While much of the country is embroiled in the emotional issue surrounding undocumented immigration and the controversy over the immigration law in Arizona, some see immigration as a solution, not a detriment, to the economy.
Around the country, the seeds of a a new political discourse on leveraging the benefits of immigration (entrepreneurship, innovation, global connections, exports, new homeownership and consumers, etc.) are beginning to sprout.
Take Cleveland, Ohio —- a city struggling to find answers to progressive depopulation and a slow transition to the New Economy.
Yesterday, Tom Beres of WKYC-TV/NBC affiliate reported that Ed Fitzgerald, a mayor of a diverse city adjacent to Cleveland, and the front-runner in the Democratic Primary for the newly formed County Executive office in Cuyahoga County, is supporting immigration-based economic development strategies as a way to re-boot the local economy and catalyze an entrepreneurial culture.
Excerpt:
“Ironically, on the second anniversary of the federal raid of Cuyahoga County offices in the corruption probe, candidates for Cuyahoga County Executive spoke of their own ideas for the future of the county at the Cleveland Public Library.
But voters’ decision to makeover government was about more than eliminating corruption. The new county charter makes economic development a top priority of the county.
In the past, its economic development initiatives focused on large projects, like Gateway and the Medical Mart.
Candidates offered insight into their priorities…..
Democrat Lakewood Mayor Ed Fitzgerald’s agenda included support for wooing immigrants here to help boost the economy.”
http://origin.wkyc.com/news/politics_govt/politics_article.aspx?storyid=141346
In states like Ohio, where the undocumented and legal immigrant population is miniscule (less than one-tenth of a percent, and three percent, respectively), most everyone in that state is worried about one thing: where will the new industries, new jobs, and tax revenue come from?
Immigrants are clearly part of the solution.
Studies by the Kauffman Foundation and others have documented the out-sized economic contributions made by immigrants who start neighborhood businesses, who invent something and launch high-tech companies, or who simply move into a struggling neighborhood and help boost the local tax revenue. Much has also been written about the intangibles that immigrants bring to struggling communities —– the hope, the drive, the sometimes-irrational optimism that can help raise a community off its knees.
In Cleveland, as the massive county reform agenda barrels forward, more pols are beginning to publicly tout the job-creating and community-revitalization benefits of attracting legal immigrants.
Two candidates running for office in the newly-formed Cuyahoga County Council, the legislative branch of the new county government, are touting this new direction:
“He (Nelson Cintron) and Ronayne (Chris) cited the importance of luring immigrants to the county. Cintron said they would fill the vacant storefronts with small businesses.
Ronayne said the county needs to support a Cleveland international welcome center to attract legal immigrants and their families.”
Despite strong policy arguments, it still takes some courage to use the “i” word this way in public discussion.
And especially during election season.
In Cleveland, and other rust belt cities, straight talk about crisis and innovative solutions in a global economy is not a luxury.
It’s a necessity.