Ann Erdman, a Pasadena spokeswoman, said the city passed an amendment in 2003 called the “No Vehicle Solicitation” ordinance.
It prohibits vehicles from stopping in posted areas along Villa Street, which has had a problem with day laborers congregating there at least since 2001, Erdman said. There also are large signs posted that say “no vehicle solicitations.”
Traffic safety problems were the main impetus for creating the ordinance, Erdman said. Other issues related to day laborers such as littering, defecating, public urination, and the rare fistfight are being handled by a combination of the Pasadena Police Department and organized neighborhood associations, and the code compliance office, Erdman said.
In addition, a nonprofit group called the Institituto de Educacion Popular del sur de California has established a day laborer center at 500 N. Lake Avenue, just a few blocks from Villa Street. Erdman said the center serves as an organized way for day laborers to find work, and it’s very popular. To participate, day laborers must go through a registration process.
Erdman said the combination of law enforcement and providing the day laborers with employment options seems to be working well for Pasadena.
“It isn’t a perfect system, but the situation is a lot better now than it was a few years ago,” Erdman said.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 29, 2005. Read the original PDF.