Ontario Council opts to stay out of SB1070

Wapner made the statement toward the beginning of the meeting's public comments session, despite a crowded room waiting to voice their opinions on the law.

Wapner asked the other three council members at the meeting if they wanted to discuss the law at a future council meeting, but none of them made a motion to do so.

Mayor Paul Leon did not attend the meeting.

The city has more pressing issues to deal with such as the economy and foreclosures, Wapner said.

Prior to the meeting, more than 30 people attended a rally put on by We the People in City Hall's parking lot. The Claremont-based group has made a name for itself in the past year voicing opposition to illegal immigration.

The rally also attracted the attention of the U.S. Department of Justice, which sent one of its employees to the rally and the meeting.

The department's Community Relations Service is a facilitator of conflict mediations. The division works with the community, law enforcement, school and government leaders to solve problems, said Matthew Davis, a media affairs officer for the Washington D.C.-based department.

"They can be there to assess or monitor a situation. CRS often works in situations where there is racial conflict or in cases of hate crimes or cultural discrimination."

Because of a confidentiality matter, Davis could not disclose if the department representative was there on his own accord or if he was asked to attend.

Arizona is doing the job that the federal government won't do, said Scott Folkens, a Republican who is running against Rep. Joe Baca, D-San Bernardino, to represent the 43rd District in the House of Representatives.

"If (the federal government) are not going to enforce the law, then they should at least let Arizona enforce the law," he said at the rally.

Despite Wapner's statement at the start of the meeting, council members still listened to an hour and a half of public comment on the law.

Raymond Herrera, founder of We The People, said he was disappointed the city was not going to show their support for S.B. 1070, and that city officials need to do their part to uphold the rule of law.

"I love (Mexicans) dearly. Viva Mexico," Herrera said. "But not (on) American soil."

He added that Hispanics is "a sugar-coated word for illegal aliens."

Throughout the public comment session, Wapner had to stop speakers to clarify statements made about the city.

"We are not Arizona, but we enforce Ontario, county and federal laws," he said. "The fact that we're not acting on the Arizona law doesn't mean we do not care or enforce any laws."

Tom Burciaga, a long-time Ontario resident, said he will continue to work with the Latino community to make sure there is a strong relationship with the city, police and fire departments.

"This is our city and we don't need anybody bothering us," Burciaga said.

Ontario resident Richard Galvez echoed Burciaga's sentiments.

"It's a good city and we want to remain without any controversy," he said. "We don't want outsiders coming in and generating some divisiveness."

The Rev. Pat Guillen, a retired Catholic priest with the San Bernardino Diocese and an Ontario resident, who quoted a part of the Pledge of Allegiance, told the council that the community needs to come together and find a resolution that is "justice for all."

"We need to learn to listen to each other, we need to learn to respect each other and we need to learn to trust each other," Guillen said. "When community members don't do that then we're in trouble. A problem doesn't solve itself and we have to tackle it."