People in Dayton, Ohio, want to welcome immigrants to their city.
Last week, the city commission unanimously approved an immigrant-friendly plan that aims to promote diversity and encourage new residents to feel at home.
Mayor Gary Leitzell put it this way: "This is not about harboring illegal immigrants or drawing illegal immigrants into Dayton. We understand there are problems with people entering the U.S. illegally. The Welcome Dayton plan leaves federal immigration law enforcement to the feds, and instead focuses on making our community one that treats all people kindly, fairly and humanely."
Unlike the crackdown against illegal immigrants launched by Alabama and Georgia legislators, Dayton wants to let the federal government handle enforcement and lawmaking.
Although comprehensive immigration reform is
Washington's job, city officials believe they can make a difference in how people get along locally. The plan is to reach out to immigrants and ensure that city services are available to them.
The recession has hit the western Ohio city hard, and officials are hoping that immigrants play a role in reviving the local economy. Once a bustling manufacturing center, Dayton's population has fallen 15% in the last decade to about 140,000 as businesses shut their doors.
Comments
I believe that the title was meant to read:
“Dayton Ohio, Wants to Become an ILLEGAL Immigrant-Friendly city. The fact is that Dayton, Ohio has never had any adversion to LEGAL immigrants. I think it is time to stop using the word “immigrant” when we really mean “illegal immigrant”. We have always been a LEGAL immigrant friendly country.
every sensable person would admire the motive and intention behind this immigrant friendly plan. Treating every human being with respect and dignity is what our forefathers teach us. American values and constitution give us guiedline to show compassion and love regardless of color.religion or ethnicity. The immigrants made this country the greatest country on the face of this planet. Dayton will rise again. Dayton has made true amaricans proud by expressing hamanity and compassion unlike alabama,arizona and georgia who gave america a bad name. Most of the illegal immigrants were legal,but screwed up immigration law made them illegal.they fell in love with this country and want to contribute to
Revitalize the economy.people of dayton are true americans.
Fix these headlines, you forgot the word illegal. These other states are all for legal immigration. But this isn’t about that at all. This is about illegal immigration, and as stated in this article using government funds and programs to support it. When you have an 11% unemployment dummy you don’t bring in more folks without jobs. How stupid is that plan, wait I remember seeing professor in there somewhere. That explains it, some idiot who has never worked a day in his life has read nothing but books built to support his agenda, and he wants to tell us how to turn around a failing business plan.
Your compassionate position is good as long as your social security number or that of a loved one is not being used by an illegal immigrant to rack up your debt, buy homes on your account, when you become entitled to social security benefits you will not be eligible because you make a bunch of money else where, and the list goes on. You see, the grand majority of illegal immigrants in our country work with a social security number that has been purchased on the street – aka identity theft. So, continue to be compassionate and continue to welcome illegal immigrants in your neck of the woods, sooner than later you will understand how it all works out.
Look life is not fair by any means, but everyone who is not native american is “illegal” so all u people who want to through that word around take a good long look at your family and your self because u r “illegal” as well. I can speak for my ancestors are native american. But I am not racist as u all r. U r n no place to judge anyone by no means. Cause when we bleed we all blead red-not different colors.
I’m stunned by the negative response to this plan, that people just automatically assume we’re speaking of illegal immigrants. There is a program called EB-5 Visas, Google it. It’s a way to attract affluent immigrants who will create jobs and it’s one way our City leaders are hoping to attract more immigrants to our community.
Visionary leaders are often thought of as nuts until time proves that they were merely ahead of their time. Dayton brought you the airplane, the parachute, the pop top aluminum can, the electric starter, the step ladder, the ink jet printer, the Boolean search engine and countless other inventions that changed the world and made it a better place. We are a town of innovators and innovation.
So while the rest of you fear anyone who doesn’t look just like you, talk just like you or think just like you, we’re recreating the city of our dreams.
Ask any Legal immigrant if thats true. Dayton is very difficult to do business if you are an immigrant. Dayton city hires People like Southeast priority board Coordinator to hell and scream at the LEGAL immigrants.
If a Legal Immigrant decides to start a small business. Local Priority Boards make sure that business is not successful. They try their best to HINDER and intimidate the person.
Dayton is very Confrontational when it comes to LEGAL immigrants.
I am a Legal Immigrant and i face alot of Racism and prejudice in dayton. I have an appeal for all immigrants if you want to start a business you will be constantly Harrassed and intimidated.
I disagree with Dayton being Immigrant friendly city. Even LEGAL Immigrants who lived dacades in the city complain the attitude and discriminatory behavior of city employees towards them. Local Priority Boards specially Southeast priority board is very Confrontational to Legal immigrants. Recently there was an Outcry about A southeast priority board coordinator Connie Nisonger about her treatment and her negative views about LEGAL immigrants. Southeast priority Board coodinator was accused of Verbally assaulting a legal immigrant and making derogotaory comments about the individual. She does her best to hinder a Minority business from establishing.
Connie Nosinger runs the East dayton Priority board. East dayton Housing and businesses are impacted by the decisions they make about their fate. Connie Nosinger Resides in a posh neighborhood outside dayton. But she acts like she cares about East dayton. I believe city of dayton needs someone who is from dayton and who cares about dayton residents and businesses.