Nehmo Sergheyev
2004-08-06 23:42:51 UTC
The CAN Center
Westside Community Action Network Center
http://www.soyunica.gov/adults/partners/wcanc.aspx
I called them and they didn't even know they had a webpage. It's
actually part of a government site, and it really gives a misleading
description of what they do.
Last year and for many years before, where contractors in Kansas City
picked-up Mexican laborers was at the Royal Liquors (it sold gas too) on
Southwest Boulevard. Early in the morning a crowd Mexicans would
assemble around the parking lot of the store. Most of the time they
stood, and there isn't much shade there. By about 10:30 AM, the crowd
would dissipate leaving a small group in a nearby empty lot. These
people would drink and perhaps weren't interested in working.
Late in 2003 the government (I'm not sure which), with the approval of
the proprietor of Royal Liquors, established a pick-up center now known
as the CAN Center. Bi-lingual signs appeared around the neighborhood
saying that contractors were no longer supposed to pick-up laborers at
Royal Liquors but that now they could go to the CAN center. The signs
included detailed directions where the center is, about a block away
from Royal Liquors.
Driving up to the CAN center, you will be greeted by a sign that says
that contractors must park "under the bridge"
http://home.kc.rr.com/plumb/can.htm and that they will be ticketed if
they do not. (Every other possible spot is guarded by a no-parking
sign.) The bridge is really a stretch of elevated I35. There's always a
KCMO cop with the black T-shirt uniform posted at the Center, and his
function appears largely to ticket vehicles parked illegally.
Yes, there still is a crowd of Mexicans in the morning, and a contractor
can *still* get laborers. But now the character of the crowd has
significantly changed to being less work oriented, and a contractor is
less likely than before to find a good worker.
The CAN center not only provides a place where employers can meet
employees, but it also provides meals, has a washing machine & dryer,
has a washroom, has a sort-of phone-message center[1], and it allows
anyone to hang around as long as they like. They can sit inside.
The nearby elevated I35, although very noisy, provides many spots
somewhat protected from the elements and hundreds of people, if we count
in the total area, sleep in those spots.
So now the laborer pick-up place is more a place for Mexican bums to
hang out. The uncomfortable conditions of the Royal Liquors location
weeded out those not serious about working. And peculiar as it is, the
CAN center seems to actually frown on those who work. It's sort-of more
welfare-like oriented. The workers who really want to get picked-up
don't go into the center, but stand far away from it.
[1] The place provides "business cards" with a blank space to write in a
name. The Center instructs the new arrivals to register their name for
phone calls, and it encourages them to give these cards to contractors
so that the contractor can just call the center and ask for the person.
I assume, when the Center gets a call, they will yell out the guy's
name.
Westside Community Action Network Center
http://www.soyunica.gov/adults/partners/wcanc.aspx
I called them and they didn't even know they had a webpage. It's
actually part of a government site, and it really gives a misleading
description of what they do.
Last year and for many years before, where contractors in Kansas City
picked-up Mexican laborers was at the Royal Liquors (it sold gas too) on
Southwest Boulevard. Early in the morning a crowd Mexicans would
assemble around the parking lot of the store. Most of the time they
stood, and there isn't much shade there. By about 10:30 AM, the crowd
would dissipate leaving a small group in a nearby empty lot. These
people would drink and perhaps weren't interested in working.
Late in 2003 the government (I'm not sure which), with the approval of
the proprietor of Royal Liquors, established a pick-up center now known
as the CAN Center. Bi-lingual signs appeared around the neighborhood
saying that contractors were no longer supposed to pick-up laborers at
Royal Liquors but that now they could go to the CAN center. The signs
included detailed directions where the center is, about a block away
from Royal Liquors.
Driving up to the CAN center, you will be greeted by a sign that says
that contractors must park "under the bridge"
http://home.kc.rr.com/plumb/can.htm and that they will be ticketed if
they do not. (Every other possible spot is guarded by a no-parking
sign.) The bridge is really a stretch of elevated I35. There's always a
KCMO cop with the black T-shirt uniform posted at the Center, and his
function appears largely to ticket vehicles parked illegally.
Yes, there still is a crowd of Mexicans in the morning, and a contractor
can *still* get laborers. But now the character of the crowd has
significantly changed to being less work oriented, and a contractor is
less likely than before to find a good worker.
The CAN center not only provides a place where employers can meet
employees, but it also provides meals, has a washing machine & dryer,
has a washroom, has a sort-of phone-message center[1], and it allows
anyone to hang around as long as they like. They can sit inside.
The nearby elevated I35, although very noisy, provides many spots
somewhat protected from the elements and hundreds of people, if we count
in the total area, sleep in those spots.
So now the laborer pick-up place is more a place for Mexican bums to
hang out. The uncomfortable conditions of the Royal Liquors location
weeded out those not serious about working. And peculiar as it is, the
CAN center seems to actually frown on those who work. It's sort-of more
welfare-like oriented. The workers who really want to get picked-up
don't go into the center, but stand far away from it.
[1] The place provides "business cards" with a blank space to write in a
name. The Center instructs the new arrivals to register their name for
phone calls, and it encourages them to give these cards to contractors
so that the contractor can just call the center and ask for the person.
I assume, when the Center gets a call, they will yell out the guy's
name.
--
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* Nehmo Sergheyev *
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* Nehmo Sergheyev *
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