dams, these farmworkers are a wonderful photo opportunity. But you have an opportunity today to say you really care about their quality of life or working conditions. We are about to find out where you stand when the farmworkers need you. For those that find farmworkers to offer a convenient photo opp and are going to vote against this bill, shame on you!.”

PRICELESS!