Thread: MA-Becoming a 'welcoming city'

Becoming a 'welcoming city'




By Jenn Smith, Berkshire Eagle Staff
Article Launched: 10/06/2008 03:04:03 AM EDT


Monday, October 06
PITTSFIELD — Five years ago the city established that it was "No Place for Hate." Now it's striving to be a "welcoming" community.
Pittsfield is more than halfway toward meeting the goal of getting at least 500 of its citizens to pledge to make the community and commonwealth a welcoming place for immigrants, through a campaign called "Welcoming Massachusetts."

A total of 256 residents — including the entire Pittsfield City Council, some members of law enforcement, and Mayor James M. Ruberto — have signed on. Local advocates hope to reach a 500-signature goal this month, which includes the second half of a National Hispanic Heritage celebration.

"It was clear a hundred years ago, when all of our grandparents came to Pittsfield from other parts of the world, that they wanted to try to make a life," said Ruberto.

"Today we see a replay of that ... and we need to see the creation of an incredible environment where (immigrants) can not only bring in their culture, but their desire to improve their lives and the lives of their children," the mayor said.

The Berkshire Immigrant Center is one of about 30 organizations represented on the Welcoming Massachusetts Steering Committee. The center and its local affiliate — the Cross Cultural Action Network, or CCAN — are looking to partner with residents and other organizations to raise awareness and make the county more hospitable,

welcoming and tolerant of diversity.
"I think we're making a statement that we want our legislators in our community to think about policies," said CCAN member and former City Council candidate Marjorie Cohan, adding that "Welcoming Massachusetts" dovetails with the No Place for Hate campaign that the city embraced five years ago.

"There is concern today that some people aren't welcoming to immigrants. I think we have to get out there and inform people. It's not about illegal immigrants. (These people) are the future leaders of the community," Cohan said.

Matthew Kerwood, an at-large city councilor, said "the demographics of the county have changed over time. I think it's important that we recognize that."

So far, Pittsfield is one of six cities and towns in the state to proclaim itself a "welcoming community," with around 5,000 pledges signed.

Cohan said that the next big Welcoming Massachusetts outreach effort will take place in conjunction with the Oct. 15 West African community celebration to be held at The Colonial Theatre.

Said Mayor Ruberto, "I think the future of the city is for it to be broadly diversified. It is socially important to show tolerance and compassion and it can be rewarding in a solid economic way."


http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_10649054

Just another fuzzy feal good liberal gimick that goes against every economic and social logic.

Let send them all our illegals.

Today we see a replay of that ... and we need to see the creation of an incredible environment where (immigrants) can not only bring in their culture, but their desire to improve their lives and the lives of their children," the mayor said.

"Incredible environment?" I guess these people do not read newspapers. Wait until one of their "welcomed guests" rapes, murders or otherwise terrorizes one of their residents and community. We will see how accomodating they are then.

Don't forget about the gangs, that will no doubt follow your newly arrived guests. If you don't have gangs now...don't worry. You will also get to experience that joy in no time.

You people have no idea what your getting yourselves into! This is the type of so called "leadership" which is destroying this country!

Ted Kennedy has probably promised them a lot of pork. Either that or there is something funny in the water.

PITTSFIELD — Five years ago the city established that it was "No Place for Hate."

Give me a break. Thats a silly little slogan. No one "hates" people.

JUST ENFORCE OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS. THEY WERE ENACTED FOR A REASON.

Welcoming immigrants or illegals? Big difference between the two.

I think many if not most of us are accepting of a reasonable number of immigrants who are willing to assimilate and have the skills and self reliance necessary to contribute to our society; but 20 million + illegal aliens is way over the line of reasonableness.

"Hate" is just another word they use to try to silence people.

It's much like 'racism' except by now, racism is just laughable.

"I think the future of the city is for it to be broadly diversified.

How broad and diversified must you get before there is nothing stable to work with?

Typical leftist la-la land....trying to escape reality. The left denies reality...they prefer to live in a fairyland of ideology. It's these type of people who are the ones always conned and scammed, because of their so-called "tolerance and compassion", they are easy marks.

Pittsfield's crime has soared in the last ten years. It actually is sort of a nice place, but was a lot nicer in it's prime. The major manufacturing job plant, GE is basically gone and all that's left is a lake and a soccer field full of PCB's. I don't what they're thinking, trying to get "immigrants" there but it's not going to make anything better. The city is getting more and more run down houses and these welfare people are not going to improve it whatsoever. Is nothing sacred anymore? Now they want to turn the Berkshires into a 3rd world cesspool. I guess all the rich people in Lenox want their yards done and the restaurants need under the table dishwashers who are also on state welfare.

One little hitch in their giddyup is that in MA you get fined every year that you don't have health insurance and immigrants typically do not buy health insurance so they will either not have a liscense or they will somehow pay the thousands a month to have insurance which is ridiculous to even consider happening.