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Delgaudio wants county to stop funding group that assists immigrants
At the next budget cycle Loudoun County Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling) said he will attempt to persuade other supervisors to join him in voting against giving county money to La Voz of Loudoun."If illegal aliens are the mission of La Voz, then it needs to give back our money and get its cash from like-minded people," said Delgaudio, who is the most vocal supporter of a plan in Loudoun to deny public services to illegal immigrants.
The mission of La Voz, which has an annual budget of less than $40,000, is to act as a conduit between Loudoun's Hispanic/Latino population and the local government. Mostly through volunteers, the group gives English language lessons to immigrants.
It's little secret that Loudoun has funded the vast majority of La Voz's annual budget since its inception in 2002. In fiscal year 2008, as part of the $4.5 million Loudoun is allocating to nonprofits and other organizations that operate outside of county government, Loudoun is giving $26,500 to La Voz, which means the Voice in English.
However, outcry about the county money has risen some since it was publicly stated at a immigration discussion Aug. 16 that La Voz volunteers have not been checking the legal statuses of the people they assist.
What's more, Joseph Budzinski, spokesman for Help Save Loudoun, a group that thinks local governments should enforce immigration laws, said he questioned the public money because La Voz's interim executive director, Laura Valle, has been acting like a political "activist" of late rather than the head of a nonprofit.
"It appears to me that some of what La Voz does goes beyond that of a 501(c)3 [nonprofit]," he said. "I think there are some questions to be answered about this. ... It came as a surprise to me to learn how much money they get from Loudoun."
Valle said the activist and advocacy labels are some of the "misconceptions" about La Voz that she wants to correct, adding another is that the organization influences county leaders on immigration matters.
With respect to political activism, she said La Voz "is pretty light" compared to other immigrant groups, and that the organization's chief mission is to educate rather than persuade.
On Delgaudio's intention to restrict its funding, Valle, a paid part-time employee of La Voz, said he voted against the organization's money last year.
"So," on this latest threat, "it's really no big news," she said.
On Sept. 4, county staff is supposed to report back to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors on what public services it can withhold from illegal immigrants.
Contact the reporter at jjacks@timespapers.com
This is stunning. Guilt by association, or something like it. Mr. Delgaudio uses his elected position to get funding for people whose politics he agrees with, and deny funding to people whose politics he disagrees with. The bigotry attached to this is even more repugnant.
Posted by andreagaines
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E.D. is very desperate about the immigration issue. Not only does he want to take funding away from the organization, but he is afraid of making a public appearance if a dissenting voice is present. Regardless of your position on the immigration issue, E.D. clearly lacks the leadership skills and intestinal fortitude to accomplish anything for this county. Hopefully Jeanne West will reduce him to a bad memory in Loudoun County politics after the election.
Posted by loco96
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If there is one thing we do in the November elections it is to remove this paranoid, homophobic Eugene DelGaudio. This county cannot continue to move forward if one supervisor is allowed to push his own personal agenda. DelGaudio is a sad cartoon character and his participation in a modern, open minded county of 250k citizens has more to do with the US in the 40's and 50s, not in the 21st century. Anyone embarrassed and shocked by this man, need to insure that everyone gets off their collective butts in November and defeat this man. But, I have doubts this will happen, since Sterling citizens don't have common sense skills as evidenced by the fact that they voted him in office. Is there any way we can let Sterling move into Fairfax or some southern yahoo county, they sure don't act like citizens with any IQ above their shoe size.
Posted by Kodiak
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Andrea nailed it. You may recall that he did exactly the same thing regarding the Loudoun Abused Women's Shelter, although they did absolutely nothing improper according to their designation and mission. Their mission is to advocate for domestic abuse victims, and that includes opposing legislation that they deem to be harmful to those victims. But because they took a position Delgaudio disagreed with, he tried to get their funding cut, claiming that they were being "political." Isn't it interesting that the activities of Patrick Henry College (supplying Mr. Delgaudio with free campaign workers) are not considered "political"?
Posted by David
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I agree with Valle that this is no "big news" E.D. votes aganist funding for all sorts of nonprofits. Makes little sense though since these same groups, including La Voz, probably spend most of their time and money helping folks from his district.
Going to be a long and baffling election season in lc.
Posted by jesse
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Let me try to educate the class here if I may. Please pay attention.
LaVoz provides services to the immigrant and Lation communities. We can all agree that that is a good thing. The problem is that while doing so they also provide said same services to ILLEGAL ALIENS. That is the issue here. La Voz as well as other non-profits and NGO's receive taxpayer dollars in the form of grants. Those grants are provided by us the TAXPAYERS of Loudoun county. LaVoz is providing services to those who are not entitled to those services by the pure virtue that they are here illegally. They are not entitled to services financed via public funding.
If LaVoz wants to partner with other Non-profits, private companies or the faith community, I wish them luck. However, Public funding used to assist Illegal Aliens in any way is wrong. Public funding being used to aid and abeit illegals is unacceptable.
Set your personal hatred for E.D. aside and examine the real issue.
Find attached my recent email to the Board of Supervisors last week. I am but one of many who are going to insist our governments at all levels start doing what is right by the legal tax paying legal residents of our communities.
Dear Board of Supervisors:
At a recent community meeting at Ida Lee Community Center , Laura
Valle, executive director of La Voz, revealed that her organization
provides various services to the immigrant community without regard to
their legal status. Ms Valle's comments were quoted in yesterdays
Washington Post. As you well know, LaVoz was awarded tax payer funded
grants by both the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors as well as the
Leesburg Town council.
LaVoz's admitted use of public money in providing services to illegal
aliens is wrong and unacceptable. As a twenty year resident of Loudoun
county, I strongly urge this Board of Supervisors to rectify this
injustice immediately. Further, I suggest this board investigate under
what circumstances and under whose oversight this organization was
allowed to use our tax dollars on services that directly benefit illegal
aliens.
I can assure you, I am not alone in my outrage over this situation.The
overwhelming majority of law abiding, tax paying citizens of this county
will not stand by while their tax dollars are being spent on those who
are living in our county illegally.
I would like to know exactly what your intentions are regarding this
matter.
Regards
Greg Stone
Posted by gstone
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La Voz does not check the status of the individuals we serve. We do not know the status of those we serve. All of our direct services are provided by volunteers who do not recieve the training required to determine immigration status. Most of the work La Voz engages in is directly with County and Town departments and other organizations and businesses. We serve as "consultants" helping to shape outreach plans and get information out to the community about events and services. We actually have very limited capacity to provide services to individual immigrants.
I appreciate the concern and encourage anyone interested to contact me via e-mail (address can be found on our website). I am always happy to answer questions.
Posted by B_Laura_Valle
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What is so difficult about understanding that Loudoun County PUBLIC funds should not be used to provide assistance and services to ILLEGAL ALIENS ?
Other posters have nothing more to say about this issue than to bash Delgaudio ? Get real.. Talk to our teachers who pay for school supplies out of pocket and ask THEM if they can use this money.
Fact 1 - La Voz is aiding and abetting illegal aliens which is a Federal FELONY. La Voz chose to take this path. They chose poorly..
Fact 2 - Loudoun county has been funding them. (the town of Leesburg as well).
Fact 3 - This must stop!!!
Posted by dan_va
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Ms Valle:
Would LaVoz deny services to illegal aliens as a condition of future public funding ?
Posted by gstone
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Very good point gstone, the singular issue is support of illegal aliens. I am very curious what B_Laura_Valle's response will be. Will she come down on the side of the law or won't she ?
Posted by dan_va
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I would be happy to answer your question if you send me an e-mail or give me a call. I know you want a quick yes or no but I can't deliver. It has to do with capacity to verify, how non-profits use funding from various sources, etc. I am really happy to talk to you about it. lunavalle27@aol.com or 703-771-2317. Also, please check out the County budget to see what our funding is used for: http://inetdocs.loudoun.gov/pio/docs/...
Posted by B_Laura_Valle
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Guess we have our answer..
What is lacking at La Voz is the desire to verify.
Posted by dan_va
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Why can't Greg and Dan read? Maybe there does need to be more education funding.
I'll type this very slowly: Ms. Valle clearly said that the issue is *capacity* to verify status, not "desire." Do you boys understand how complicated immigration law is? Sorry, no unfunded mandates for volunteer-run community organizations. Your simple-minded, feel-good "solutions" don't belong here.
Posted by David
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La Voz provides a valuable service to Loudoun County. Laura Valle is a dedicated leader in Loudoun County. She exemplifies the qualities of citizenship to the immigrant population she serves.
Now is the time for those Loudouners who care about the wellbeing of our county to stand in support of La Voz and Laura Valle, for they represent the best of America's values.
Posted by LoudounPatriot
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Hmm, I was not aware that La Voz had sought the capacity to verify as this is not in the public record... If La Voz desired this ability, would La Voz not have requested it ?
Don't ask, don't tell is what I am hearing..
Posted by dan_va
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Delgaudio is a jerk -- plain and simple. His opponent in November, Jeanne West, rightfully believes that Eugene is trying to distract attention from the real needs of the Sterling District -- the neighborhood's age and the lack of attention paid to it by elected officials, namely Delgaudio. Vote for change in November.
Posted by pdssks
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Ms Valle said at a public meeting a week or two ago that if La Voz had the means to check the citizenship status of those they provide services to, they still would not do so. So it is not a matter of capacity.
Delgaudio seems like the only one on the Board who has paid the least attention to conditions in Sterling - the citizens of Sterling know this and that's why he is so popular here.
Posted by hensley
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I live in Sterling and the public streets, sidewalks, and parks are in pretty good shape. We even have a new water main.
Doug Reimel also ran on the belief that the taxpayers of Loudoun should be Sterling Park's homeowners association. He lost..
Are you suggesting that Loudoun County BOS use the power of eminent domain and call in the bulldozers ?
Posted by dan_va
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So, I know that I am a freak. Does anyone else (hint, hint dan_va) feel like a freak (even a little freak), hashing things out online without using a real name? dan_va is all over this issue all over this website. I hope that he/she is able to engage real live human beings face to face on these issues. I really care about people. I am a little concerned for Americandaughter as well. I met Mexicancousin the other night and she said that americandaughter just hasn't gotten over that childhood incident, never been the same since. So much anger. Americandaughter and dan_va should both be referred to blog therapy. They can link there at www.takeachillpill.com. FYI, they do require proof of citizenship before providing any services.
Posted by prince
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I have a question for dan-va. Actually, several questions.
Does Good Shepherd Alliance ask for proof of legal residency when they provide clothing or a shower to a homeless person? Does Loudoun Interfaith Relief ask for proof that no undocumented people are going to eat the food they provide? What about Birthright of Loudoun County? They claim to provide "assistance and friendship to all women with pregnancy related problems." I don't see anything about needing to present documentation. What about the YMCA? The United Way?
Hmm. I wonder if any of these organizations receive county funding. Sounds like this "investigation" just got a lot wider. I wonder how much it will cost. dan_va, please report back.
Posted by David
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DelGuadio is a clown, no debate. He just happens to be right on this issue. The election year timing is suspicious at best, but who cares? In addition, any church involved in supporting illegal immigration should have their tax exempt status revoked. The Catholic Church, who has come out in favor of Illegal Aliens on several occasions, should actually be fined. Their zero tolerance policy on birth control exacerbates the problem in poor countries by promoting the expansion of an impoverished population. This is the root of the problem and will continue to be moving forward. The problem is not going to get better if we/they continue to do what we've/they've (poor people who refuse to use birth control) been doing. Catholics should band together and either boycott the church or tithing until the Vatican reverses it’s position. If you’re doubtful about the power of church contributions, just try it.
Posted by MarkKay
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David, If you wish to know what other non-profits do, that is a question for them and not me. Your suggestion that they do check immigration status is a good one, and you should let them know. When you speak with them you should praise them for providing aid, comfort and services without regard to the ethnicity of the recipients.
I don't hear or read of these other groups advocating for illegal aliens, do you ?
Posted by dan_va
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Dan - the reason you don't hear other organizations speaking out on this issue is that they are all terrified that the "evil eye" will land on them. They would much rather stay silent on the issue and let La Voz have the limelite, and I don't blame them.
And despite what the voices you may you hear in your head are saying, there is not a single group advocating for "illegal immigrants" in Loudoun. Can you provide an example of this?
Posted by prince
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