ESCONDIDO -- Opponents of an ordinance approved Wednesday night by Escondido's City Council, which will ban landlords from renting to illegal immigrants, have taken the fight to Councilman Sam Abed's doorstep.

About 10 a.m. Thursday, protesters began gathering at a Mobil gas station owned by Abed at East Valley Parkway and Midway Drive as part of what they said would be a two-week boycott of the business. Organizers said the boycott will last until Oct. 18, when the City Council will make a final vote on the ordinance.

Standing on the sidewalks along both streets in front of the station, the protesters held signs that read, "Sam Abed is dividing the community" and "Owner Sam Abed is intolerant," and encouraged drivers entering the gas station not to buy gas there. Abed was one of three council members, along with Marie Waldron and Ed Gallo, to vote in favor of the measure.

"This is economics class for Mr. Abed," said Daniel Perez, a community activist who organized the boycott. "We're going to tell him this is what happens when you remove half of the people in the city."

While the protesters received many honks of support from drivers passing by, several people stopped Thursday to buy gas at Abed's business.

In fact, business has increased since the protesters began the boycott over the weekend, Abed said Thursday. He said he had received dozens of calls and e-mails from people who said they planned to buy their gas at Abed's station in support of him and the ordinance.

Abed said the protesters were exercising their democratic rights and that he wasn't bothered by the boycott, although he said the protest had little to do with his business.

"The issue is not about Sam or Sam's business, the issue is about a decision I made that is in the best interest of the city and the citizens of Escondido," Abed said.

Katie Schutz of Escondido said she decided to buy gas at the Mobil station Thursday in support of the ordinance.

"I saw the signs, and I don't even need that much gas, but I'm kind of glad everything happened the way it did," Schutz said. "I'll buy gas every day here if I need to."

However, Saul Fonseca of Escondido said he hadn't realized why the protesters were on the corner as he filled up his car's gas tank. If he had known, Fonseca said, he wouldn't have patronized the gas station because he doesn't support the ordinance.

"I don't understand these people (on the City Council). I don't understand why they don't live in peace," Fonseca said. "They (the illegal immigrants) have to go to work, but where are they going to live?"

Escondido resident Jose Duenas said as he bought gas that he doubted the ordinance would actually take effect, but that protesters should concentrate their energies elsewhere.

"I think the best way is to attack him directly over there (at City Hall), not at the gas station, because a lot of Latinos work here, too," Duenas said, adding he thought the boycott could affect the employees' jobs.

A little before noon, Perez was confronted by a man walking past who said he opposed the group's boycott and thought the council's decision had been the right one. The man, Eric, who didn't want his last name used, said he owns a condominium near the gas station and that Abed has been a responsible business owner.

"I think this is ridiculous," he said after talking to Perez. "I've lived here. I've known people that work here. This man (Abed) is not racist."

Contact staff writer Paul Eakins at (760) 740-5420 or peakins@nctimes.com.

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