Costa Mesa Job Center will not be restricted

Deirdre Newman

The Job Center has been controversial since it opened its doors 15

years ago to provide a central location for day laborers to find

temporary work.

Monday proved no exception.

At the request of Councilman Allan Mansoor, the council discussed

the future of the center. Mansoor wanted to limit the center to Costa

Mesa resident day laborers.

The council voted to reject any restrictions on the Job Center.

The measure failed on a 3 to 2, with Councilwoman Libby Cowan and

Councilmen Mike Scheafer and Chris Steel voting against the

restrictions.

The Job Center opened in 1988 to provide a central clearinghouse

for contractors to hire day laborers. Costa Mesa day laborers are not

charged to use the center and nonresident day laborers pay a one-time

fee of $5 when they initially register. There is no fee for

employers.

“I believe we do still have a problem with solicitation and

loitering,” Mansoor said. “[But] it’s not my intent to close the job

center, I think it would cause more problems than it would solve.”

Limiting the center to Costa Mesa residents would decrease the

pool of available employers by about 50% and thereby reduce the

potential for resident workers to find jobs, staff found.

During budget discussions in June, Steel made a motion to shut

down the center, but did not receive any support. He also recommended

putting a referendum on the center on the March 2004 ballot as an

advisory measure.

For the 2003-04 fiscal year, the council approved a budget of

about $99,000 for the center. The current rent is $2,000 per month,

but the budget includes a potential rent adjustment of $200 per

month.

The discussion elicited emotional reactions from people who

support restrictions and those who prefer the status quo.

“If we limit to Costa Mesa residents only, not only would our

neighbors get jobs, but they’d get much better rates,” said Judy

Berry.

“[Making restrictions] will force certain employers and laborers

back into our parking lots,” said Bill Turpit, a Westside activist.

“It will also have the effect of having the city police department

chase loiterers rather than working to protect our city.”

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at deirdre.newman@latimes.com.