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Residents urge council to address farmworker fears and pool funding concerns during public comment
Summary
During the Feb. 4 public‑comment period, residents asked the council to consider the safety concerns of undocumented farmworkers and raised questions about maintenance and funding for the proposed MLK Aquatic Center and other city pools.
At the start of the Feb. 4 Yakima City Council meeting, several residents spoke during the public‑comment period about immigration enforcement fears and concerns about the proposed MLK Aquatic Center’s operating costs.
Gail Smart, who identified herself as a Yakima resident, said she had spoken with undocumented farmworkers in the previous week and was speaking on their behalf. “We no longer feel safe in our community. We're terrified. We're afraid to go to work and cannot afford not to go to work,” Smart said. She said many of the workers she contacted have long histories in the valley, work long hours, pay taxes and have children in local schools. “If…
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