Henry hired Palermo Galindo as Fort Wayne’s Hispanic-immigrant liaison back in June. Palermo Galindo operates Centro De Dinero, one of those high-priced check cashing services whose target audience is the Hispanic market, and undoubtedly Fort Wayne’s illegal alien population.

Yesterday at the state of the city address Henry announced a new and exciting program to help people stay away from the leeches that operate payday loan sites.

Tonight I am also excited to announce my intent to create the “Bank on Fort Wayne” program. This new initiative will generate opportunities for any Fort Wayne residents who have relied on expensive check-cashing services and payday loan operations. This initiative will allow them to open bank accounts at local financial institutions while also receiving financial tools. Founded on the success of similar programs in Evansville and other cities, I see Bank on Fort Wayne as a win-win. It will allow some of Fort Wayne’s hardest working residents to keep more of the money they earn, save for the future, and establish relationships with local banks. I look forward to working with Councilman Hines with his banking experience, as well as the financial institutions here in Fort Wayne on this important project.

Henry’s not addressing the real problem here.

Galindo and his company, Centro De Dinero, are raking in annual percentage rates that the mafia would admire. While we could not get anyone on the phone at Centro, we did check online and it appears most all of the payday loan operators charge the same fees, the maximum allowed by the state.

Using a $500 loan amount, we used their online calculators and found the rates identical.

You Borrow: $500.00
You Payback: $567.00
Finance Charge: $67.00
APR: 349.36%

That’s for a two week loan.

By our count there are at least 27 payday loan locations in the city of Fort Wayne, with 8 concentrated on South Lafayette, South Calhoun and Broadway.

View Larger Map

Payday loans strap borrowers with triple digit interest rates, and it’s almost always families that are living on the financial edge. They generally locate in black and poor neighborhoods, preying on those that are financially weak.

Cities are now passing ordinances that restrict both the density of payday loan operations and the distance between them. A good start would be a a temporary moratorium on any new payday loan operations, with an eventual restriction on the number of operators. Many cities also require a special use permit. In DeSoto, KS they don’t allow payday loan operations at all.

Fort Wayne has an extensive ordinancelink governing the operation of pawn shops and those that deal in precious metals and stones. Just last week I received an email from someone that had been contacted by the Fort Wayne Police Department for offering to buy gold on Craig’s List. He was told it was illegal. I checked and indeed, without a license it is.

In Indiana Payday loan operators are regulated by the Indiana Department of Financial Institutions. I’m not certain if the city of Fort Wayne can regulate the rates. Mitch?

Many cities have enacted ordinances that do, where allowed by state law. In 2007, several cities in Virginia passed resolutions asking their state General Assembly to cap payday interest rates at 36%. In 2008, it became state law.

Henry never explained any details about the “Bank on Fort Wayne” program. I suspect it’s just another feel-good gesture to give folks a warm fuzzy feeling.

Payday loan operators are supposed to be licensed . We did check the licensing databaselink for Centro De Dinero. We could not find them.

Related posts:

1. Mayor Henry: Smoke and mirrors? How about liar? I just got a release from Mayor...
2. Earth First, garbage, and the good old boy network – Part II We promised a look at a few of the degrees...
3. Trash talk Here is a recap. Jerry Henry, an honest guy, but...

Henry hired Palermo Galindo as Fort Wayne’s Hispanic-immigrant liaison back in June. Palermo Galindo operates Centro De Dinero, one of those high-priced check cashing services whose target audience is the Hispanic market, and undoubtedly Fort Wayne’s illegal alien population.

One of his tasks is to make certain that all immigrants, both legal and illegal, get counted during the 2010 census. Fort Wayne now has it’s own “No Illegal Alien Left Behind” program.

Since the days of Jimmy “peanut brain” Carter, the democrats have tried in vain to count as many illegal aliens as possible during the census. It affords them the opportunity of exploiting the massive population of illegal aliens to redraw congressional districts and secure a ruling majority.

The Census is used to determine seats in the House, it’s all based on the head count. More illegal aliens equals more seats. More illegal immigrants counted, more power.

Both the Carter and Clinton administration all but ceased immigration enforcement during the census. After all, you don’t want these people hiding in the attic when Mr. Census taker comes knocking, now do you? During the 2000 census, Indiana lost a house seat as did Michigan, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. California gained 6 seats. Gee, I wonder why?

Obama’s Department of Homeland Security earlier this year picked up where Clinton left off, slashing immigration and customs enforcement operations across the country.

Mayor Tom Henry hired Galindo in June and expanded the position – and its pay, $44,569 a year – to the level of neighborhood advocate.

And a big part of the position is promoting participation in the census among all immigrant populations.

‘Not too early’
The city first tasked with co-chairing the Complete Count Committee, a volunteer team appointed by elected officials to ensure undercounted population are reached.

I suppose Galindo’s in a good position to convince illegal aliens it’s okay to answer the door when a census worker comes calling. Since he’s obviously cashing their checks, he has exposure to them everyday. How convenient.

They may run into some opposition if they listen to their pastor before they listen to a price-gouging check casher.

From USA Today.

The National Coalition of Latino Clergy & Christian Leaders, a group that says it represents 20,000 evangelical churches in 34 states, issued a statement this week urging undocumented immigrants not to fill out Census forms unless Congress passes “genuine immigration reform.”

From Boston.com

While the boycott is a national effort, states with significant percentages of immigrants such as Massachusetts stand to lose more because of formulas that base federal funding on population. Last year, Massachusetts received $11.4 billion in federal funds, and people who shun the census could cost the state about $1,755 apiece, said Brian McNiff , spokesman for the Massachusetts secretary of state.

BFD. In 2006 they sent an estimated $45 billion dollars out of the country, and cost the U.S. an estimated $340 billion dollars. I say, adios.

The bottom line is simple. Any illegal immigrant counted in the 2010 census will distort the apportionment of congressional districts.

Hide amigos, hide.

Related posts:

1. Booing Obama and healthcare for illegal aliens FWIW, the guy in the hat was calling Obama a...
2. Soy trasero mojado y voto por Obama Okay, I don’t speak the Spanish lingo, I used Babelfish,...
3. ACORN thuggery – using police to stop free speech Obama, Pelosi and the rest of the democrats are whining...