Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Borough council proposes a resolution, but is it necessary?


The following is an excerpt from a recent LNP/lancasteronline article. Columbia Spy comments are in red.

Supporting ICE: [Columbia Borough] Council members plan to draft a resolution that upholds U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement laws after Lancaster City Council recently passed an ordinance to maintain its status as a “Certified Welcoming City" by the nonprofit organization Welcoming America. Wouldn't Columbia Borough already uphold ICE laws? Why is the resolution necessary?

Welcoming city: Lancaster will continue to provide city services without asking about refugee or immigration status. The ordinance also prohibits Lancaster officials from asking anyone about citizenship status. So . . . ?

Columbia problem: People attracted to Lancaster may wind up in Columbia because of lower apartment and home rents, borough officials said. This is conjecture. Also - Columbia has lower rents? However, the borough can’t adequately take care of numerous new residents. The borough doesn't take care of its residents now and has done nothing to provide for those in need.

Quotable: “We need to come out and make a statement to make (Columbia) residents feel a little at ease,” Mayor Leo Lutz told council members. Where was this sentiment during the many shots fired incidents? The mayor has said little or nothing on that issue. If the mayor wants to "make residents feel a little at ease," he should stop the fearmongering about immigrants. “More people will be coming into Columbia. That’s the problem.” Is it a problem? Officials have repeatedly said they want people to come to Columbia, just not "those" people. 

More: An influx of new residents “will put a higher burden on the system,” Stivers said. How? What system? Officials have said they want new residents. “It’s not the compassionate thing to open your doors and let people in you can’t maintain” with city services. Then, what is the compassionate thing? Imagine how things would have been different if this had been the prevailing attitude during the operation of the Underground Railroad.

Borough officials have not adequately explained why their resolution is necessary other than for political pandering. 

The proposed resolution is shown below:



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