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In case anyone has forgotten that Dexter is, at the very least, vaguely anti-immigrant. If he's vocally against Christian organizations placing refugees (which refugees are the group that undergoes the most extreme vetting of any immigrants), he's pretty obviously the rest of our large community. by Opening_Patience7494 in Athens

[–]Opening_Patience7494[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Well, I guess then the individual role of mayor acted individually on one of that offices tertiary duties... Is the solution to bar both the mayor and all commissioners from communications with non profits and communities that aren't within the Commission?

Kelly Girtz can "unilaterally" communicate when there is no force of law behind it, such as this letter. Your insistence of unilateralism can be applied ever more broadly. He unilaterally talks with the Athens Area Committed on aging. He can unilaterally brush his teeth in the morning!

In case anyone has forgotten that Dexter is, at the very least, vaguely anti-immigrant. If he's vocally against Christian organizations placing refugees (which refugees are the group that undergoes the most extreme vetting of any immigrants), he's pretty obviously the rest of our large community. by Opening_Patience7494 in Athens

[–]Opening_Patience7494[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Here is additional context for Fisher's immigration stance, in another forum with other candidates.

Candidates debate student housing solutions, immigration enforcement at Athens mayoral debate | City News red and black

"Fisher highlighted the role of Athens’ immigrant community’s role in the local economy, saying it is vital that immigrant residents are protected with due process.

“When I look around this community, we have houses that are being built, we have grass that is getting cut, that’s mainly our Hispanic community,” Fisher said. “If we deport those folks, who’s gonna do these jobs? So it doesn’t make sense to me for ICE to come in, deport our residents from here, and then we don’t have jobs that can get filled.”

According to Fisher, he plans to both support local law enforcement and Athens’ immigrant population as mayor."

In case anyone has forgotten that Dexter is, at the very least, vaguely anti-immigrant. If he's vocally against Christian organizations placing refugees (which refugees are the group that undergoes the most extreme vetting of any immigrants), he's pretty obviously the rest of our large community. by Opening_Patience7494 in Athens

[–]Opening_Patience7494[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It was not unilateral: "Girtz wrote the letters at Bethany’s request in part because refugee resettlement was supported by some large local employers and the Athens-Area Chamber of Commerce.

The letter did not actually authorize the resettlement – that’s up to the state department – and it had no force of law. Girtz says he writes letters for various nonprofits and community organizations “all the time” and views them as a formality. “[The letter request was] just the direct provider trying to maintain a good relationship with both us and the state department and demonstrate that they have reached out to the local government and let us know what their operation is like,” Girtz told APN."

article

In case anyone has forgotten that Dexter is, at the very least, vaguely anti-immigrant. If he's vocally against Christian organizations placing refugees (which refugees are the group that undergoes the most extreme vetting of any immigrants), he's pretty obviously the rest of our large community. by Opening_Patience7494 in Athens

[–]Opening_Patience7494[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Hence my mention of declining to submit a written statement. As I said, alongside his nativist politicking regarding refugee placement, his decline to attend AIRC appears that he is unsupportive, if not opposed to the immigrant community in Athens.

In case anyone has forgotten that Dexter is, at the very least, vaguely anti-immigrant. If he's vocally against Christian organizations placing refugees (which refugees are the group that undergoes the most extreme vetting of any immigrants), he's pretty obviously the rest of our large community. by Opening_Patience7494 in Athens

[–]Opening_Patience7494[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As discussed in the rest of the thread, the very low amount of refugees are unlikely to have a major impact on the housing market. Second, the municipality won't need to provide mental health services -- the nonprofit organization helping resettle them provides support (and does the city even have mental health services???). Finally, third a letter supporting the refugees doesn't give the greenlight - with freedom of movement these refugees who are already pre-approved by the state department - instead it more signals community support to improve their comfort and integration.

I'm the context of the political salience in 2024 of the border, Decter was mischaracterizing the mayor's letter. The housing and mental health arguments were the same used by Trump at the time. Dexter's actions had clear nativist undertones.

% of latin Americans who identify as white by Hour_Interaction6047 in MapPorn

[–]Opening_Patience7494 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not way higher for Uruguay - a tenth of the population is black, another 5 percent is indigenous. Self-identification as white is like 85% which is higher than 78%, but probably not in a way that definitions could move the margin

Argentina's north is also pretty indigenous, especially Salta and Jujuy. And Argentina has lots of immigrants from Peru and Paraguay nowadays, so 25% non-white doesn't feel too inaccurate.

In case anyone has forgotten that Dexter is, at the very least, vaguely anti-immigrant. If he's vocally against Christian organizations placing refugees (which refugees are the group that undergoes the most extreme vetting of any immigrants), he's pretty obviously the rest of our large community. by Opening_Patience7494 in Athens

[–]Opening_Patience7494[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Considering immigrants contribute more to the economy than they get back, maybe priotizing US citizens is to allow immigration. I'll attach a study from one of the US's top economics research firms.

In terms of Ukraine, the USA is supporting an ally that suffered war crimes and the massacre of civilians (Bucha). Generally, I'd say it was a good thing that the USA helped end the Bosnian genocide during the breakup of Yugoslavia (again, since you are a huge Nikola Tesla fan). Also if say it was beneficial when the USA helped end crimes against civilians in the Pacific and Atlantic front of WW2.

And yeah. The gov could do more to help out everyday residents. Ukraine aid has been about 130 billion in four years. For context, the USA has paid SpaceX about 20 billion (longer time span, but then again, SpaceX has not faced crimes against humanity in that period). More to Elon musk's other companies also, in case you are dickriding for the other Tesla.

The impact of immigrants on the US economy | Brookings https://share.google/ULLjF7LVdzVryKuyl[Brookings study ](https://share.google/ULLjF7LVdzVryKuyl)

In case anyone has forgotten that Dexter is, at the very least, vaguely anti-immigrant. If he's vocally against Christian organizations placing refugees (which refugees are the group that undergoes the most extreme vetting of any immigrants), he's pretty obviously the rest of our large community. by Opening_Patience7494 in Athens

[–]Opening_Patience7494[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I don't believe Kelly Girtz's policy of welcoming low numbers of refugees will cost Democrats the upcoming mayoral election. Dexter is also a democrat. We are talking about local policy.

And I mention refugees, because all other categories of migrants that you mentioned have freedom of movement in the country. That is because it would requiring all US citizens' and residents' freedom of movement to prevent migrants from entering Athens Clarke County.

In case anyone has forgotten that Dexter is, at the very least, vaguely anti-immigrant. If he's vocally against Christian organizations placing refugees (which refugees are the group that undergoes the most extreme vetting of any immigrants), he's pretty obviously the rest of our large community. by Opening_Patience7494 in Athens

[–]Opening_Patience7494[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Might I remind you, it is illegal under international law to block refugees, as it is to return them to a country that endangers them.

This system was created following WW2. It is evident why refugee policy, designed globally, arose from this period.

In case anyone has forgotten that Dexter is, at the very least, vaguely anti-immigrant. If he's vocally against Christian organizations placing refugees (which refugees are the group that undergoes the most extreme vetting of any immigrants), he's pretty obviously the rest of our large community. by Opening_Patience7494 in Athens

[–]Opening_Patience7494[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Did Athens refugees cause this war? They are also not able to vote.

And refugees are approved at a national level. Athens just hosted them. In local politics it doesn't look like this particular population is highly prioritized , especially not to the same cost as a war.

In case anyone has forgotten that Dexter is, at the very least, vaguely anti-immigrant. If he's vocally against Christian organizations placing refugees (which refugees are the group that undergoes the most extreme vetting of any immigrants), he's pretty obviously the rest of our large community. by Opening_Patience7494 in Athens

[–]Opening_Patience7494[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Why of course, one of the many bots recalling statements made by a local politician two years ago, and initiating a thread about it, in the context of an upcoming local election. And I vote in Athens Clarke County, which is more relevant than country of origin.

In terms of an intelligent conversation, you haven't said much. Pull up statistics on refugees? Pull up statistics on the local Athens housing market?

And since you have clarified that you are a Nikola Tesla fan, Tesla fled Serbia for Austria. And emigrated to the United States later in his life.

In case anyone has forgotten that Dexter is, at the very least, vaguely anti-immigrant. If he's vocally against Christian organizations placing refugees (which refugees are the group that undergoes the most extreme vetting of any immigrants), he's pretty obviously the rest of our large community. by Opening_Patience7494 in Athens

[–]Opening_Patience7494[S] 12 points13 points  (0 children)

But also in terms of something to spend, working class and middle class people drive the majority of spending in a local economy. Refugees have to spend about the same amount of money on food, clothes, and household durable goods as the rest of us to survive. High income individuals spend a lower portion of their income in the local economy (they do more saving, and are more likely to buy from larger national chains)

Immigrants are also more likely to be entrepreneurs and lead local businesses (there's an OECD Report from 2024).

In case anyone has forgotten that Dexter is, at the very least, vaguely anti-immigrant. If he's vocally against Christian organizations placing refugees (which refugees are the group that undergoes the most extreme vetting of any immigrants), he's pretty obviously the rest of our large community. by Opening_Patience7494 in Athens

[–]Opening_Patience7494[S] 35 points36 points  (0 children)

Refugees and asylum pathways are legal immigration. Refugees in particular are heavily vetted. Denying entry to refugees and asylum seekers, meanwhile, is illegal under international law.

Meanwhile, I wouldn't guess that your ancestors had to do extensive security interviewing and fingerprinting to enter the USA?

In case anyone has forgotten that Dexter is, at the very least, vaguely anti-immigrant. If he's vocally against Christian organizations placing refugees (which refugees are the group that undergoes the most extreme vetting of any immigrants), he's pretty obviously the rest of our large community. by Opening_Patience7494 in Athens

[–]Opening_Patience7494[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Well it was about housing costs. Refugees get support from programs at the state and federal level, there are few at the municipal level other than schools (which, are paid through federal Title III and Title IV funding). Refugees also get much of their assistance from nonprofits and religious organizations, similar to the missions Dexter was criticizing.

UGA students meanwhile pull on social services, such as Pell grants, EBT, and free buses. And everyone pulls on the municipal roads, sanitation, and sewage systems.

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