Business as usual for city during boycott

It was mostly business as usual in Laguna Beach on Monday ? the “Day Without an Immigrant” when thousands gathered in cities across the country to demonstrate support for immigrant rights.

At Las Brisas restaurant on Coast Highway, one of the city’s largest employers, everyone reported for work, hostess Lucia Sandoval said.

“Not one person didn’t show up,” she said. “But maybe some of them participated in marches after work.”

The city’s Day Labor Center on Laguna Canyon Road was closed as workers there decided to join the marchers, said David Peck of the Cross Cultural Council, which oversees the facility.

“The workers decided to close it, and not one person showed up Peck said.

La Sirena, a Mexican restaurant in downtown Laguna, was also closed, with a sign stating that the employees were participating in the pro-immigrant demonstrations.

Other restaurants and businesses remained open.

On the other side of the immigrant issue, three anti-illegal immigrant demonstrators staged a small protest Monday at the Day Labor Center.

Peck went to Santa Ana to participate in the massive demonstration there.

“We are witnessing a historic moment,” Peck said. “There was one sign, ‘The sleeping giant is awake,’ and that’s true. It was remarkable. People were in good spirits, and it was very peaceful. Not one crime.”

As for immigration reform efforts, Peck believes that an “earned amnesty” program should be enacted, allowing those who have been in the U.S. for some time to become citizens ? along with more secure borders. He predicted that President Bush’s proposed guest worker program would fail.

“Nobody is going to agree to work as a peon for two years and then go home,” he said.

On Tuesday, the day labor center was back in business, with dozens gathered to seek employment.

? By Cindy Frazier