Mayor Bill Finch says we’ll accommodate the kids if we have space and the feds foot the bill, a spokesman for New Haven Mayor Toni Harp proclaims we’re not stepping up to undermine Governor Dan Malloy, but now even Malloy is trying to find a political safe haven–after saying no–to address shelter for undocumented immigrants from Central America at the request of President Obama. Finch and Harp are up for reelection next year and Malloy is up for a second four-year term in November. How do they balance the interests of a growing Latino voter base with other voters wondering, why should we take this on?
Harp, Finch and Stamford Mayor David Martin will conduct a conference call Friday with the chief executives of other municipalities to talk about whether their cities and towns can step up and provide shelter for about 1,000 undocumented immigrant children from Central America.
Malloy issed this statement Tuesday:
“I continue to work closely with the federal government on this important issue. Today, I participated in a conference call with the White House and the Secretaries of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services. It appears that substantial progress has been made to diminish the need for housing children for extended periods in large scale institutional settings. For example, the facility at Nogales now houses 22 children, down from more than 1,000. Much of this work has been accomplished by pursuing the appropriate step of placing children as quickly as possible with relatives, a position that we have advocated for the past week.
“The federal government has placed more than 320 children with relatives in Connecticut. I previously directed state agencies to facilitate such placements and to work with federal officials in an appropriate fashion should any additional needs arise or should they make additional requests. That would include exploring the Gateway property, which is owned and controlled by the Board of Regents system and is not a surplus state property. However, I do not believe that the long-term detention of minors is the appropriate policy.”
This issue is a pain in the butt for Malloy and Connecticut’s large city mayors such as Finch and Harp. Some of their Latino constituents are saying why aren’t you helping our people? Others are saying forget the migrants, we’ve got our own problems. How much more can we take on?
It’s a delicate balancing act to show you’re concerned without taking on more than a state and community can handle. When you’re battling at the margins like Malloy is, according to polls, this is the one or two percent that can decide an election.
Statement from Brett Broesder, Mayor Finch’s communications director:
The Obama Administration has asked states, cities, counties, school districts, nonprofit organizations and any other organizations who might be able to offer residential services for the unaccompanied immigrant children of Central America. For additional background, click here http://1.usa.gov/1obrujgand here http://on.wsj.com/1A698oW). In response, Mayor Finch’s spokesperson Brett Broesder made the following statement:
“No decisions have been made on this front. But Mayor Finch – as an adoptee, father of four kids, and as the chief executive of our state’s largest city – believes that it’s his duty to at least explore possible ways to help kids who are in-need. He sees this as an issue about ensuring the safety and security of children, not about politics. He also believes that sheltering kids who are in-need has the potential to strengthen Bridgeport’s already strong immigrant community.
“That said, Mayor Finch knows it would be unfair to Bridgeport residents to even consider an effort that would take away city services or resources. He’s only willing to consider this if federal funds pay for all transportation, legal representation and shelter costs – or any other costs associated with taking action.
“The bottom line is that these are kids. Mayor Finch supports ensuring that kids in-need have a safe and secure place to live. But he will not put the health, safety, or security of Bridgeport kids and families at risk. If there is an option that accomplishes both goals, Mayor Finch is willing to consider it.”
They should pull together administrators from the programs statewide who already provide residential services to children. Then make a list of former state facilities that may still be equipped with beds, cafeterias, medical exam rooms, outside recreation areas, etc. Talk to the experts, make an inventory of what is available and take it from there. Or you can just drop them off in front of 999 Broad Street.
This will not help gain or lose votes. Connecticut voters have issues and housing for illegal immigrants is not one of them. I could be wrong but I sincerely doubt it. We can barely take care of our own.
I agree with Congressman Jim Himes, when he said “We have a Biblical moral obligation to protect those kids crossing our borders.”
Himes is full of shit, he is part of the problem. Let’s leave the Bible out of this argument. We here in America are not obligated to take care of the whole world. Himes lives in the ‘burbs, is where he lives stepping up to take some of these kids in? The answer is NO.
Andy, why don’t you show a little humanity? What are you going to do, throw the kids out on the street until they are processed?
Finch is being the good Democrat, supporting his incompetent, divisive president. Maybe he can house them on Pleasure Beach. Eight million dollars have been spent to make it accessible. This is a pandering opportunity Finch can’t pass up. Will the conference call include only Democrat party Mayors?
How about we find a way to take care of our homeless voters and fix schools with American children. Smh I have become disgusted with the Democratic party and I am a Democrat myself. No room left for moderates like me. The party has become way too liberal.
donj, who are you talking about in the Democratic party who are way too liberal and what are those things that are way too liberal?
Obama liberal Finch liberal!!!!!!!!!
donj, let’s stay in Connecticut and Bridgeport; now what liberal bill or act has Bill Finch pushed? Obama’s actions are not liberal because he’s scared of Republicans plus they have fought him ever since he has been in office.
Interesting, the people saying we should take care of American homeless are the same people who for years were saying the govt. shouldn’t do anything FOR the American homeless.
Another great point, Dave!
I am in full support of housing and caring for these children until they can be reunited with family or put into foster care. I am also in full support of sharing the responsibility with all 50 states. For Finch to say Bridgeport will take them (or some of them) is just pure ignorance. As I noted in a previous post, Finch has no idea what is involved in caring for these children. His own social services dept is falling apart due to gross mismanagement and lack of support from HIS administration. Now he wants to take on another huge program? Leave it to the professionals, Bill, because you have no clue. Don’t treat these poor kids as another photo op.
Scabies, Tuberculosis, drug mules, gang members …
SECURE THE BORDERS, REUNITE THEM WITH THEIR PARENTS (if you can find them), TELL MEXICO TO SECURE THEIR SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN BORDERS, AND SEND THOSE WHO STAY TO WASHINGTON DC.
This isn’t a humanitarian issue, it’s a political and security issue. If you think otherwise then you are naive about what is happening on our Southern border.
Bob, I do live near our southern border and you don’t know what you are talking about. Most of these kids are exactly what they sound like, kids who right now need shelter and the vast majority are as healthy as most American kids. Many of the older kids came here to avoid being drug mules. Don’t listen to Fox, it rots your brain.
It’s too bad these kids came to the border because of bad information. We need to send them back to the countries they come from. We cannot have an open border, if we do we will be overrun with people we can’t support. I know that gets the liberals crazy but it’s a fact of life.
Those in favor of bringing them to Bridgeport don’t realize the monumental task it is to house and feed these kids. I don’t care what the Feds promise, they never keep their promises. Look at what’s happening to our veterans.
I am proud to be a firefighter.
I revere that long line of expert firefighters who by their devotion to duty and sacrifice of self, have made it possible for me to be a member of a service honored and respected, in good times and bad, throughout the world.
I never, by word or deed, will bring reproach upon the fair name of the fire service, nor permit others to do so unchallenged.
I will cheerfully and willingly obey all lawful orders.
I will always be on time to relieve, and shall endeavor to do more, rather than less, than my share.
I will always be at my station, alert and attending to my duties.
I shall, so far as I am able, bring to my seniors solutions, not problems.
I shall live joyously, but always with due regard for the rights and privileges of others.
I shall endeavor to be a model citizen in the community in which I live.
I shall sell my life dearly to my enemy fire but give it freely to rescue those in peril.
With God’s help, I shall endeavor to be one of His noblest Works.
Adapted for the fire service by Chief Bobby Halton ret. from “A United States Coast Guardsman,” by Vice Admiral Harry G. Hamlet.
THE FIREFIGHTER’S CREED
A spokesman for Bridgeport Mayor William Finch said no decisions have been made, but Finch “believes that it’s his duty to at least explore possible ways to help kids who are in need.”
Someone give that Mayor a fireman’s helmet!
www .ctpost.com/local/article/More-than-320-migrant-kids-placed-in-Connecticut-5641470.php
Do you realize if you were in Walmart and your 11-year-old walked out and started walking home you would be arrested? These kids were allowed to walk across Mexico and now we have to house them? We have the money to fly them all over the country, provide room and board and medical but sending them ‘home’ is too expensive? Can I get these things if my kid runs away and walks to NY? There is a way to become a US citizen. This is not it. If we want to discourage other kids from this risky move, will this do it? Once people hear what will happen if you do this how many others will try? How many of those kids will ‘not make it?’ If the kid becomes a US resident will the parents be able to follow shortly after? I mean, they will have to come to the US to take care of their kids, right?
What I find fascinating about all the people complaining about people from south of the border coming here without papers is none of them complained a couple of decades ago when undocumented aliens were coming here from places like Ireland and Poland. And since the 1960s people landing on our shores from Cuba without permission are granted green cards within a year and when they have been here long enough are allowed to be exempted from having to take the citizenship exam in English regardless of age (normally you have to be over 75 and to have been here for at least 20 years). But it seems the complaints seem to all be about people from Mexico and Central America.
What I find fascinating is your response. You don’t have any idea how I felt about anyone illegally coming to this country. The truth is, I feel the same regardless of where illegal immigrants come from. This recent event is more disturbing because it involves kids. Kids who could fall into any number of problems making a trip like that.
The problem with any kind of illegal immigration is, these people cut the line. People trying to legally come to the US never make it because their ‘turn’ never comes up. This system forces people who want to come here to have to come here illegally. It seems a little hypocritical for a country that prides itself on fairness, rights and the law to encourage a culture of people who cheat. Not only to encourage that culture but to let those people ‘win.’
Good point, Dave!