New Haven Independent: Feds Rescue "Bakery Slaves"

Feds Rescue “Bakery Slaves”

by Melissa Bailey | June 24, 2008 1:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (33)

(Updated)The feds returned to Fair Haven a year after rounding up immigrants for deportation — but this time to save undocumented Ecuadorians allegedly working in slave-like conditions at a well-known Italian bakery.

Rather than face deportation, the six Ecuadorians are being protected in hiding. They filed a lawsuit this month against the bakery’s owners.

The complaint centers around Rocco’s Bakery on Ferry Street (pictured), where the family of Ecuadorians was working. They claim the owners failed to pay them for forced overtime, kept them trapped in apartments above the bakery, regularly threatened them, and sexually harassed the women.

Their road to freedom began when one of the immigrants, named Mercedes, hit a breaking point and decided to speak up about years of forced labor and sexual abuse. She turned to her church, led by Father Manship.

Mercedes turned to her church last June, when lost her job. She was one of dozens of people seeking help from Manship’s church, St. Rose of Lima in Fair Haven, right after the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) swept Fair Haven with immigration raids last summer. Manship (pictured above) was helping terrorized families find out what had happened to their husbands and fathers after ICE raided their homes.

Mercedes wasn’t there about the raids. She was there about Rocco’s.

And her case a different ending.

St. Rose’s contacted New Haven legal aid lawyers. They contacted the government. ICE helped Mercedes and her family flee to safety.

Now hiding in safety at an undisclosed location, the woman and her extended family, through New Haven Legal Assistance Association, have filed a federal lawsuit against Rocco’s. Rocco’s is a well-known mom-and-pop Italian pastry shop at 432 Ferry St., in what used to be the heart of the city’s Italian community, now populated heavily with Latinos. The suit seeks at least $38,000 in back wages and a restraining order against bakery owner Antonio “Tony” DiBenedetto, his wife Anna, and their sons Ferdinando and Giovanni.

Click here to read the lawsuit. Click here to read a Legal Aid press release about it. Click here to read an article about the case by the Courant’s Kim Martineau, who broke the story Tuesday morning.

“The lawsuit is clearly interested in one thing, and one thing only — money,” said the DiBenedetto’s attorney, Hugh Keefe, Wednesday. Keefe denied the allegations of abuse and said he has “numerous” photographs of the two families celebrating together, including attending each other’s weddings.

Keefe described the suit as pitting one immigrant family against another: Tony and Anna DiBenedetto are immigrants from Italy; their sons were born in the States.

“The Italian family has contributed something to this community in a tremendous way, and [has] been extremely generous to the Ecuadorian family, who has, for whatever reason decided to turn their backs on them,” Keefe said. He also questioned why the plaintiffs took so long to file suit.

A woman working at the bakery Tuesday said the family had no comment.

“Human Trafficking”

The Ecuadorian family says Tony DiBenedetto beckoned them to the U.S. with the promise of labor, then kept them under a form of modern slavery, forcing them to work long hours below minimum wage and demanding sexual favors from the women in exchange for rent money. They workers say they kept quiet because they were told they would be fired, evicted and deported if they told anyone of their situation.

The suit was filed on behalf of Mercedes and her daughter, as well as Mercedes’ sister Maria, her husband Nestor and their two children [last names withheld]. The suit details deplorable working conditions behind the scenes at the prim pastry shop, famous for its cannoli and cakes. It describes conditions where women and children were trafficked to the U.S., forced to haul bags of flour during 12-hour days without bathroom breaks; conditions where women endured sexual harassment and assault while on the job — all under fear of punishment if they spoke up.

“Whatever we think about the issue of illegal immigration, we can all agree that no one should be forced to work in fear of physical harm or sexual assault or in fear that they will be punished if they complain about working conditions,” wrote Jennifer Mellon, one of the plaintiffs’ attorneys, in a press statement.

The suit was filed under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act, which was passed in 2000 to combat coerced labor — labor done, often for little or no money, under the threat of violence, abuse or abuse of the law.

Mercedes and her family have been protected by federal immigration authorities, instead of being deported. An ICE spokeswoman wouldn’t comment on the case, citing pending litigation. The plaintiffs’ attorneys say the family is entitled to that protection because the workers are victims of human trafficking.

“Human traffickers target vulnerable workers, like these, who are from a foreign country, have limited education, and speak little or no English,” wrote the attorneys in the statement.

Criminal prosecution of the DiBenedettos remains a possibility. A spokesman for the Connecticut U.S. Attorney’s office was mum on whether charges would be pressed.

The Road To Rocco’s

Nestor first started working at Rocco’s 14 years ago. The owner, Tony DiBenedetto, promised jobs for family members if he brought them to the U.S., according to the suit. They took him up on the offer, arriving in New Haven about 10 years ago. When they got to town, the DiBenedettos housed them in two apartments, one above the store and one in a house adjacent to the store.

The family says they were told never to open the door for anyone. Tony DiBenedetto threatened that if they told anyone where they worked, he would evict them, fire them and cause them to be deported, according to the suit.

The family tells of how DiBenedetto, an immigrant himself from Italy, fought back against their efforts to follow the law and become part of U.S. society.

Two of the children started working at ages 13 and 14, during the day, when according to labor laws they were supposed to be in school. DiBenedetto allegedly told the family that as undocumented immigrants, they weren’t allowed to go to school.

When the family requested written lease agreements and rent receipts, DiBenedetto refused, according to the suit. When Nestor, seeking to change his immigration status, requested proof of employment, DiBenedetto allegedly refused.

As the family continued to work at the bakery, the situation got worse. Several years ago, the bakery owners split up the women and men, moving the men to the night shift — a move designed to facilitate sexual abuse, according to the plaintiffs.

Isolated in a baking facility in Meriden, the women allege they were called “whores,” fondled, and forced to watch Tony DiBenedetto parade around naked. DiBenedetto would demand sexual favors if they couldn’t pay the rent, or would offer to lend them money if they had sex with him, the women say. One day, one of the daughters was pushed into an office, where DiBenedetto tried to take off her clothes and sexually assault her, according to the suit.

The women say they sometimes feared for their safety at the factory, especially when Ferdinando DiBenedetto used drugs at the workplace and became violent, at one point throwing a knife. The other son, Giovanni, pushed a cart at one of them. For a long time, they didn’t speak up about the abuse, they say, because they were told if they complained, they would be evicted or deported.

The Last Straw

One day, Mercedes couldn’t keep quiet any longer.

It was right around the time when the city was crafting its immigrant-friendly ID card. Mercedes went to City Hall, to a June 4 meeting of the Board of Aldermen, to support the card, which was designed to help immigrants who didn’t have other forms of ID open bank accounts or use city services.

The next day, her face appeared in the New Haven Register, in the periphery of a photo accompanying a front-page article on the ID. When she showed up to work, she found her boss Tony DiBenedetto in a state of fury, she said. He was holding the news article and had circled her face in the photo.

“The ID card is not worth shit!” he allegedly yelled in a mix of Spanish, Italian and broken English. “You want papers, but these papers are worthless. They are going for the bathroom. I’ll give you toilet paper instead.”

He fired her on the spot, she said.

“You Don’t Have To Suffer”

Having nowhere to go, and with a husband out of work due to back problems, she turned to her church.

“All chaos was breaking loose in the rectory” at that time, Manship recalled in an interview Tuesday. Weeping families were looking for their loved ones: Thirty of the parishioners had been swept up in a series of raids that began the morning of June 6 in Fair Haven.

Mercedes and her husband sat down with Nadia Minor, a leader of the church. Nadia heard her story and rushed to tell the pastor.

“I just couldn’t believe what I was hearing,” Manship said. “It was sad beyond belief, sad that it was an immigrant that did this to another immigrant.”

Manship and Minor helped Mercedes find legal help. The family decided to file suit, even while the rest of the family continued to work at the bakery.

In May 2008, DiBenedetto learned of the family’s intent to sue. The plaintiffs called ICE for help, saying they were afraid that the bakery owners would lash out against them in retaliation.

Rather than deporting them, ICE helped the family escape. In the middle of the night on May 21, in unmarked government cars provided by ICE, the women and their children fled for safety. Social workers from the International Institute in Bridgeport have helped them relocate. Since the family left the city, the DiBenedettos have tried to contact them and threaten them through intermediaries, the plaintiffs say.

Manship said Tuesday that he is in contact with the family members, and they are safe. At Sunday’s Mass, he told his congregation what their fellow parishioners had gone through. He encouraged other people to step out of the shadows, too, and speak up against employers who take advantage of their vulnerability.

“You do not need to suffer such affronts against your dignity,” he told them. “You don’t have to suffer in silence.”

Share this story: digg / newsvine / facebook

Comments

Posted by: Rowlando | June 24, 2008 6:50 PM

The DiBenedetto's must be guilty, to have Hugh Keefe as their attorney. If I am ever on trial for a crime of which I am guilty, I want him to represent me. I hope Mercedes and family are able to work from their undisclosed location.

Posted by: fedupwithliberals | June 24, 2008 8:39 PM

Something sounds quite fishy about a woman who claims to be held against her will, but can find her way out downtown to get an ID. It's also incongruent that a so called "slave" would be fired. Sort of goes against the claim of enslavement. You really ought to make an effort to get the other side of this story instead of trying this case in public based on lurid claims from legal defense assassins who will try and bleed this guy dry to push a political agenda.

I'm more interested in why ICE is aiding and abetting illegal aliens!

Posted by: JackNH | June 25, 2008 12:57 AM

Everyone's innocent until proven guilty. And I hope Rocco's is cleared of these charges. But if even a part of them are true, I'm going to miss their stuffed breads. I miss the old Italian Fair Haven, there's not much left. Sad for the workers, sad for the customers.

Posted by: italaian immigrant | June 25, 2008 6:59 AM

i can't believe what Rocco's did...i been going to that pastry shop since they open....i won't be going anymore.....what they did to this family is terrible...even though i am against illegals ...they should not have been treated like this....theyshould go to all businesses and fine big time the employers... and thank god for St.ROSE Lima Church for helping this family.

Posted by: achtung | June 25, 2008 8:28 AM

Naked in a factory? No more Rocco's for me.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | June 25, 2008 8:42 AM

JackNH
I am with you. This is the only shop that makes my poppyseed horns!! What am I going to do...Sunday's will never be the same! But as far as them being enslavers that is sad if it is true! I would like more details on this.

Posted by: Sally Tamarkin | June 25, 2008 9:16 AM

So, we're going to miss the bakery's stuffed breads and pastries if the place is closed but can't extend a little compassion toward the people who may have been victimized here? I can understand if people don't want to jump to any conclusions about who may or may not be guilty and/or telling the truth, but between automatically assuming this woman is lying and turning these serious allegations into a referendum on undocumented workers (looking at you, FEDUPWITHLIBERALS. Btw, have no fear-- your kneejerk reactionary hysteria still gets a reaction) and mourning the loss of our favorite baked goods, there is an extraordinary lack of compassion here.

Posted by: cedarhillresident | June 25, 2008 9:36 AM

Sally how is it a lack of compassion? Do you want us to assume that they are guilty and pre judge them? And because we are not doing that we are not compassionate? I feel for them (the workers)and (i may even believe that this is true) and again it is sad if it is true. And because we are not doing what you are doing (presuming guilt) we are not compassionate. I grew up in New Haven Rocco's has been a part of everyone of my holidays, a part of my Sunday morning ritual. For us to feel sadness that the this piece of New Haven Italian culture may be gone is not wrong. AGAIN I GREW UP HERE and for you to JUDGE us for feeling a lose of the memory's of our family's and holidays that this shop has to so many of the ITALIAN community is just wrong of you as well. I remember going there with my mom (god rest her soul) and to have that memory tarnished and to feel the lose of that memory is by no means uncompassionate!

Posted by: Steve H | June 25, 2008 10:18 AM

The DiBenedetto's should be sent to jail and the illegal workers should get a one way ticket back to Ecuador!

Both sides broke the law here!

Posted by: FormerFairHavener | June 25, 2008 2:39 PM

First of all, I am unnerved by the inflammatory and inappropriate title/tone of this article. It goes without saying that this piece is very one-sided. If I were party to this case, I would ask that people hear both sides of the story before passing judgment.

Rocco's is a New Haven / Fair Haven institution. The DiBenedetto family has given much to their community through their business, church involvement, civic involvement and monetary donations. It would be a shame and a loss if the parties in this case (on either side) were unfairly treated or judged before the evidence is presented. As far as we know for fact, Roccos' has only broken labor law by hiring undocumented workers, and should have to reconcile this with the authorities; but in a city where we offer refuge and recognition to the undocumented, is this crime for which he should lose his business, his livelihood and his reputation? And this, one of the few businesses that has withstood the test of time in that community! On the other hand, the employees deserve to have their claims investigated. They are serious charges, but should be treated as such - alleged charges - not a proven fact.

Anyone who knows Rocco's, the DiBenedettos, or the named employees are probably stunned and incredulous at this turn of events; as they should be. Everyone who patronizes Rocco's regularly knows these employees by name - they are far from hidden slaves in the basement. Aren't these the same employees who are known to celebrate weddings, christenings, and holidays with the DB's at their table, as "family"? Don't their children play with the DiBenedetto's grandson in the kitchen? Despite the unfortunate legal status of the employees, to which every cop, federal and municipal official that patronizes that place has turned a blind eye to for decades (as well as almost every other bakery and restaurant in the city), Mr. DiBenedettos has treated them like family - paying for medical care, housing, schooling (yes!), travel and reuniting this family. Because of the tenuous legal status of the workers, the DiBenedettos were also in a position to be taken advantage of. Most people who know the neighborhood and still have friends and family there also are aware that despite property damage, stolen property, run-ins with nefarious sorts of individuals related to the employees, noise complaints from other neighbors, among other things there was little that he could do, or wanted to do. Above all, the claim of being "trapped" in apartments above the bakery is laughable, considering all the coming and goings on over there to the chagrin of neighbors! I bet if you asked anyone at the Bakery, including Fred, Anna, Tony and the host of friends and family that have worked at Rocco', they too would tell you that they work six days a week for not that much compensation either. These people aren't becoming millionaires on the backs of others; rather the whole family is there six days a week doing back breaking labor. All of them.

I don't doubt that when Mercedes very recognizable face showed up in the papers at rallies and political events, it was unnerving to the DiBenedettos. Ultimately, I suspect that the employee's motives to "expose" their "situation" are based in a desire to make their status in this country legal. That too, is understandable. I imagine there was a serious conflict of interest here. This, however, does not translate into sexual, emotional or physical abuse automatically.

This is a painful example of how whole communities are affected by the complex issues of immigration, labor, poverty and economics. I can only hope the community shows an outpouring of support on both sides until this case is firmly resolved.

Posted by: kris | June 25, 2008 8:59 PM

Wait let me get this straight,these illegal people are saying yes we broke the law by coming here illegally but wait let me get a lawyer cause now what this guy is doing is illegal?An eye for an eye,no?Wait I have an idea.If they dont like how they are being treated here than GO HOME!!!!!Im going to get myself some nice Roccos pastry first thing in the morning.

Posted by: jo | June 25, 2008 9:57 PM

But former faihavener -- a 14 year old kept out of school to work in a bakery. what say you?

Posted by: -fairhavener- | June 25, 2008 10:01 PM

Something is a rye that is for sure.

As much as I usually side with the underdog, I have to agree with fedupwithliberals. I don't believe it 100%.

Posted by: Chris Gray | June 26, 2008 2:03 AM

Not to judge anyone involved in this case prematurely, has anyone heard about or read Douglas Blackmon's SLAVERY BY ANOTHER NAME? According to this well researched book, much of the wealth of this nation is built upon the coerced labor of a disadvantaged minority which continued up to the late 1940s. "Cool Hand Luke" should have been neither blonde nor blue eyed.

Though I do not imagine those who are so adamant about illegal immigrants have this in mind, that mindset is contributing to the creation of a new resource for those who would profit from a resurgence of such forced labor. At its least sinister, it is at least extremely cheap to hire illegals, a barely protected minority.

Posted by: eastshoreguy | June 26, 2008 7:54 AM

Wow! Once again the haters come out in droves. What is so funny here is some of the posts attacking the women in their claims are probably being made by the same people who justify rape as "she was asking for it."

Nice. I hope that many of the haters blogging here don't live in my city.

Posted by: new havener | June 26, 2008 8:11 AM

I don't believe it....how fast we are to judge the DeBennedto family....yea i would get Hugh Keefe for my attorney also on these allegations..whats wrong with getting a good lawer..if anything they did what the Mayor wants people of new haven to do gives jobs to undocumented workers....blame the Mayor for this mess..

Posted by: FormerFairHavener | June 26, 2008 8:46 AM

Jo - Honestly, I say the claims about being kept out of school are BS. School records will clear that up; not to mention the parents of the child have some fault in ecouraging work over school, if this is the case, no? Tell me, if you are in the country for a decade, in a large community of your peers, how can you claim that you did not know you could send your child to school without looking grossly negligent? I had many a peer in the NHPS in the same boat, whose parents did not fail their children so miserably. I also know that Rocco's sometimes threw work to neighborhood kids on holidays and weekends - it kept them out of trouble and put some money in their pocket. Again, we don't have enough details to judge.

Posted by: THREEFIFTHS | June 26, 2008 8:57 AM

Hey Kris,I rember that you said on one of your post that the illegal immigrants will do jobs that americans will not do and now you are saying
if they dont like how they are being treated here go home.Make you mind up are you for illegal immgrants in the work force or not.Next time maybe he should hire american workers there are a lot of kids looking for summer work.

Posted by: In The Hood | June 26, 2008 9:44 AM

I am always conflicted by these stories where the sordid details of a plaintiff's claim serves as the primary source for the story; and of course we have the ICE raid that appears to back up these claims

I understand that the family probably won't respond per the advise of their attorney, but what about other witnesses... customers, neighbors and others who have seen both families together.

On the other hand, there is plenty of evidence that this type of alleged abuse by prominent families and business people toward so-called employees occurs. The most recent is the Long Island New York millionaire couple: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/nyregion/17cnd-slave.html

I do hope that in the near future we are able to get a balanced perspective on what really happened in Fair Haven

Posted by: joey | June 26, 2008 10:27 AM

East Shore guy,

You are also falling into the onesided writings.
you can't possibly be serious in your rape statement? Is it possilble that some of this was going on? of course anything is possible these day. but to assume that these allegations are true is beyond irrasponsible. we all will find out what was going on soon enough. in the mean time we all should not pass judgment on either party..

Posted by: Megs | June 26, 2008 4:36 PM

I KNOW THE DIBENEDETTO FAMILY, AND THERE'S NO WAY ANYTHING LIKE THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED! TONY AND ANA WERE ALWAYS NICE TO THE ECUADORIANS, EVEN INVITED THEM EVERY YEAR TO 4TH OF JULY TO THEIR OWN HOUSE!!! THEY ATE AND DRANK, LAUGHED TOGETHER. NOBODY SEEMED UNHAPPY AND (GOD FORBID) ABUSED. THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO MAKE MONEY AND COUNT ON GREEN CARD. SINCE WHEN DO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS HAVE ANY RIGHTS IN AMERICA???

Posted by: mona | June 26, 2008 4:58 PM

they were working at rocco's for many years, and out of a sudden they decide to go to church and cry about their employers and slave-like conditions at work.... fishy.

Posted by: FairHavenRes | June 26, 2008 6:13 PM

Hey Mona and Megs,
Let's see how the courts handle this. If they are innocent, the DiBenedittos should have nothing to fear. Heck, they hired one of the best criminal lawyers in the state. (Of course, if they are guilty, then I would imagine the city and state police should investigate the charges and bring criminal charges against the offenders.)

Interesting fact, most child molesters are family members or trusted family friends.

Hey, let's wait and see what the justice system will say. My hunch is they will settle out of court.

Posted by: FORMERNEWHAVENER | June 27, 2008 12:18 AM

Formerfairhavener sounds a lot like an articulate and well-informed current LTKE attorney if you ask me. Is this a dry run for your closing argument? Oh - and is that Nice 'n' Easy #110 by any chance?

Posted by: Gary Doyens | June 27, 2008 6:36 AM

I would urge extreme caution in this case. It takes very little to file a federal lawsuit. The ACLU is hardly the harbinger of truth and those who are most closely aligned with the illegal immigrant movement could easily have been blinded by their own bias. As I read through all the allegations, I can't help but remember the horrific abuse stories out of a North Carolina daycare center - and again in CA and most recently in Texas - and none of it was true.

After hundreds of thousands of dollars in attorney fees, all the accused were either found innocent or the charges were dropped. Lives, families and businesses all failed or were severely damaged.

Be very careful. I hope there is real evidence of these allegations.

Posted by: FormerFairHavener | June 27, 2008 11:54 AM

FNH'er - I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, although thanks for the compliment. I am not a lawyer. I am just someone who knows all the parties involved and hopes for a fair approach and resolution to this case. What's with the hair dye reference?

Posted by: Strange Comment | June 27, 2008 6:13 PM

Gary Doyens...your comment about the ACLU is somewhat odd...since even if it were true it would have nothing to do with this case which was not brought by the ACLU.

Posted by: Member of the "illegal immigrant" movement | June 29, 2008 8:03 PM

Gary,

Other than being surprised by your term "the illegal immigrant movement" (why not call immigrants' rights activists the norm and call those in favor of deporting the undocumented the "nativist movement"?), I also take issue with your statement "It takes very little to file a federal lawsuit." Sure, it only takes $350 and the ability to write a 15-page or so document. But if what you allege is totally based on speculation and entirely unfounded, you can be subject to pretty serious Rule 11 sanctions. So though I don't claim to know what actually went on in this case, I wouldn't dismissively suggest it was a hoax.

Posted by: Gary Doyens | June 30, 2008 10:42 AM

Member of Illegal Immigrant:

"why not call immigrants' rights activists the norm and call those in favor of deporting the undocumented the "nativist movement"?

All of my inlaws are first generation immigrants -they don't need additional rights, don't seek preferential treatment and you don't represent their interests. I refer to the illegal immigrant movement because it is this movement that seeks extra rights not afforded to other immigrants. There is a vast difference between these two groups of immigrants.

Conversely, I don't refer to those who oppose these extra rights as nativists because that is a derogatory term used by the supporters of those extra rights in an effort to make all who don't support their position appear to be rascist, bigoted people. While I'm sure there are such people and groups, most Americans do not fit into that group.

I also take issue with your statement "It takes very little to file a federal lawsuit." Sure, it only takes $350 and the ability to write a 15-page or so document. But if what you allege is totally based on speculation and entirely unfounded..."

I'm not suggesting there is no evidence. But I have seen too many cases, cases in fact where people actually went to jail in NC and CA on the word of children and their parents who alleged sexual and emotional abuse. In those cases, it later came out that all the allegations were in fact untrue, the investigations were grossly and seriously flawed and the children wildly manipulated. Families and businesses were destroyed; children at the center of the allegations were damaged for a lifetime.

These cases were brought to the attention of authorities by people with a messianic committment to child abuse issues who either manufactured evidence or because of their closeness to the issue, didn't see, or couldn't see the truth.

Most recently in TX - it comes again. I have no knowledge of whether these allegations are true. I only urge extreme caution - there are too many similarities for my liking and until the case is fully vetted both inside and outside the court system, I would urge people to use extreme caution in judging the people at the center of it.

Strange Comment: You're correct. I'm wrong. It was New Haven Legal Aide, not ACLU.

Posted by: Member of the "illegal immigrant" movement | June 30, 2008 12:17 PM

"All of my inlaws are first generation immigrants -they don't need additional rights, don't seek preferential treatment and you don't represent their interests. I refer to the illegal immigrant movement because it is this movement that seeks extra rights not afforded to other immigrants. There is a vast difference between these two groups of immigrants."

What "extra rights" do undocumented immigrants want? In this case, if the allegations are true, the right not to be sexually abused? Where is preferential treatment in that?

Posted by: FairHavenRes | June 30, 2008 12:36 PM

Gary,
A suggestion: It would be easier for us if you would make shorter statements. Perhaps one on tax issues, then another post on how you detest the city administration, the following post on your detest for anyone that might need a hand (using our tax dollars), and finally a post on what has made you such a tough person (at least on these posts).

A question: Even if you left New Haven (and hope you dont), I dont think you would be happy. So, how do we together to make it all work? It seems like it is Gary's way or the highway.

Posted by: Gary Doyens | June 30, 2008 10:13 PM

Member: You're taking my comments out of context. There is no room for sexual abuse regardless of the legal status of a person. That's not the issue and that's not what I wrote.

Fairhaven Res: Personally, I'm actually quite happy. But that has nothing to do with city politics, its fiscal mess and public policy decisions and actions. There is no "Gary's Way or the highway" - I have no power except to voice opposition to what I think is wrong. I will continue to do so. We are where we are in New Haven because too few people for too long said nothing, did nothing, opposed nothing.

I'd be happy to work with anybody in power to make a better city - but working with somebody means they actually have to listen and be interested in what others contribute. Giving lip service to working together requires an honest assessment of where you are vs. where you want to be. It's a two way street - there can be no pre-determined decisions. Will some of those discussions be tough to swallow? I'm sure they will be on both sides, but it is only in that robust debate and discussion does a decision receive the vetting necessary to yield maximum positive outcome and minimum negative consequences.

That is hardly what happens now.

Posted by: friendwho knows better | July 9, 2008 3:16 AM

This whole claim is about the almighty dollar. How quickly illegals learn to abuse the system. I know for a fact that the DB's payed their workers well above minimum wage. They also were very generous to the workers, and they were treated very well. Although the case may never see a courtroom, these people know very well that just filing a claim is worth money in this country and a settlement out of court is much cheaper to the defendent. Considering the cost of attorneys and loss of business over the publicity, I would like to know what compensation the DB's will recieve if the allegations are unfounded.

New Haven Independent

Feds Rescue “Bakery Slaves”

Comments

Post a comment

Preview:

Sections

Neighborhood News

Special Sections

Some Favorite Sites

Government/ Community Links

Legal Notices

Flyerboard

Sponsors

N.H.I. Site Design & Development

NHI Store

News Feed