Flowery Branch mayor not convinced Hispanics are leaving

FLOWERY BRANCH - With fewer jobs available because of the economic slowdown, Hispanics are reportedly leaving Hall County and the rest of Georgia. But the mayor of Flowery Branch is not so sure.

Jerry Gonzalez, head of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials (GALEO), says immigrants, including illegal immigrants, are leaving because of the current economic climate; they are going elsewhere in search of a job.

Mayor Diane Hirling said if they are, it has not become apparent in her town.

"I don't see any indication of people moving in or out of Flowery Branch right now whether they're Hispanic or not," Hirling said. "I checked with our water/sewer clerk and she says there's really no turnover right now."

Hirling said when she was recently at the new Stone Bridge Village shopping center across I-985 from downtown, she saw no lack of Hispanic shoppers.

"In a lot of the stores that I was in, there was an exceptional amount of Hispanic people shopping," she said.

Hirling said she still sees a lot of Hispanic workers in the area.

"Because of the tornado this summer, our whole neighborhood had to have new roofs put on and they were all Hispanic workers," Hirling said. "They are here in Flowery Branch."