I live in an urban area within New Jersey in the New York City Greater Metropolitan Area. My city has a majority black population, but there are ever-increasing numbers of Latinos living here and opening businesses. There's also a decent representation from a multitude of countries. A few miles away is Edison, New Jersey, also nicknamed Little India. This is an area where immigrants are the norm.
My walk to the train station for my work commute was a bit different this morning. I walked past Mi Ranchito, a restaurant whose parking lot is usually full to capacity with vehicles and nearly a hundred men heading off to their jobs in lawn care, carpentry, painting, construction and more. The shutters were down. All was quiet. Few cars were even on the street. The laborers who usually wait on their steps and exchange greetings with me each day were nowhere to be seen. The man who tries out a new phrase in English daily to me wasn't there waiting for the bus to New York as I passed. The Laundromat whose owner is so prompt that you could set your watch by her arrival to work was still darkened. It was almost eerie.
I kept walking only to discover, not all that surprisingly, that the Mexican bakery where I often stop for a croissant was shuttered. I went to the Greek immigrant-owned donut shop. That was open. She told me that they couldn't afford to take a day off with the bills they must pay. She's a legal immigrant; her husband and she worked for years to buy their business and it's still a daily struggle to stay profitable. Oh, and she told me she loves being in America.
The photo in this article was taken in Plainfield, New Jersey, this afternoon as I walked home from my commute. The shuttered businesses are prevalent throughout the town. The gentleman from India who runs a corner store I stop by told me that other business owners wanted him to shut down. But, like the donut shop, he couldn't afford to do so. The Italian, Egyptian, Vietnamese and Chinese restaurants all seem to be open, as are the two large Latino-owned supermarkets in town. The Jamaican convenience store is open, as is the Royal Fried Chicken franchise run by Latinos. It's a mix, it seems. Probably the closing which affects the citizens the most here is that all three taxi companies in the city are shut down for the day. Although I heard rumors of some school districts closing down, I couldn't confirm those.
Article comments
1 - sal m
if the picture jackie took is of the main drag in plainfield, i live about a 2 minute drive from there.
but anyway, i find it interesting that the legal immigrant business owners were at work where as the immigrant business owners that come from countries where many illegals come from - and who may employ illegals - weren't. and the day laborer, most of whom are illegal took the day off as well.
in my own experience, for the local gas station staffed and managed by pakistani's and the car wash that i pass on the way home that is owned and staffed by middle eastern immigrants it was business as usual. i'm glad to see that these hard-working folks ignored the nonsense. if i had come across any businesses that i usually frequent today that were shut because of the protest i would never return as a customer.
the concept of this illegal immigrant protest is a joke. these are people who have cheated the system and want to jump into the front of the line. they make a mockery of those who - since the days when immigration made this country the greatest country on earth - did the right thing.
this is a sad commentary on what has happened to our country.
2 - Heloise
I got an idea from watching CNN today: it seems that the ILLEGALS are scared to come out and shop and be obnoxious and rude and run around the stores like they own the place! Why not get a T shirt made with slogans like "How do you know I ain't the Immigration?" Or "They watching you..."
Got to jazz it up a bit ya know. But seriously now I know how white folks felt when they thought that blacks in the South were gettin' too uppity and demanding their "Legal" right to vote and then showing up at jobs with their hair pressed and wearing suits and speaking the King's English.
Now wouldn't that be a novel idea for the legal immigrants?
Heloise
3 - Heloise
I just read you post on New Jersey. Now I know why every other person (white) I met when I first moved to Texas in 1995 was formerly from New Jersey. It's too much. Now they probably want to get out of Texas because of the illegals.
The only difference as they told me that the living is better here meaning that there are many white, snow white enclaves that little money and a white face will gain your entry into.
That's the thing we are all stuck here going to school with a school full of poor and illegal's children (some of them are too) while the majority can buy their way out of the ghetto.
Heloise
4 - sal m
most of us who come from families that bought their way out of the ghetto started as poor, legal immigrants. and it's still happening today, immimgrants who have done things by the book and have benefitted from it.
and there are still people who want to cheat the system and take a short cut.
5 - Jackie
We were all immigrants at one time. Or, our ancestors were. (I had a great-great-grandmother who was a Cherokee Indian, but I'm sure all the others came from somewhere sometime.) I enjoy knowing all kinds of different folks. I like to hear stories of backgrounds far different from my own. But...most of the immigrants I talked to today went through a lot to be in this country legally. I really have no idea how to solve the situation, but many told me today that it would be like a slap in the face if they went through all they did for nought.
Oh...and, Sal - it's not the main drag (Front St.) in the photo. It's Watchung Avenue near the train station. Neighbor!
6 - sal m
aha...i thought as much...i actually think of watchung ave as the main drag...so i was right in my own mind anyway!
here's an immigrant anecdote...we know a cuban family who endured separation and depravation to get and stay here...the mom (our twins godmother) and dad are in their mid to late 40's, their son is 20 and their daughter is 16. he's in rotc, she's on a academic scholarship track...they work for legal hourly wages, have rented for the 15 or so years they've been here and just bought their first house, a 2 family in linden. many of their family members are stuck in cuba and they send money and basic medical supplies to them regularly.
they are very disappointed and upset by this whole thing and are so hardcore anti-illegal immmigration it's almost funny. but they have earned the right to be so, and i support their position.
7 - Bliffle
The demonstrators would better strike in Mexico City for a government that would enable Mexicos inherent prosperity.