Mayor Nan Whaley likes attention. She likes it even better when federal dollars are attached. In her bid for the spotlight and a chance to move up the ladder in the national Democratic party, she says some pretty stupid things- like this:
Dayton would likely be a destination for a portion of the thousands of undocumented children showing up at the nation’s southern border if Congress approves funding to provide humanitarian aid, Mayor Nan Whaley said.
Officials with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have talked with city leaders across the country, including Dayton, to identify places that have the space and facilities to accommodate children fleeing Central America.
+ Mayor Whaley: Dayton would shelter immigrant children if asked photo
Rhonda Moser from Huber Heights along with nearly a dozen other demonstrators held signs Thursday evening in front of the Haines … read more
The city is willing to do its part to provide a safe landing spot for needy refugees, Whaley said, but there are no current plans for that to happen.
via Mayor Whaley: Dayton would shelter immigrant children if asked | www.mydaytondailynews.com [1].
Let’s be clear about the differences between the “Welcome Dayton” initiative that was begun by former Dayton Mayor Gary Leitzell, which is now being co-opted by Commissioner Joseph who has decided that he needs to be able to say something positive about what he’s done after 8 years on the commission when he faces re-election next year:
- “Welcome Dayton” brings legal immigrant families to Dayton. They work, they pay taxes, they buy old houses and fix them up- and they contribute to the community.
- “Welcome refugee children” – brings children without parents to the community that will create a strain on our schools, which are already near capacity, and add expenses to our community.
Let’s also be clear that we’re unable to provide adequately for the children that are already here- where many are food insecure and we have zero-to-none programming available to keep them out of trouble. Dayton, during the reign of Nan Whaley and her friends, has systematically reduced opportunities for our children, closing rec centers, bulldozing pools, and barely cutting the grass in parks. I’ve hung close to 400 basketball nets in Dayton over the last year to try to at least give our kids something to shoot hoops on- hoping it makes a difference.
And while I believe in the basic premise of what is written on a plaque in the museum at the base of the Statue of Liberty [2]: “Give me your tired, your poor/Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” – I strongly believe that children need parents, and that Ohio’s foster care system is already operating at capacity.
Congressman Michael Turner has given his knee-jerk response that calls the flood of children seeking refuge “illegal border crossings”- he is correct, that this isn’t a Dayton problem- it’s a national problem- one that he, and his worthless colleagues in Congress should deal with. We’ve failed completely to come up with rational immigration policy in this country, and it’s not an issue Mayor Whaley should be sticking her nose into.
Maybe she could work a little harder at taking care of the children that are already here. But, there are no headlines to be had for that.
Makes no sense of adding more burden to a overstressed city (overburdened). But this is the way of the future with these mayors who thinks that theres big federal $$ attached to it. Joseph traveling to DC was great news but the only achievement I’ve ever seen from him is ordering lunch. Now Nan-Zilla is overjoyed to get the opportunity to impress the Big O. I read someone else call these kids “refugees” . I about fell out of my chair when I heard “refugees”. We cannot take care of our own kids. Chicago, 22 murders over 7 days. Send them there. Crime is bad enough, why add to the “burden”?
@Deputy Dan- actually refugees is the appropriate term for some- but not all. This began with a GW Bush policy, but that’s not the point.
Locally, this is a non-starter.
Federal dollars are our money too- something many local politicians don’t seem to understand.
I think you will see these”refugees” show in Dayton. willing to make a small wager…??? What? federal dollars are free, no strings attached. I enjoy the benefits of these free dollars by overtime at OVI checkpoints, 300 cars and 2 arrests, thats well worth the cost. LOL good for me though. Bring the refugees on, more overtime for me. ;)
Maybe we can give these kids some crayons and paper, so they can design a better logo for UD.
It’s Bush’s fault – what a tired line. How about some new schtick?
An immigration policy is in place. It doesn’t seem adequate to the hoards trying to pour in from Mexico and Latin America so they illegally cross like swarms of locusts and then the democrats realize there’s votes to garner. Nobody wants to “alienate” legitimate Hispanic Americans (especially when many of these folks are relatives and loved ones) so it’s a rotten mess. Legalizing illegals is a sure way to secure votes forever and the dems are willing to sell out for those votes. Now the republicans got off the short bus and realize they want those votes too.
We have an immigration policy and it’s not working because our budget is too weak to defend our own boarders thanks to social programs and it’s not going to change as long as there are politicians willing to sell us out!
As for Whaley, she can’t help herself, she’s a politician and only sees handouts coming from DC (damn the details).
I actually think it’s admirable for the Mayor to offer this as a humane gesture that does fit into efforts to further denote Dayton as a immigrant welcoming city. Look, these kids, per current law are entitled to due process to determine if they have standing for asylum (relocation with relative) or repatriated back to their country. Dayton being host to these youth for a short duration duration is no big deal. Remember that even Jesus was a undocumented immigrant.