This is an update (see one of our previous posts here in July 2009) of the ongoing efforts in Garden City, KS, a meatpacking town, to try to head off in advance clashes between ethnic groups lured to a midwestern city by the promise of meatpacking jobs. See also our category on Greeley, CO and Grand Island, NE (chaotic anarchy!) both towns that experienced conflicts between the various immigrant groups in recent years.
I had to laugh that Tysons Food is involved in setting up the nice sounding Coalition of Ethnic Minority Leaders ( a group Kansas taxpayers are likely funding while it’s Tysons that lured them to Garden City in the first place). It is in their best interests to avoid a multicultural squabble.
From the Garden City Telegram:
Coined the Coalition of Ethnic Minority Leaders, the group consists of a board representing groups such as USD 457, the Garden City Police Department, Center for Families and Children, Kansas State University Extension services and more as a council of ethnic leaders. The board has outlined a vision to “create and maintain an environment of mutual respect, understanding and cooperation among ethnic minority groups and empower them to responsibly participate in building a healthier Garden City.”
The effort was spearheaded by Jonathan Galia, chaplain at the Tyson Fresh Meats beef plant, who has been actively encouraging ethnic minority groups in Finney County to organize and identify community leaders so they can effectively communicate among themselves, across communities and with local government leaders and social service agencies.
Ever since I saw this account of the Clinton Administration supplying cheap labor to the big meatpacking giants, I’ve wondered what is in it for the resettlement agencies that line up the refugee labor. Do they somehow get a cut? Or, are the resettlement agencies affiliated with ‘head hunter’ businesses in some way? It is just curious don’t you think that resettlement agencies are in close proximity to meatpackers whether it’s Kansas, Nebraska, Tennessee, Colorado, Texas, or Kentucky (those are 6 states right off the top of my head)?
Or, could it be a twofer? The agencies get their refugee clients a job and the grateful meatpackers help the political powers that be with contributions. Where are the investigative reporters of old?