Ventura gives to immigration relief fund. Camarillo, Fillmore decline

この記事は『ベンチュラ・カウンティ・スター』紙に掲載されたものです。

Three cities recently considered donations to a nonprofit fund set up to support Ventura County families and small businesses affected by recent months of federal immigration enforcement. One city signed on. Two cities did not.

The Ventura City Council unanimously approved a $175,000 contribution to the Ventura County Neighbors Support Fund during its Sept. 23 meeting.

The Fillmore and Camarillo councils each decided against direct donations to the fund during meetings on Sept. 23 and 24. Both councils gave endorsements to the fund, though, and the Camarillo City Council elected to donate $70,000 to Food Share instead.

The city of Thousand Oaks previously committed $100,000 to the neighbors fund.

Organized by the Ventura County Community Foundation, the fund launched in late July to support families and small businesses, focusing on helping with food, shelter and other basic needs. All of the donated funds are expected to go to nonprofit organizations working directly with those affected.

Vanessa Bechtel, the foundation president and CEO, said the fund had raised over $430,000 of donation commitments as of Sept. 21. The fund distributed its first $136,000 in August to a quartet of nonprofits that work with immigrant families. Bechtel said the foundation has received more than $1.5 million in grant requests and expects its next distribution round to go to a fresh set of organizations.

How will immigration donations be used?

Ventura’s $175,000 contribution will provide immigration rights services through a “Know Your Rights” fund and designate the city as an official partner of the community foundation’s fund.

The foundation works with the entire county but the money is specific to Ventura community members, said Carlene Saxton, assistant city manager for Ventura.

Camarillo’s city council spent two hours listening to public comments and discussing a potential fund contribution during its meeting Sept. 24. The council had previously discussed the fund in August and voiced diverging opinions.

Camarillo city staff presented a range of options to the council, including a contribution to the neighbors fund that would be earmarked for Food Share and the Saticoy Food Hub and separate options to donate directly to each of the nonprofits.

The council worked through multiple arrangements before unanimously deciding to endorse the fund without directly donating and contribute $70,000 to Food Share, targeted for CSU Channel Islands students and residents of Camarillo and unincorporated Somis Ranch.

Fillmore council deadlocks

The Fillmore City Council discussed the fund during its own Sept. 23 meeting but could not agree on whether to contribute. The council ultimately voted 3-1 to endorse the fund without making any financial contributions.

Councilmember Carrie Broggie didn’t think the city should support the organization in any way. “This is still a controversial issue, so what’s the purpose in us taking a stance?” she said. 

Ventura County Community Foundation’s Mike Soules told Broggie that the city would join 30 other coalition members which included cities.

Councilmember John Garnica was absent from the meeting.

Information on the fund is available at vccf.org/neighbors-support-fund.

The community foundation helps fund a pair of Ventura County Star reporters through its Fund to Support Local Journalism.

Isaiah Murtaugh covers Oxnard, Port Hueneme and Camarillo for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at [email protected] or on Signal at 951-966-0914.

Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at [email protected], 805-437-0262 or @JournoWes.