News, Bloomberg: U.S. should invite illegals to live, work in Detroit. (taxes, living)

[JD59]

New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has a proposal to solve the nation’s illegal-immigration problem: invite the new arrivals to earn their citizenship by living and working in Detroit for a few years.

“Take a look at the big, old industrial cities — Detroit, for example,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday. “They’ve got a great mayor, Mayor [Dave] Bing. But the population has left. You’ve got to do something about that.

Bloomberg: U.S. should invite illegals to live, work in Detroit - Washington Times

[MIEng]

[SIZE=2][SIZE=2]Interesting. I read some of the comments below the article and I have to disagree with them. It is a crazy idea, but it makes some sense still. People may complain that there are no jobs in Detroit and that the local economy sucks. The problem is that most Americans think like employees not like entrepreneurs. Immigrants that come here, specially the most desperate ones, usually come from countries that have no social safety nets. They know they cannot rely on their government so they have to create their own support systems and these are usually their family and their community. They don't sit around waiting for opportunities, they create those opportunities. You would be amazed how many business are own by chaldeans in the area I live and I'm not talking about middle eastern restaurants but all sorts of small business: Day-care centers, cleaning services, printing services, pubs and bars etc... All of this despite been in the state with the worse economy in the country. Somehow they thrive while everybody else whine. All of these small business are important along with the high tech industry and manufacturing that we all want to attract to these state.


I'm not so sure about the "illegal" part but Detroit should market its self as an inviting place for immigrants. Give them free land as long as they are willing to set up a taqueria or a small market or a farm, employ some people even if its their cousins and uncles and pay taxes. In some areas in Detroit the land is practically free and nobody wants it anyway. Worried that the city services and health care in the city are going to get strained? There is a very large percentage of the current Detroit population that do not work and do not pay taxes and use all those services anyway, at least immigrants are going to be paying taxes and creating small business.
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[Tex?Il?]

I think Bloomberg is showing some stereotypical New York style-ignorance or arrogance or both. He apparently has no clue about the things happening in Detroit.

Like the largest Arab population in the country, that for them metro Detroit is still the promised land as it was the top destination for Iraqi refugees and immigrants. As well as an already thriving, existing Mexicantown.

Or over 3 million people in the suburbs with suburbs that are just as full of money as some in Westchester county immediately outside Detroit.

Or even some of Bloombergs own citizens, artists who can not afford to live in NYC and have been attracted to Midtowns thriving art scene.

Probably another victim of the "ruin porn" that affects peoples perception of Detroit.

[us66]

Why wouldn't he want them in his city? His city has a punitive tax rate; he could use some more taxpayers, too.

[Harrier]

Originally Posted by us66

Why wouldn't he want them in his city? His city has a punitive tax rate; he could use some more taxpayers, too.

He probally thinks that he is just being a good guy - trying to help Detroit out.

[jackmichigan]

There are plenty of illegal immigrants in Detroit already.

[detwahDJ]

He thinks Detroit is underpopulated? All it needs is more people?
He thinks they should "take jobs" - doing what? Working where?

[MS313]

How about he sends some jobs over here for those illegal immigrants to have. I don't want them taking mine.

[313Weather]

J.o.b.s.!!!

[Huckleberry3911948]

illegals go where there is work.