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After Taking In Refugees for Years, a New Hampshire City (Manchester) Asks for a Pause
New York Times ^ | November 25, 2011 | ABBY GOODNOUGH

Posted on 11/26/2011 4:58:01 AM PST by reaganaut1

MANCHESTER, N.H. — This city has long been a resettlement site for refugees, sent here by the State Department for a chance at a better life. More than 60 languages are spoken in the school system, with Somalis, Sudanese, Iraqis and other recent arrivals mixing with children whose ancestors came from Quebec to work in the mighty textile mills along the Merrimack River.

But this year, after decades of taking in refugees, Manchester said, “Enough.”

In a highly unusual move, Mayor Ted Gatsas and the city’s Board of Aldermen asked the State Department in July to halt resettlements here for now. A tide of more than 2,100 refugees over the last decade — most recently, Bhutanese families coming from camps in Nepal — has been more than the city of 109,500 can assure jobs and decent housing for, Mr. Gatsas said.

“We’re just saying, ‘Let us catch our breath,’ ” he said last week in an interview at City Hall. “This is about giving people the opportunity for a better life, and until I can get that person working and gainfully employed and getting to learn the language, I can’t do that.”

The mayor, a Republican who just won a second term, says he has nothing against refugees. His problem is with the International Institute of New England, a nonprofit agency based in Boston that brings them to Manchester and helps them adjust for several months, providing cash and other assistance.

Mr. Gatsas, a former businessman whose grandfather immigrated here from Greece a century ago, said the institute had consistently refused to seek the city’s advice, most recently on its plan to bring 300 more refugees to Manchester in the current fiscal year.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; US: New Hampshire
KEYWORDS: manchester; manchesternh; refugees
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To: central_va

I learned how to drive a 1972 super beetle, the last car that could be bought for less than $2000. It was the first car I ever got laid in, so yes I have alot of fond memories


41 posted on 11/26/2011 6:50:09 AM PST by vwbug
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To: WashingtonSource
The New York Times is having a snit over this

Just wait until obama requires them to print in over 60 languages and set up a box for selling each one.

42 posted on 11/26/2011 6:52:04 AM PST by Right Wing Assault (Dick Obama is more inexperienced now than he was before he was elected.)
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To: LiveFree99

We lived in Lebanon, NH for six months when my better half got an assignment at Dartmouth Hitchcock. Enjoyed the area and, of course, the low taxes.


43 posted on 11/26/2011 6:52:23 AM PST by animal172 (All aboard the Cain Train.)
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To: Vigilanteman

Some of the poorest despotic countries have the nicest whether and are beautiful places. Haiti comes to mind, the place is beautiful if you filter out the man-made mess.


44 posted on 11/26/2011 6:53:25 AM PST by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Vigilanteman

I meant weather not whether.


45 posted on 11/26/2011 6:54:46 AM PST by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: vwbug

Ranger Fan. The hell with the Red Sox or Yankees.


46 posted on 11/26/2011 6:56:23 AM PST by richardtavor
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To: richardtavor

You know my favorite team is any team that beats the Yankees, Go Rangers


47 posted on 11/26/2011 7:00:31 AM PST by vwbug
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To: newnhdad

Hey, hey, hey!

I guess that’s better than having the people stink and the weather be surly.


48 posted on 11/26/2011 7:04:01 AM PST by 9YearLurker
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To: ronnie raygun

“Back in the day you had to have a trade or a talent to be considered and not be a burden to enter this country.”

Yes and we need to get back to that. In the 1800’s we encouraged mass immigration because we needed labor to fuel the industrial revolution. And the bulk of that immigration came from christian Europe. That is not the case anymore.

We need to put a strict limit on immigration especially muslim immigration. Better yet stop muslim immigration altogether. If you don’t have the money and ability to support yourself you don’t get in. If we don’t we are going to lose our national identity.

The southern cities are being ruined by unfettered immigration. We have a 10,000 sq ft mosque being forced on us here in Lilburn, GA a small quaint historical town in the suburbs of Atlanta. The DOJ is suing because 3 times the city council voted the mosque expansion down. They finally caved because of lack of funds to fight it. And as a final slap in the face by Holder and his people the city council members have agreed to sensitivity training.

When you have the US DOJ focusing on a small town in GA trying to force an unwanted group or religion on them it tells you everything you need to know about who is controlling this country. It has nothing to do with the Constitution and freedom of religion and everythng to do with an effort to break down the judeo christian fabric of US society and destroy the foundations this country was built on. If we don’t recognize this and fight it hard we are in serious jeopardy.


49 posted on 11/26/2011 7:07:51 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped.)
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To: reaganaut1
His problem is with the International Institute of New England, a nonprofit agency based in Boston that brings them to Manchester and helps them adjust for several months, providing cash and other assistance.

yeah... and THEN what??? the TAXPAYERS, THAT'S WHAT!!!

50 posted on 11/26/2011 7:09:07 AM PST by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: vwbug
Maybe if your ancesters didn’t enslave all those Amish that came here for freedom we may not be such a S—t stain.

Hmmm... a quick reflection on history will reveal that, while the southern colonies used the labor, it was your northeastern colonies that did the importing of it...

51 posted on 11/26/2011 7:13:03 AM PST by Charles H. (The_r0nin) (Hwaet! Lar bith maest hord, sothlice!)
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To: Charles H. (The_r0nin)

Can you name me one ship that sailed from NH as a slave trader?


52 posted on 11/26/2011 7:25:00 AM PST by vwbug
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To: central_va
FWIW, when the French ran Haiti, it was a leading rice exporter and the biggest cane sugar exporter in the world. But I don't even think the Haitians could screw up Somalia as bad as the Islamists.
53 posted on 11/26/2011 7:34:27 AM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: animal172
Enjoyed the area and, of course, the low taxes.

LOW taxes? 9% meals and lodging...astronomical property taxes...and the town tax you pay when registering a car..? OMG. Of course; none of the infamous 'toll roads' in that particular area of Red Hampshire. There may be no broad-based sales tax or income tax, but they get you one way or another.

54 posted on 11/26/2011 7:37:53 AM PST by who knows what evil? (G-d saved more animals than people on the ark...www.siameserescue.org.)
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To: vwbug
Visitors to Portsmouth, NH still express surprise when they discover that this northern town was intimately tied into the "triangle trade" from the earliest days of settlement. Ships that became slavers like the Nightingale were built here and ships like Exeter delivered slaves for sale. Prominent white merchants profited from these enterprises and kept slaves in town. The independent work of historian Valerie Cunningham continues to shed light on African-American life in this small New Hampshire city. This page is part of series on slavery drawn from the Portsmouth Black Heritage Trail, written by Valerie and Mark Sammons. (JDR)

Link here

55 posted on 11/26/2011 7:40:35 AM PST by central_va ( I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn.)
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To: animal172

I like the booze and most people were welcoming to us when we were stationed at the yard but the weather does stink. My favorite bumper sticker was “Welcome to New Hampshire, now go home”..


56 posted on 11/26/2011 7:50:17 AM PST by newnhdad
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To: reaganaut1

How INHUMANE of the HEARTLESS mayor...


57 posted on 11/26/2011 7:51:10 AM PST by BobL (Send Rove a Message, VOTE CAIN, no matter what)
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To: who knows what evil?

I should have been a little more clear. When speaking of low taxes I was talking as a non resident. I know they get you coming and going if you are a resident. As a visitor for short periods of time though it isn’t bad.


58 posted on 11/26/2011 7:58:23 AM PST by animal172 (All aboard the Cain Train.)
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To: central_va

LOL! That was fast!


59 posted on 11/26/2011 8:12:17 AM PST by Charles H. (The_r0nin) (Hwaet! Lar bith maest hord, sothlice!)
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To: Travis McGee

YEP....my mantra for next year....Vote Democrat....DESTROY America!


60 posted on 11/26/2011 8:18:28 AM PST by goodnesswins (Being Thankful I was born in the great U S of A!)
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