You go Sheriff Joe

Arpaio is unapologetic, accusing Gordon and the Phoenix Police Department of turning a blind eye to illegal immigration and crimes related to it.

The sheriff said the owner of Pruitt’s Furniture in Phoenix asked him to help deal with issues regarding illegals at Thomas Road and 32nd Street, and that several north Phoenix business owners have asked him to sweep the area of Bell and Cave Creek roads. “I don’t see any uproar,” Arpaio said. “I’m not getting any letters from businesspeople.”

The sheriff said public opinion polls show voters still favor get-tough approaches, and that 12,000 of the 60,000 inmates, about 20 percent, booked into county jails over the past year were illegal immigrants.

For Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, any PR is good PR.

The cantankerous sheriff basks in the spotlight of immigration issues and his surly tussles with Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon over Arpaio's sweeps to arrest illegal immigrants.

Arpaio's tough stance has its appeal to those frustrated by the increasing numbers of people crossing the Mexican border illegally into Arizona. But some local business leaders worry the immigration battle is creating a negative image for Arizona among tourists and prospective businesses.

"This style of enforcement will do nothing to improve Arizona's image as a place to move a business, and could tarnish our image as a sophisticated Southwestern business destination. While it may reinforce a Western image of sorts, it does shine a negative light on Arizona," said Rick Kidder, CEO of the http://m1.2mdn.net/1493685/dell_diver... color="#000000">Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce.

The business worry is that enough bad press from the immigration squabbles, coupled with the state's new employer sanctions law, could prompt companies and tourists to opt for less contentious destinations.

"There is a tremendous concern," said Joan Koerber-Walker, CEO of the http://m1.2mdn.net/1493685/dell_diver... color="#000000">Arizona Small Business Association.

In recent months, Arpaio's deputies have swept through day-labor gathering points throughout the Valley for Mexican migrants and conducted crime sweeps aimed at lawbreakers and smuggling rings.

Gordon and Hispanic activists condemn the raids as racial profiling, and protests have arisen at some sites.

All that worries business leaders who want to cast Phoenix as an international center of business, not a tempestuous backwater.

"If I am a business in Ohio, and I'm looking at Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorado for new headquarters, and I read about the racial issue here, I might start looking someplace else," Koerber-Walker said.

She said she is concerned the immigration flap will escalate, pitting Hispanics against Anglos.

Arpaio is unapologetic, accusing Gordon and the Phoenix Police Department of turning a blind eye to illegal immigration and crimes related to it.

The sheriff said the owner of Pruitt's Furniture in Phoenix asked him to help deal with issues regarding immigrants at Thomas Road and 32nd Street, and that several north Phoenix business owners have asked him to sweep the area of Bell and Cave Creek roads.

"This style of enforcement will do nothing to improve Arizona's image as a place to move a business, and could tarnish our image as a sophisticated Southwestern business destination. While it may reinforce a Western image of sorts, it does shine a negative light on Arizona," said Rick Kidder, CEO of the http://m1.2mdn.net/1493685/dell_diver... color="#000000">Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce. "

 

Newsflash to Mr Kidder, AZ is a place I would not even WANT to visit now do to it being overrun by illegals!  Why would I want to maybe take my life in my hands as a tourist there when there are so many illegals and drug runners crossing the border apparently with the OK from the powers that be, including Mr Kidder?  Frankly, I say, more power to sheriff Joe and long may he live!

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VeeBee said:

"This style of enforcement will do nothing to improve Arizona's image as a place to move a business, and could tarnish our image as a sophisticated Southwestern business destination. While it may reinforce a Western image of sorts, it does shine a negative light on Arizona," said Rick Kidder, CEO of the http://m1.2mdn.net/1493685/dell_diver... color="#000000">Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce. "

 

Newsflash to Mr Kidder, AZ is a place I would not even WANT to visit now do to it being overrun by illegals!  Why would I want to maybe take my life in my hands as a tourist there when there are so many illegals and drug runners crossing the border apparently with the OK from the powers that be, including Mr Kidder?  Frankly, I say, more power to sheriff Joe and long may he live!

 

VeeBee,Az is a great pace to live,I moved here 2 years ago from Ks.Just stay out of the Core Illegal part of Phoenix.U would love it here.

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Newsflash to Mr Kidder, AZ is a place I would not even WANT to visit now do to it being overrun by illegals!  Why would I want to maybe take my life in my hands as a tourist there when there are so many illegals and drug runners crossing the border apparently with the OK from the powers that be, including Mr Kidder?  Frankly, I say, more power to sheriff Joe and long may he live!

VeeBee,

I understand what you are saying sarchastically,  but Arizona is not any more overrun then any other state these days, except for California.  That state is Mexico 2.   And besides,  here in the Grand Canyon state,  I am allowed to conceal carry just about anywhere.  And I can keep the ammo in the gun!  Imagine that!  The state trusts me to protect myself.  Wow just think of the prospects of a state that follows the Constitution and Bill of Rights.

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""This style of enforcement will do nothing to improve Arizona's image as a place to move a business...""

The only people this will affect are those that might choose to move to Arizona to employee illegal immigrants.  We do not want those businesses anyways. 

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I, for one, don't see Sheriff Joe as cantancerous.  The man has the biggest heart.  Just read up at the web site.  He is doing more for the people there than any of the Politicians combined.  To top it, he has a heart for animals, something that makes him a saint in my book.

As to Arizona's bad image, I'd move as close to Sheriff Joe and his posse as possible.  I like their style.  It makes me feel safe.  The people who think AZ is unsafe should compare it with Detroit, MI.  That place could use Sheriff Joe for awhile.  Sanctuary City run by a criminal Mayor. 

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For Ms Koerber-Walker to say that,  "If I am a business in Ohio and I'm looking at Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Colorada for new headquarters, and I read about the RACIAL issue here,  I might start looking someplace else." is asinine.  This is not a racial issue to anyone except these pro-illegal idiots.  And it's a racial issue to them because when all else fails they play the race card.   Illegal immigration has nothing to do with race.  I don't give a rat's patoot if you are black, white, brown or pink with purple polka dots.  I do care if you are in my country illegally.  If you aren't get the hell out.  I hope many more states will enact laws like those of Arizona and Oklahoma and we need many more Joes. 

I am against cloning, but Joe might be a good candidate.  Backbones are a rarity these days.

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I meant to say "If you aren't legal get the hell out".  I left out the word legal.  Sorry.  It's early.

Arpaio is one of the last of the American heroes