Latest news with #Aitken
Los Angeles Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
ICE raids upend Latino life in Orange County as climate of fear spreads
A handful of shoppers strolled through the sparsely populated aisles of the Anaheim Indoor Marketplace on a recent afternoon, a desolate scene in the wake of ICE raids in Orange County and across Southern California. Having served to illustrate Anaheim's changing demographics in the past, O.C.'s largest indoor swap meet now tells a somber story. Once home to more than 200 businesses under one roof that sold everything from jewelry to clothing, many stands have shuttered in the past week — and aren't coming back, according to shopkeepers that remain. 'Hopefully, things will get better soon,' said one vendor who asked to stay anonymous out of fear, even though they are a U.S. citizen. 'But right now, it seems like [ICE] is approaching anyone who is Latino.' Shopkeepers declined on-the-record interviews, but told the same story of fretting over making rent for their stalls, as business is in a freefall. On Father's Day weekend, the crowds disappeared. Scheduled music and cultural performances at the Anaheim Indoor Marketplace were canceled. Videos of masked federal agents arresting a man on June 12 at Pearson Park in Anaheim went viral on social media and amplified fears racial profiling. Prompted by the images, an Anaheim council member spoke to U.S. citizen who was stopped at the park by the agents who interrogated him about his immigration status. Sensing a climate of fear, Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken made a personal plea during the Anaheim City Council meeting on June 10. 'If you have a neighbor that is afraid to go to the grocery store to get food or necessities for their families, check in on them,' Aitken said. 'If you have a mother in your community that maybe is afraid to take her kids to camp or drop them off at school, perhaps offer a ride.' 'We need to stick together in these uncertain times,' she added. The raids are not only affecting businesses in Latino neighborhoods in O.C., but workers, too. Five jornaleros, or day laborers, sat in the shade next to a Home Depot in Anaheim as they awaited work. 'Are you la migra,' one asked a TimesOC reporter wearing a press badge, referring to ICE. The men expressed a fatalistic view as the pool of day laborers has dried up since the ICE raids arrived earlier this month, comparing them to death. 'If they take us, ni modo,' one day laborer said. 'Oh well.' He pointed up toward the sky before saying, 'With God, we will fortify ourselves.' Before the raids, dozens of day laborers congregated in different pockets of the vast parking lot, the men said. But that's no longer the case. 'The targeting of the most vulnerable people, either waiting on street corners or outside stores like Home Depot and Lowe's increases fears,' said Palmira Figueroa, a spokesperson for the National Day Laborers Organizing Network. 'People are staying home, even though that is not sustainable.' The five laborers, who had searched for work in Anaheim since 6:30 a.m. without much luck, accounted for about half of those present. 'I have a family, that's why I'm here,' a Mexican immigrant told TimesOC. 'I have to work because there's no other option.' The following morning, video surfaced of federal agents raiding the area. A witness saw day laborers running away before an unknown number of arrests were made. 'We do not have any specific knowledge,' said Mike Lyster, an Anaheim spokesperson, 'but it appears to be consistent with other federal enforcement activity that we've seen in our city.' In downtown Santa Ana, the raids have punched the city's restaurant scene in the gut. Luis Perez, a chef at Lola Gaspar and Chapter One, noted a 40% drop in sales at Lola Gaspar, a Mexico City-inspired gastrobar, even though it doesn't typically serve a working class Latino clientele. Amid a tumultuous week that saw ICE raids, protests and the deployment of the California National Guard in downtown, the back kitchen is where the impact hits hardest. 'My staff has been with me for over 10 years,' said Perez, a son of immigrants. 'It's seeing the fear in their eyes in not wanting to come to work and not wanting to leave their homes.' Two of Perez's Chapter One employees quit out of fear. 'These people are the backbone,' he said. 'I thought I'd never see this happen.' Back in Anaheim, the lunch rush at Tacos Los Güeros No. 2 was no rush at all. With tacos stuffed with choice meats at $1.80 each, the taquería usually attracts a line of patrons that coils out the front door of what once was a Carl's Jr. restaurant. Tacos Los Güeros No. 2 provided affordable meals for working class Latinos during the worst of the pandemic and the high inflation that followed. ICE raids are another matter. Most patrons trickle in and take orders to go. No more than four to six people sat down for a meal at a time in the dining area. The absence of patrons provided a clear view of a telling image through the windows. Rows of tables sat empty while a red 'Take America Back' Trump flag flapped from the backyard of a home that abuts the taquería's parking lot.
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- General
- Otago Daily Times
‘In Need' event giving back for nine years
Melissa Aitken is looking forward to meeting new people at the 18th Southlanders In Need event in Invercargill. PHOTO: NINA TAPU A passion to give is once again bringing people together to help those most in need. For nine years Melissa Aitken, driven by her desire to help others, has been organising an annual Southlanders in Need day. This year's event, planned for next month, will once again see dozens of Southlanders provide free services to up to 1000 vulnerable people. "All of my helpers [say] . . . it's their most favourite day of the year, [because] they get to give back to [their] community, " she said. Ms Aitken said she had always had a passion for helping people and was grateful to her helpers for volunteering their services and time for the initiative. Free haircuts, massages and health checks would be among services available on the day. Fire and Emergency Invercargill staff would be taking registrations for free smoke alarm installations. The Zonta Women's Club and a mobile dental service led by dentist Manu Aroha Walker would be on site. Southlanders are encouraged to donate non-perishable food items for grocery bag gifts. This week, people can start dropping off donations of food and clothing to the Southland Express office at 5 The Crescent, Invercargill until, noon, Friday, July 25. Southlanders In Need will be held from 1pm-3.30pm, Sunday, July 27, at Aurora College gymnasium, Tramway Rd, Invercargill. For more information view Ms Aitken's social media page Free Haircuts/Services For Southlanders In Need or call her on 027 533-3600.
The Herald Scotland
6 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Glasgow sidelined by Labour Spending Review, says Aitken
In a letter seen by The Herald, the SNP councillor warned that Ms Reeves's review is a 'retrograde step' for regional devolution in Scotland, and risks 'disempowering' Glasgow. READ MORE: Although the Treasury confirmed a £160 million Investment Zone in the Glasgow City Region and £20 million for Trailblazer Communities, Councillor Aitken said this fell far short of the funding deals being rolled out to five English Mayoral Strategic Authorities. The Spending Review included detailed commitments to expand integrated settlements for English city regions. Rahcel Reeves delivering the spending review (Image: House of Commons/PA Wire) Instead of applying for individual grants through competitive bidding processes, these areas receive a single, flexible pot of long-term funding, allowing Mayors greater autonomy in making their own investment decisions. This integrated funding grants local control over budgets for areas such as housing, skills, and transport. Following the Spending Review, these settlements are being expanded to include London, the North East, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, and Liverpool City Region. These will join existing arrangements in Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, meaning nearly 40% of England's population will now have local control over this unified funding for growth and public services. Glasgow will instead be forced to enter what one council source described as a 'beauty contest' and need to bid for cash — similar to the process under the last Tory government, which Labour criticised in opposition. Councillor Aitken told Mr Murray: 'It is clear from the Spending Review that the UK Government recognises the best way to support economic growth of English City Regions is through an integrated settlement, allowing places the ability to make their own investment decisions. 'And yet Glasgow City Region, which is larger in population, size of economy, opportunity and need than most of the Mayoral Combined Authorities, is reduced to simply administering programmes on behalf of UK Government as if it were a small local authority.' She added: 'The empowerment of our comparator city regions in England and the disempowerment of Glasgow City Region threatens all of the progress we have made. We have a shared priority of growing Scotland's economy and ensuring our people reap the benefits of that. 'We cannot grow Scotland's economy without growing Glasgow's economy — and yet yesterday's budget will not contribute to that growth and will cause us to fall behind our English counterparts.' Council insiders told The Herald the lack of progress had come as a surprise, particularly given the constructive tone of recent discussions with the UK Government. Cllr Aitken and Kevin Rush talking to Newsquest's Stewart Paterson in February (Image: Gordon Terris) In February, Councillor Aitken and Glasgow's head of regional economic growth, Kevin Rush, told The Herald the city was 'ready to go' on a bespoke devolution deal. The model would mirror Greater Manchester or the West Midlands — with a 'single pot' of funding and the ability to make investment decisions locally. They said the structures were already in place and that Glasgow was managing numerous major UK Government-backed programmes, including the City Deal, Innovation Accelerator, Investment Zone, Shared Prosperity Fund, 5G Region, and Clyde Mission. The Treasury did reaffirm its commitment to the Glasgow Investment Zone — which it says could unlock £1.7 billion in private investment and create up to 18,000 jobs — and praised the region's potential in advanced manufacturing. READ MORE: But Councillor Aitken said that without control over wider investment decisions, Glasgow's economic future would remain constrained by short-term funding rounds and top-down allocations. She told The Herald: 'If anyone thought locking Glasgow and other Scottish cities out of investment talks last year was a simple oversight, this Spending Review risks creating the impression that the UK Government has now decided it is prepared to let our city regions be left behind. 'That is incredibly frustrating, at a time when we have been working closely with the Secretary of State, Deputy First Minister and officials from governments in Edinburgh and London to develop a positive, deliverable proposition for a devolution deal that would allow us to build on our strong record for innovation, unlock investment opportunities and grow the Scottish economy. 'Despite all of that, it appears the voice of Scotland's cities has not been heard around the Cabinet table." 'We are not asking for anything difficult," she added, "just a level playing field." In her Spending Review, Ms Reeves confirmed that the Scottish Government is set to receive an average of £50.9 billion per year between 2026–27 and 2028–29, representing its largest settlement in real terms since devolution. A UK Government spokesperson said: "Glasgow City Region is at the heart of our Plan for Growth in Scotland. "We are delivering more than £663m funding for the region including an Investment Zone focussed on developing advanced manufacturing and a strategic partnership with the National Wealth Fund. "Further plans will be set out, including the city's important role in the Industrial Strategy. "Devolution within Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Government but, building on the success of city and growth deals, we will work with them to help to ensure places like Glasgow City Region have the tools they need to deliver change and unlock the same levels of growth as their English counterparts like Greater Manchester."
Otago Daily Times
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Baabaas carrying momentum
Woodlands will host the Eastern Northern Barbarians in the feature match of Southland senior club rugby tomorrow. The Barbarians are currently third equal on the points table alongside Marist and Star with three rounds remaining. The Barbarians' 33-26 win over Invercargill Blues last week was a relief for coach AJ Aitken and the team. "Things had been clicking at practice, so it was reassuring to get the win" Aitken said. This week, the Barbarians have been working on playing with intensity for the entire 80 minutes after they let in 19 points in the last 15 minutes against Blues. Two of their standout players last week were 2024 Stags squad members Angus Simmers and Morgy Mitchell. The Barbarians will be boosted this weekend by three more of their recent Stags taking the field down at Woodlands. Lock Woody Kirkwood, openside flanker Leroy Ferguson and halfback Connor Collins make this a formidable Barbarians team. Aitken had praise for the way his veteran utility forwards Brenton Howden and Lachie McCall have played this season. "They've been great leaders for us again this year." Woodlands lost 29-26 to Marist last week and in the process they lost their captain, Liam Howley, with a hamstring injury. Blues have a tough game against Pirates Old Boys tomorrow. POB firmed as competition favourites after beating Star 42-0 last week. Star will try to get some confidence back on their home ground against Marist.
NZ Herald
12-06-2025
- NZ Herald
Inquiry to consider if judge should be removed after alleged conduct at NZ First event
A judicial conduct panel will inquire into the alleged conduct of acting District Court Judge Ema Aitken at a New Zealand First function at Auckland's Northern Club last year. It's alleged that last November Judge Aitken disrupted a NZ First party event being held at the prestigious club, where
