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I know this post is going to sound like it’s based on prejudice or racial profiling or what not. Perhaps it is. Perhaps it’s not. I’m speaking from the point of view of entrepreneurs and business owners. Regardless of the color of the business owners, I am 150% certain they will agree.
There is a middle class neighborhood in New Jersey called Pal Park. Of course, for any area with any good school district, Asians (in this case, Koreans) will flock there. In fact, 38% of them are Koreans. Being the entrepreneurial people they are, you’ll notice that Broad Ave is filled predominantly with small Korean businesses. No bid deal. Standard stuff.
Over the years, I’ve noticed that there are a LOT more day laborers standing around the corners waiting for “work” (i.e. labor intensive gig like home improvement, moving, landscaping, etc.).
I know a lot of people (of all race) look down upon this, but not me. Instead of becoming a liability and drain to the economic system in a country that they’re new to, they are (somewhat) taking control over their financial lives. Sure, it might not be the most effective, especially hanging around “your friend” who’s your direct competition and not really marketing themselves, but at least better than nothing.
Here’s what I’ve noticed one time.
There was a corner where there was a rather large pocket of these migrant workers. Behind them were two restaurants separated by a pharmacy/hardware store. Judging by the sign and the stuff stuck on their glass wall, I can tell that the two restaurants were serving similar food. In fact, they BOTH had a lunch special sign at exact same price of $7.99.
But in front of the one on the right was where most of the workers were hanging around. My guess? Better visibility from both sides of the street. I’m guessing it wasn’t because it was warmer since the wind was mighty powerful the whole day. Why would you want to be out in open on a cold windy day?
I saw a trickle of people parking across the street during the lunch rush hour, then crossing the street to get to the restaurants. A couple of them actually STOPPED for a second or two as if they were making a split second decision about which of the two to enter. Out of the two, the one on the LEFT (with less migrant workers hanging out) received 9/12 customers (I couldn’t stand there long enough to get a larger “sampling” because I arm pit started to get cold).
This is probably my opinion and that’s all it is. My guess is that they were making a judgement: which one do I go to and make the least amount of “fuss” or most safe or what not. Whatever the reason, they made a clear choice that the one on the left is the best bet.
If you were the owner of the restaurant on the right and notice a large group of day migrant laborers hanging around your store AND noticed that you are losing your customers, how would you feel?
Then I moved on… I went onto a local bakery (korean owned) and noticed that 90% of them were once again, day laborers. I asked jokingly if they serve Korean baked goods (she laughed) and she went OFF like I was her psychiatrist. She was telling me how she’s losing business because how her high sales transaction customers were not coming in because these laborers have “muscled” them out. In their defense, I asked if these laborers have caused trouble or if they just hang around without buying anything (i did notice a group of 7 laborers but with just one guy holding coffee in his hand), she said no. In fact, this problem is seasonal. When it gets cold or when the economy’s slow, this effect gets worse.
I asked her about the two restaurants on the corner and whether or not if their food or service is any different. She said, I can barely tell. The only reason she goes to the one on the right is because it’s 15 steps less. I asked her if she eats at either still, and she did. But she says she goes to the one on the left because she’s uncomfortable going to the one on the right. Why? The day laborers.
I am certain this issue isn’t something localized to this neighborhood. This issue must exist pretty much anywhere from a global urban city like LA to a tiny little town in the outskirts of Atlanta, GA where there is a growing economy and thus a growing need for cheap labor.
But as a local business owner who makes his/her living through foot traffic, seeing the day migrant workers loitering around must have an impact on sales. No sales = no income = no business. With failing businesses comes bad economy and thus no labor jobs. Of course, this problem is not one directional. I blame the Korean contractors / employers who are feeding this issue by hiring them. There can’t be a supply with a demand.
What’s the solution? I have no idea. We can’t possibly deport all of them because well, we NEED them as much as they need us. We can’t let cops be INS either because well, that’s not their jobs. (Would you rather have cops catch illegal immigrants or catch rapists and killers? They are both breaking the law but if you had to choose between an illegal immigrant day laborer who’s mowing your lawn vs. a guy who’s about to stab you for your wallet, i am no psychic but I can predict with relative certainty that you’ll chooose the latter.)
How about designating a place or part of town? Instead of affecting everyone and employers having to drive around, set a place where they (laborers and potential employers) can go. Sure, some call it Home Depot in California.. in east, they call it Lowes (bad joke, badabump), but at least they won’t affect EVERYONE in the business community whose presence is physical (i.e. retail).
Side Note
My family and I came here legally through a very lengthy and VERY bureaucratic process. Everyone one of us became Americans within last decade or so, and I am very proud of what we’ve achieved. I personally support immigration, as long as it’s legal and with due process. No “cutting in line” regardless of who you are: a poor farmer from a third world country or well politically connected person from another rich country. We all stand in line. I feel for the immigrants and the social and economic challenges they face, because my parents and I were there. We know the pain. We can relate to the pain.
But I’ve noticed that people rally behind and support the issue of “freedom and equality for ALL, including illegal immigratns” are hypocrites. They’re just like people who want economic development, but don’t want a sky scraper coming to their town.
They are all NIMBYs (not in my back yard). They’ll fight for a cause as long as that cause does not affect their personal lives.
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- Perfect example of why we should get rid of unions
- Better crazy and happy than sane and miserable
Day Laborer Migration
I know this post is going to sound like it’s based on prejudice or racial profiling or what not. Perhaps it is. Perhaps it’s not. I’m speaking from the point of view of entrepreneurs and business owners. Regardless of the color of the business owners, I am 150% certain they will agree.
There is a middle class neighborhood in New Jersey called Pal Park. Of course, for any area with any good school district, Asians (in this case, Koreans) will flock there. In fact, 38% of them are Koreans. Being the entrepreneurial people they are, you’ll notice that Broad Ave is filled predominantly with small Korean businesses. No bid deal. Standard stuff.
Over the years, I’ve noticed that there are a LOT more day laborers standing around the corners waiting for “work” (i.e. labor intensive gig like home improvement, moving, landscaping, etc.).
I know a lot of people (of all race) look down upon this, but not me. Instead of becoming a liability and drain to the economic system in a country that they’re new to, they are (somewhat) taking control over their financial lives. Sure, it might not be the most effective, especially hanging around “your friend” who’s your direct competition and not really marketing themselves, but at least better than nothing.
Here’s what I’ve noticed one time.
There was a corner where there was a rather large pocket of these migrant workers. Behind them were two restaurants separated by a pharmacy/hardware store. Judging by the sign and the stuff stuck on their glass wall, I can tell that the two restaurants were serving similar food. In fact, they BOTH had a lunch special sign at exact same price of $7.99.
But in front of the one on the right was where most of the workers were hanging around. My guess? Better visibility from both sides of the street. I’m guessing it wasn’t because it was warmer since the wind was mighty powerful the whole day. Why would you want to be out in open on a cold windy day?
I saw a trickle of people parking across the street during the lunch rush hour, then crossing the street to get to the restaurants. A couple of them actually STOPPED for a second or two as if they were making a split second decision about which of the two to enter. Out of the two, the one on the LEFT (with less migrant workers hanging out) received 9/12 customers (I couldn’t stand there long enough to get a larger “sampling” because I arm pit started to get cold).
This is probably my opinion and that’s all it is. My guess is that they were making a judgement: which one do I go to and make the least amount of “fuss” or most safe or what not. Whatever the reason, they made a clear choice that the one on the left is the best bet.
If you were the owner of the restaurant on the right and notice a large group of day migrant laborers hanging around your store AND noticed that you are losing your customers, how would you feel?
Then I moved on… I went onto a local bakery (korean owned) and noticed that 90% of them were once again, day laborers. I asked jokingly if they serve Korean baked goods (she laughed) and she went OFF like I was her psychiatrist. She was telling me how she’s losing business because how her high sales transaction customers were not coming in because these laborers have “muscled” them out. In their defense, I asked if these laborers have caused trouble or if they just hang around without buying anything (i did notice a group of 7 laborers but with just one guy holding coffee in his hand), she said no. In fact, this problem is seasonal. When it gets cold or when the economy’s slow, this effect gets worse.
I asked her about the two restaurants on the corner and whether or not if their food or service is any different. She said, I can barely tell. The only reason she goes to the one on the right is because it’s 15 steps less. I asked her if she eats at either still, and she did. But she says she goes to the one on the left because she’s uncomfortable going to the one on the right. Why? The day laborers.
I am certain this issue isn’t something localized to this neighborhood. This issue must exist pretty much anywhere from a global urban city like LA to a tiny little town in the outskirts of Atlanta, GA where there is a growing economy and thus a growing need for cheap labor.
But as a local business owner who makes his/her living through foot traffic, seeing the day migrant workers loitering around must have an impact on sales. No sales = no income = no business. With failing businesses comes bad economy and thus no labor jobs. Of course, this problem is not one directional. I blame the Korean contractors / employers who are feeding this issue by hiring them. There can’t be a supply with a demand.
What’s the solution? I have no idea. We can’t possibly deport all of them because well, we NEED them as much as they need us. We can’t let cops be INS either because well, that’s not their jobs. (Would you rather have cops catch illegal immigrants or catch rapists and killers? They are both breaking the law but if you had to choose between an illegal immigrant day laborer who’s mowing your lawn vs. a guy who’s about to stab you for your wallet, i am no psychic but I can predict with relative certainty that you’ll chooose the latter.)
How about designating a place or part of town? Instead of affecting everyone and employers having to drive around, set a place where they (laborers and potential employers) can go. Sure, some call it Home Depot in California.. in east, they call it Lowes (bad joke, badabump), but at least they won’t affect EVERYONE in the business community whose presence is physical (i.e. retail).
Side Note
My family and I came here legally through a very lengthy and VERY bureaucratic process. Everyone one of us became Americans within last decade or so, and I am very proud of what we’ve achieved. I personally support immigration, as long as it’s legal and with due process. No “cutting in line” regardless of who you are: a poor farmer from a third world country or well politically connected person from another rich country. We all stand in line. I feel for the immigrants and the social and economic challenges they face, because my parents and I were there. We know the pain. We can relate to the pain.
But I’ve noticed that people rally behind and support the issue of “freedom and equality for ALL, including illegal immigratns” are hypocrites. They’re just like people who want economic development, but don’t want a sky scraper coming to their town.
They are all NIMBYs (not in my back yard). They’ll fight for a cause as long as that cause does not affect their personal lives.
Related posts: