Bloomberg Sees Immigrants as Benefits to Their Community

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Photo of Maura Moynihan, the Dalai Lama, and Michael Bloomberg
Let's hope Bloomberg thinks like the Dalai Lama



The Associated Press published an article on Romney and Giuliani regarding their position on immigration. The real story is at the end of the piece: Bloomberg's comment about the positive side of immigration.

Giuliani confuses with his strong anti-immigration position, since he even told the NY Times in 1994 that if people worked hard they would be wanted in New York City, regardless of immigration status. Politics does change things however. Now it looks like he forgot what he said.

Political campaigns in our country consist of entertainers, who speak the lines that they believe will bring votes. It doesn't matter if the lines are not truthful. Will American voters be aware of the entertainment factor in the campaigns?

Bloomberg has a totally different approach. I'm not saying he's the perfect guy, but these days he sounds like one of the few that is willing to say what he believes in public. Lets hope he stays on track if he pursues higher office. Thank goodness New York is a "sanctuary city." I wish there were more.

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Romney and Giuliani spar over immigration
Both now talking tougher on illegal immigrants than they've each acted in the past.
From Associated Press
Los Angeles Times
11:35 AM PDT, August 15, 2007

WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney accuses former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani of making his city a haven for illegal immigrants. Giuliani denies it, insisting he cracked down on lawlessness of every kind.

It's the first real clash between two leading Republican candidates who are vulnerable on immigration, a volatile issue that infuriates Republican conservatives who hold sway over primary elections.

At issue are so-called sanctuary cities, places where city employees are not required to report illegal immigrants to federal authorities. Some, such as San Francisco, have declared themselves sanctuaries or refuges. Others, like New York, have never adopted the "sanctuary" moniker.

New York's policy, issued by Democratic Mayor Ed Koch in 1988, is intended to make illegal immigrants feel that they can report crimes, send their children to school or seek medical treatment without fear of being reported.

An estimated half-million illegal and undocumented immigrants live in New York, and only a fraction are deported each year.

"What's the best thing to do about that?" Giuliani asked in 1996. "Put them in a situation in which they keep children out of school? Put them in a situation in which they don't go to hospitals? Or put them in a situation in which they don't report crimes to the police?"

...As mayor, Giuliani often spoke positively about illegal immigrants: "If you come here, and you work hard, and you happen to be in an undocumented status, you're one of the people who we want in this city," he told The New York Times in 1994.

...Bloomberg, who may run for president himself, waded into the dispute this week. Asked Monday about the idea of New York as a sanctuary for illegal immigrants, he said, "Let 'em come."

"I can't think of any laboratory that shows better why you need a stream of immigrants than New York City," he added. "I don't know what to tell anybody. If they don't believe that immigrants add a heck of a lot more than they cost, they just aren't looking at the numbers..."

For complete article:

http://www.latimes.com/news/politics/la-na-apgopimmig16aug16,1,4943064.story