Zeanah Isolated in Flap Over Shelter, Illegal Immigrants

THOUSAND OAKS — Ripping Councilwoman Elois Zeanah for dragging the city and a reputable housing group into an illegal-immigration debate, the City Council has refused to reconsider the group’s plans for a homeless shelter in the city.

Council members also voted 4 to 1 to approve a statement saying that Thousand Oaks will continue its policy barring the use of taxpayer money to assist undocumented immigrants.

Zeanah asked the council at Tuesday’s meeting to formulate a policy against financial aid for illegal immigrants. But Councilman Andy Fox amended the motion, saying it made it appear as if Thousand Oaks had done something wrong when the city had not and had no intention of doing so.

Even with the change, Fox voted against the motion.

“I think it’s ridiculous to go through this public dog and pony show--and that’s what this is--to imply that we have been doing something illegally,” Fox said. “I know of no city official that supports [using taxpayer money to assist illegal immigrants]. I would never vote for that.”

Zeanah said she brought up the issue of Community House--an 11-unit apartment project that will temporarily house struggling families while they get back on their feet--because of concerns by some residents that the project will eventually be converted into a drop-in homeless center. The home would be run by Many Mansions, a group advocating more affordable housing in the city.

Community House’s most vocal critics, anti-illegal immigration activists Susan and Horacio Grana of Thousand Oaks, gathered more than 130 signatures opposing the project, which is already under construction.

They also sent out fliers saying it will bring junkies, gang members and illegal immigrants to the area.

On Tuesday, the Granas criticized Thousand Oaks for financially aiding Many Mansions, saying that such support amounts to directly assisting illegal immigrants. The city contributed $187,000 to the cost of Community House, which was approved by the city in 1990.

“We don’t need people like you in Thousand Oaks,” Horacio Grana told Fox. “You bring illegal people.

Representatives of Many Mansions strongly deny they have ever used government funds to assist undocumented immigrants. They, along with several dozen supporters, also stressed during the meeting that the agency has no plans to turn Community House into a homeless drop-in center.

“We are very proud of what we have accomplished with Community House,” said Otto Stoll, Many Mansions co-chairman, who hopes to open the facility by the end of the year.

Zeanah brought up immigration issues after reading newspaper reports about the recent sweep of an overcrowded ghetto two blocks from Thousand Oaks Boulevard.

The stories, Zeanah said, contained statements from city officials saying that Thousand Oaks should financially help people who are left homeless in such raids, whether they are illegal or not. That is cause for concern, she said.

But Mayor Judy Lazar said she has read all the stories concerning the shantytown sweep and has seen no such remarks by city officials.

Along with Fox and Councilman Mike Markey, Lazar condemned Zeanah for criticizing Many Mansions and Thousand Oaks while inviting attacks by uninformed bigots.

“It’s like pouring a can of gasoline and fanning the flames,” Lazar said. “There are some people who have used this for no other purpose than their prejudicial aims.”

Zeanah said she meant no disrespect to Many Mansions and was simply trying to perform her duty as an elected official to resolve community concerns before they get out of hand.

When Fox asked Zeanah to divulge the names of the city officials who supported financially assisting illegal immigrants, Zeanah declined, saying she did not want to get into a bickering match.

But she later stated to cable television cameras that she would privately share the names of those city officials with anyone who requests them.

“Anyone who wants to call me, I can show them the comments from one city official, possibly more, that we do not differentiate between legal and illegal residents,” Zeanah said.

Markey said he reluctantly voted for the statement opposing assistance for illegal immigrants because if he did not, Zeanah might use it against him politically.

“I think it’s absurd to say that a government agency would fund illegal immigrants,” Markey said. “It’s unfortunate it got this far.”