I recently confirmed with Moorpark city officials that the city is giving serious consider- ation to the creation of a gather- ing place near the new Home De- pot that is coming to town for day laborers to gather when looking for work. This facility will be complete with restrooms and other amenities. I've been told that this facility will allow day laborers to gather without regard for whether or not they are legally in our country. No identification will be checked or required.

As frustrating as it is to see our city spend our money in this way, creating this gathering spot poses additional issues unrelated to il- legal aliens. Most of the "employ- ers" who hire day laborers are contractors. Contractors are notorious for violating require- ments for payroll reporting, in- come tax withholding, workman's compensation coverage, general liability insurance, and state con- tractor licensing requirements. No legitimate contractor I know makes routine use of day labor- ers.

Imagine if a day worker is in- jured on the job for one of these contractors and is not covered by workman's comp. Will he/she sue the city for sponsoring the facil- ity and not taking care to ensure that contractors are properly li- censed and insured? The poten- tial liabilities and legal costs for the city may be substantial.

What about legitimate con- tractors? Unless the city takes measures to ensure that only le- gitimate contractors are allowed to hire workers at this facility, would they not, in fact, be actively undermining the businesses of contractors who follow all the rules and are at a cost disadvan- tage when competing with illegal contractors?

I have had it with taxpayer re- sources being dedicated to assist- ing those who operate outside of the laws of the land. It is hard enough to operate a legitimate business without our government actively working to assist illegiti- mate ones.

If the city is determined to fol- low through with this folly, I hope at a minimum that they at least take steps to ensure that only pay- roll compliant, properly licensed and insured contractors are al- lowed to pick up workers at this facility. Asking the city to also make sure illegal aliens do not have access to it, I suppose, is too much to ask. Randy Wheeler Moorpark