By Sam Baker, KERA 90.1 local Morning Edition host
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-547627.mp3
Dallas, TX –
The mayor of Farmers Branch gets to vote on a council issue when there's a tie. That's only happened once to Bob Phelps during his eleven years in office, and it was not when the council recently voted to take a stand against illegal immigration with three items. Members approved printing city documents or publications only in English, unless federal or state rules require otherwise. Phelps said the city was doing that anyway. He said an ordinance due to take effect in January would only give police better access to a federal database to check the residency status of detainees in jail. And yet another would prohibit landlords from renting apartments to illegal immigrants something he said most apartment complexes in Farmers Branch have for check for now. So, 90.1's Sam Baker asked the mayor what was the incentive for the ordinances and resolution in the first place.