Somalis in Lewiston

[Kiwiluver]

Originally Posted by mainebrokerman

went by memory- a little hazy at times in the late 70's

I remember the wblm 108 bumper stickers back in high school

It's all good, our memories were better back in the last century I surely lost some brain cells along the highway of life

[Anthony Thompson]

Originally Posted by flycessna

Well I certainly didn't feel I went on and on about anything. I called the article a bunch of Liberal Propaganda because that is what it is. I certainly do not owe it to you to gather a bunch of statistical data for which you would ignore anyways!

But you really do not need to go any further then the article itself!

Myth #1: Somalis are draining the welfare coffers

Lets save Myth 1 for last as it has most of the statistical data and is probably the most heated topic .


Myth #2: Somalis don’t want to work

Myth 2 comes close to an issue but whether Somali’s “want” to work is not the issue. The question is whether or not Somali’s “have” to work. It is clear that they didn’t immigrate here for employment opportunities and because of our generous welfare they do not have to work. The writer failed miserably to even defend the myth that Somali’s don’t want to work and provided no evidence that they do.. But again I do not feel that is the real issue. I doubt that more then 5% of the Somali population is actually working and supporting themselves and their families! So if you have statistical data to prove ME WORNG… PLEASE DO!


Myth #3: Somalis don’t want to learn English.

Myth #5: Somalis get free apartments

Myth #6: Somalis get free cars.

These examples are not about distorting any myths?? They create them. These discredit anyone who has something to say against immigration or against the Somali immigration in Lewiston by making them look stupid.

I have contact with MANY people; Teachers, Police officers, and small business owners and many others. ALL of whom are or have been concerned about the Somali Immigration and NONE of them would ever assume that Somali's receive free cars or free apartments or ANY special treatment.

When it comes to English the only issue I have heard of is wether or not they chose to use it. Like when police are conducting an investigation??


Myth #4: Somalis don’t want to become citizens.

While the writer does not give specific evidence or numbers I think he gives credible argument that many Somali’s do want to become Citizens. But this is a weak myth in that what is the relevency.. wether or not they are actually citizens they camer here not for work but because of a generous welefare system!

Myth #7: Somalis keep live chickens in their kitchen cupboards.

Another bogus Myth that has no relevancy accept to make us look like ignorant bigots As a landlord I have never heard this rumor outside of a joke that had nothing to do with Somali's

Myth #8: Somalis are responsible for a rise in crime

For the record I do not view the Somali community as crime ridden or culturally problematic when it comes to crime. But the writer refers to district court stats and does not consider juvenile crime or even calls for service. All of which have an impact on the community. For those that know me know I was in Law enforcement in Lewiston and I am close to the Police in the area and certainly calls for service and the nature of their work have changed. Just last year there were reported multiple incidents involving Somali juveniles harassing, assaulting, and robbing elderly citizens all of which were non Somali. And even I am afraid to write this but for those who are really interested DM me and I will tell you about the problems sears security was having with the Somali Juvenile’s.

Myth #9: Somalis don’t integrate and don’t want to be part of the community.

Again the myth is off topic?? I think anyone would want to be part of a community and be accepted. However the challenge lay in assimilation. Do the Somali’s want to Assimilate? Do the Somali’s want to be a part of OUR community? I think what we see is many Somali’s actively participating to advance their own culture and community but not really assimilating.


Myth #10: Somalis got a free ride to America.

Are we talking about the free bus ride thing?? I think if you consider many of them who were on government assistance to begin with in Atlanta and used what ever money they had to come here and live on government assistance then yes it was a free ride?? We see here the entitlement mentality when the writer asserts that it was their own money and their own desire to relocate here but the truth is they came here without jobs.. Hey Id like to go live in…. Hawaii.... but I am not about to just pack up my family and move there without any way of providing for myself and my family!


Myth #1: Somalis are draining the welfare coffers.

Fact: In 2008-9, refugees accounted for 15.76% of the General Assistance budget for the city of Lewiston. In 2009, noncitizens (who are mostly refugees) received 6.8% of TANF expenditures in Lewiston/Auburn, and 5.4% of TANF expenditures in Androscoggin County. In 2009, noncitizens accounted for 3% of the food stamp budget in Lewiston/Auburn and 2.1% of the food stamp budget for Androscoggin County. The percentage of funds going to noncitizens has been steadily dropping in all these areas. Most Somalis are not on welfare. Most adult Somalis have a job and pay taxes


So here we go! Myth number 1.

Once again we see the writer choosing to avoid the bigger question. I will first suggest the issue is that the Somali immigration has been a drain on the community!

But just for fun lets take a look at what the write has to say about being a drain on welfare. The notion that 15% of general assistance that is being handed out to "noncitizens" is not a lot of money or a drain. Do me a favor and take you mortgage and increase it by 15% and then tell me it is not affecting your budget. That is a real subjective argument!

The writer tries to make an argument that Somali’s want to be citizens but decides to leave them out when he talking about general assistance. Strange how all of a sudden we are just looking at “noncitizens”.. how much general assistance is going to Somali citizens??

The real question is always has been why did they come here?? And are those reasons justifiable. We can all appreciate that they want a safe community to raise their children and appreciate that they chose Maine. But they didn’t come here for work. This is a poor state and Lewiston is a poor community. They have been a huge drain on our community. From just what the article will admit we are talking about 1000 Somali’s in our schools along with 15% of our general assistance budget being handed over to noncitizens.

If the writer was really concerned with raising the image of the Somali people he could have just done that by gather full and complete data on how they have impacted the city of Lewiston.

Broadbill, your general lack of knowledge of finance is astounding. Do you honestly think that comparing a home loan to a percentage of people receiving aid in a city holds any weight??? Especially when the aid statistic is something that is given out statewide. 1.2 percent of people in maine are black. Of those people a much smaller percentage is somali. And much less than half of those are receiving Aid. To say that somalians are causing a huge welfare problem is ridiculous and you are using them as a scapegoat. Its a statistical impossibility for them to be a major player in the welfare crisis in Maine. Remember tax payers pay for welfare all across maine, not just in L/A. In the ten years prior to the somali influx L/A had lost ten percent of its population and the US Census Bureau was predicting its population to be one of the oldest in the US. This fact alone speaks to the dying, decaying state that L/A was in. It makes me sick to hear you blame these people for the problems in your city. They existed before most of these immigrants knew what Maine was. I dont hear you talking about all of the white maine citizens that are living off the system. Lord knows they grossly outnumber the somalin moochers. You cannot just call everything you read and disagree with "liberal propaganda" You make me ashamed of being a republican.

[maineguy8888]

Anthony, let me try to help you lose your Republican-shame...if you don't mind.
The RAPID importation of a population group into any area, in any country, is usually fraught with peril, for both the movers and the locals. In this case, multiply it. Somalia has been a failed state for decades, marked by a rabid anti-American streak. In fact, the US military fled Somalia in defeat in the early 90s. To then import that particular cohort of folks, and expect them to assimilate in anything less than fifty years, would seem quite insane. Not so much their fault, as it is just impossible.

[retiredtinbender]

Originally Posted by maineguy8888

Anthony, let me try to help you lose your Republican-shame...if you don't mind.
The RAPID importation of a population group into any area, in any country, is usually fraught with peril, for both the movers and the locals. In this case, multiply it. Somalia has been a failed state for decades, marked by a rabid anti-American streak. In fact, the US military fled Somalia in defeat in the early 90s. To then import that particular cohort of folks, and expect them to assimilate in anything less than fifty years, would seem quite insane. Not so much their fault, as it is just impossible.

We're an "instant gratification" society, the type of people who tap our foot waiting on a microwave. We want assimilation and we want it now. Not going to happen; as you said.

[flycessna]

Originally Posted by Anthony Thompson

Broadbill, your general lack of knowledge of finance is astounding. Do you honestly think that comparing a home loan to a percentage of people receiving aid in a city holds any weight??? Especially when the aid statistic is something that is given out statewide .

Gee. where do I start.. First let me say I am not Broadbill. If you actually read the entire thread and my entire post.... which I question if you did considering you dont even know who I am..

I was trying to refute an article that was initially written to dispell rumors about Somali Immigration which I beleived actually was creating a Myth.. That they are NOT a drain on our welfare..

Again if you had read and comprehended what was written you would have seen that over 15% of LEWISTON'S general assistance was being given to non citizens.. That is money paid for by Lewistons tax payers... for which I am one.. That figure is not State Wide..

If you want to argue semantics... go ahead.. But I will confidantly assume that the Non-Citizen catagory is predominantly Somali.. Not to mention there is a huge question as to how many of the Somali's that ARE citzens are also recieveing aid... so are we now saying they reperesent even more then the initial 15%?? I would!

You go on and use old census data... But chew on this when you read this.. Lewiston's Population was 98-99% white in 2000.. today they city is 82% white.. or roughly 18% non-white... again I am not going to argue sematics... I will confidantly assume that the biggest change in our demgraphics has been because of the overwhelming Somali immigration into the city...

At the end of the day all I was arguing was that you cannot sit there and say they have NOT been a drain on our economy when the whole thing is subjective to begin with.. My analogy was that too me if you raised my mortgage 15% I would consider that significant and a drain on MY finances..


Where do you live and what are youe experiences to be such an expert on this? And what makes you think I am a Republican?? I am not.... .

[broadbill]

Originally Posted by Anthony Thompson

Broadbill,

Lemme stop you right there....it was flycessna who was blaming the Somalis for ruining L/A, not me....