CASA Center Groundbreaking Proves Fertile Soil for Politicians

Rarely have so many high-level Maryland politicos gathered for one community organization's event. Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) joked that for a moment he mistook this week's groundbreaking for CASA of Maryland's Multicultural Center in Langley Park for a dress rehearsal for the presidential inauguration.

Seated outside in the chilly Monday morning breeze were a long list of the state's Democratic leaders: U.S. Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, Rep. Donna F. Edwards, Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler, Secretary of Labor, Licensing and Regulation Thomas E. Perez, Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson and Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett.

The seating assignments posed something of a challenge for event organizers because of the November ballot measure on slots that has divided many elected officials and political groups in Montgomery and Prince George's.

Seated to one side of the podium were Perez, a leading proponent of slots, and Leggett, who reversed course last month and endorsed the measure, which would allow 15,000 machines at five locations in the state. On the other side were Franchot, one of the most outspoken opponents of slots, and Johnson, who said publicly for the first time that morning that he would vote against the measure.

The focus of the event, of course, was not state politics but the start of construction on CASA's $13.8 million headquarters and Multicultural Center. One by one, speakers praised the immigrant advocacy group for its work with the community and its leader, Gustavo Torres.

"I want you to know, I do everything Gustavo tells me to do," said state Del. Sheila E. Hixson (D-Montgomery), who chairs the powerful Ways and Means Committee.

The historic Georgian revival-style McCormick-Goodhart Mansion is slated to be renovated by the end of next year to provide space for nonprofit groups and services such as job training, legal consultation and health services. The project depends on private and public funding, including $400,000 from the Maryland General Assembly, $500,000 from Prince George's and $100,000 from Montgomery. Mikulski said she has secured $500,000 in federal funding.

"It's about time CASA had its own permanent home," she said. "This is not just about groundbreaking; it's about breaking down barriers that divide us and separate us."

Far from the podium, separated by a black iron fence, fewer than a dozen people gathered on the sidewalk to protest the use of taxpayer money for the immigrant advocacy group. Word of their planned protest brought a private security team, a small police presence and a bomb-sniffing dog, but the crowd was subdued.

Nick Caaba, a Montgomery resident who works in home improvement, said immigrants who enter the United States illegally have hurt his business.

"Whatever price you give, the illegals do it for less. I'm being forced to lower prices," said Caaba, who held a sign reading "Vote English Official Language."

"It's our tax money. We should have more of a say," said Pree Glenn-Graves of Temple Hills, the Prince George's coordinator for Help Save Maryland, a Rockville-based group that works against illegal immigration and opposes spending public funds on programs or services for those in the United States illegally.