People ask me all the time: How do I find out if my town is targeted?
Frankly there is no list put out by the federal government and its paid resettlement contractors. They are very secretive about the selection process. We heard recently that there are 47 new sites and we have only so far identified those listed below.***
But, this article from Watertown, NY is a prime example of how you get a hint that something is up!
Usually a local newspaper writes a puffy piece like this one about how great it would be for Watertown to revitalize neighborhoods by bringing in impoverished people from mostly the Middle East and Africa. (You can tell by the comments that many local folks are having none of it.)
Honestly I am getting weary of repeating things over and over again. So I recommend that you see our archive on Utica (by clicking here) and learn about all the problems it has had over the last many years.
And, then see our ‘Ten Things you need to know if welcoming refugees to your town’ here.
This story from the Watertown Daily Times pretty well lays out how your town becomes a resettlement site (do-gooder works with elected official and then they bring in the supposed ‘religious’ charities, and federal resettlement contractor who all work together, secretively, to get the approval of the US Dept. of State).
If you don’t want this in Watertown, folks there need to get organized against it ASAP!
WATERTOWN — West Division Street resident Douglas J. Anderson wanted to do something about the city’s blighted neighborhoods, abandoned homes and so-called “zombie properties.”
During a recent visit to Utica, he came across the good work that the Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees [subcontractor of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, here—ed] was doing, he said, after helping to organize a presentation at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
[….]
Mr. Anderson told Councilwoman Teresa R. Macaluso about the center. She agreed to visit the center in June and was impressed with what she saw. If it could happen in Utica, why not here, she thought.
The city would not be involved in establishing the center, she said, adding it would take religious organizations and non-profit organizations to get it off the ground. It also would take community and business leaders to join the efforts, Ms. Callahan said.
A handful of clergy and community leaders who attended the meeting mostly listened to information about the federally funded program. [No! it is not completely funded by the feds, this will cost local taxpayers a bundle, especially in the school system budget—ed]
[….]
With the threat of terrorism in the world today, Brownville resident Bruce E. Bennett expressed concerns about young men from other countries living here.
“I see a lot of potential problems,” he said afterward. “Look what has happened in Europe.”
But Councilwoman Macaluso believes that Watertown is a welcoming community, noting that it has accepted people from all over the country to come here and serve at Fort Drum.
More here.
***These are new or expanding resettlement sites (in addition to those listed here):
Asheville, NC
Rutland, VT
Reno, NV
Ithaca, NY
Missoula, MT
Aberdeen, SD
Charleston, WV
Fayetteville, AR
Blacksburg, VA
Pittsfield, MA
Northhampton, MA
Flint, MI
Bloomington, IN
Traverse City, MI