Readers, you may see more of this going on in the coming days and weeks. Since the Refugee Admissions Program is going to be slowed no matter what the outcome is of the legal arguments about the “ban.” The RAP is being capped at 50,000 for the fiscal year and we are at 33,081 this morning. That portion of Trump’s EO is not effected, see here.
I think you will see this gathering be turned into an anti-Trump propaganda stunt used to garner more media attention.
Pittsfield will not get many refugees in the coming months no matter what happens, so why bother holding this meeting?
The ‘bidding for bodies’ will be fierce!
By the way, since the numbers coming in will be so low, established resettlement sites will be getting most of the refugees. New sites will be at the end of the line for receiving paying clients (refugees!).
Our previous post on Pittsfield is here.
From iBerkshires.com:
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The organization heading the refugee resettlement program in Pittsfield will hold its second community meeting on the topic on Monday, Feb. 13.
Jewish Family Services of Western Massachusetts is looking to resettle 50 refugees from Iraq and Syria in Pittsfield. The group announced its intentions in September and held a community meeting later that month. That meeting was so well attended that people were being turned away at the door.
In January, the U.S. State Department approved Pittsfield as being a site for resettlement and the group announced it will have another round of community meetings. One was scheduled for Monday at Morningside School but that has since been canceled. The second is still scheduled for Feb. 13 at Herberg Middle School at 6 p.m.
“Jewish Family Service has been helping refugees to build new lives in Western Massachusetts for more than 40 years. We have been incredibly fortunate to have the strong support of the community in this work,” said Maxine Stein, CEO of Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts, said in a statement.
“Each year, we resettle more than 240 refugees through our Springfield office***. Last year alone, we helped more than 80 families begin new lives in safety and freedom in the Springfield area. By expanding to Pittsfield, we will be able to help welcome an additional 50 refugees this year.”
However, an executive order signed by President Trump put halt on resettlement programs. The impact of that order is expected to be discussed at the meeting on Feb. 13.
If there are any patriots left in Massachusetts you might want to attend.
***Nearby Springfield, Mass is overloaded and that is why they are moving out to fresh territory. See our archive on the problems in Springfield, here. Mayor begged for a moratorium!
One of my favorite stories from Springfield is the one about refugees hunting for food in the local public park! This is not fake news!