Is Iowa still promoting the State to Minorities? (Ames, Marshalltown: housing, rent)

[Dingler]

A while ago I was reading an article about the Governor of Iowa was trying to attract Blacks and Hispanics to Iowa. He wanted to make Iowa more ethnically diverse so it would be more like California. Iowa has traditionally been mostly White.

This has caused quite a bit of controversy. Some people thought it was a great idea and a way for Iowa to be more cultural and open to new ideas and foods. While others thought it was a way that the business community could get more cheap labor but bring in all the social problems that are more common with Hispanics and Blacks.

Would the quality of life in Iowa be improved if more ethnic minorities moved in (especially Blacks and Hispanics)?

[LC2585]

In recent years the state has tried to make itself more hospitable to people of minority status (especially Latinos) by allocating special funds for places like Marshalltown and Ft. Dodge to accommodate new Iowans. I wouldn't necessarily say this was done in the name of "diversity," but because recent population trends show many newcomers to Iowa are of minority status or foreign birth. Some Iowa cities have struggled with keeping people and acquiring new workers. In addition, many minorities in other urban areas (for example Chicago) have also been attracted to Iowa's low cost of living, relatively high quality of life and availability of jobs.

[Tek_Freek]

Nothing new. Iowa has been doing this for 30 years. Or not, if you're picky about your definitions.

http://tinyurl.com/2c5eg3

[Milliano]

Originally Posted by Dingler

Would the quality of life in Iowa be improved if more ethnic minorities moved in (especially Blacks and Hispanics)?

Is there any evidence of any state having improved quality of life from increased black and hispanic populations? The opposite seems to always happen. Be more like California? That would be bad. LA is like a Third World city now.
But maybe there would be benefit to get more skilled foreign labor in the state. Personally I've already experienced the positives of skilled foreign labor in Iowa. The more the merrier, from any country, any minority.

[millyp]

I see no problem with incoming minorities. The simple truth is that if you open up your heart and eyes you can always learn something new. Good food, good people, good friends. That is all i see to gain.....culturalization is never a bad thing

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by Dingler

A while ago I was reading an article about the Governor of Iowa was trying to attract Blacks and Hispanics to Iowa. He wanted to make Iowa more ethnically diverse so it would be more like California. Iowa has traditionally been mostly White.

This has caused quite a bit of controversy. Some people thought it was a great idea and a way for Iowa to be more cultural and open to new ideas and foods. While others thought it was a way that the business community could get more cheap labor but bring in all the social problems that are more common with Hispanics and Blacks.

Would the quality of life in Iowa be improved if more ethnic minorities moved in (especially Blacks and Hispanics)?

Making the state more hospitable to anyone(black, white, hispanic, asian, middle eastern, etc.) is something to strive for. The question is will it happen and are those persons ready to welcome in new people?

As for the problems that are very prevalent with minorities, those problems exist with whites as well.

If you look at any migration of any persons to a particular place, what was the reason? Jobs, particularly blue collar jobs. Whenever the blue collar jobs ran out, the quality of life went down. It can happen to anyone. Even with jobs, criminals can manage to get in because with any migration, there might be some criminals. While they aren't representative of the majority of any ethnic group, they would get more attention(unwanted of course) from the already local established population and therefore make the entire newcomers look bad.

[GeekPrincess]

Ames has see a rush in people from Chicago and it's been nothing but bad news. Granted most of them are moving here due to the projects of the southside shutting down, so it's not exactly the pick of the litter. But I'm failing to see anything positive yet.

[pirate_lafitte]

Originally Posted by GeekPrincess

Ames has see a rush in people from Chicago and it's been nothing but bad news. Granted most of them are moving here due to the projects of the southside shutting down, so it's not exactly the pick of the litter. But I'm failing to see anything positive yet.

Alot of people from Chicago are heading up to the Twin Cities looking for jobs. Many people find them and live better lives(better housing, better pay, safer places to live) than what they would find in Chicago.

Ames, I believe, is attracting people from Chicago because of ISU. Other than that, I can't think of anything else. Nothing positive has happened because a) some of the people who are criminals may have lived in the projects
b) the people who are down on their luck came to Iowa in hopes of getting back on their feet and have failed to do so.

[GeekPrincess]

None of the familys I've met have been here for ISU, they're here because our welfare isn't overran and they can take advantage of it. I've had several woman actually say this to me.

As far as people moving from the southside being criminals. I wouldn't be surprised if all of them have a record of some sort. It's damn near impossible to have lived there and not get something. Most of them don't seem to give **** about rising above their current standard of living and a lot of times they have a hard time holding a job. The other big reason they're so poorly received is their children. They do nothing to control them or teach them any mannners and they're some of the most violent this district has seen.

[keepitmovin]

None of the familys I've met have been here for ISU, they're here because our welfare isn't overran and they can take advantage of it. I've had several woman actually say this to me.

As far as people moving from the southside being criminals. I wouldn't be surprised if all of them have a record of some sort. It's damn near impossible to have lived there and not get something. Most of them don't seem to give **** about rising above their current standard of living and a lot of times they have a hard time holding a job. The other big reason they're so poorly received is their children. They do nothing to control them or teach them any mannners and they're some of the most violent this district has seen.



Wow!! Comments like these add fuel to the racism issue.