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Published on 05/22/1995 All articles from this issue

Little progress on day laborer job site

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By Cori Barrett / Town Crier Staff Writer

Members of a tri-city task force said they continue make progress on establishing a job center for day workers who congregate along El Camino Real and San Antonio Roads. But specific locations and funding sources have yet to be identified.

Members of the Day Worker Center Advisory Board met for their regular meeting May 16 to report on possible solutions to the long-term problem which plagues both business owners and the day laborers. The regional committee, comprising residents, community leaders and city officials from Los Altos, Mountain View and Palo Alto, has been meeting monthly.

Business owners have complained about the gathered workers who they say loiter on the sidewalks for hours, block traffic and impede business.

Task force members say establishing St. Joseph the Worker Center, as they plan to call the job center, will alleviate some of these problems, while offering protection for the rights of the day workers, who are often given below minimum wages.

"We are gathering pretty good information and sifting through what we have," said Father Gene O'Donnel, of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Mountain View.

St. Joseph has agreed to take a leadership role in establishing the worker center as a community outreach project.

O'Donnel gave a report on possible sites for center, which included discussion on the possibility of setting up a portable modular unit.

"In this case, we need to look for vacant lots," said David Martin, a task force member from the city of Palo Alto.

Kate Wakerly, a member of St. Joseph Church, has taken responsibility for contacting possible grant donors and fund-raising possibilities.

Wakerly said she has sent out inquiry letters to various foundations and corporations seeking donations. "At this point, so far we have collected zero dollars," she said. Wakerly said initial start-up and operating costs will be approximately $65,000 for the center.

Both assemblymen Byron Sher and John Vasconcellos have written letters of support to the task force.

"Establishing such a center will bring about constructive and positive results," Vasconcellos wrote. "I firmly believe that under the guidance of St. Joseph Church, the center will benefit all in the community."

"We are closer than last time," said Job Lopez, chairman of the task force, "but we still have work to do."