When the Cleveland population dipped below 500,000, the population basis for many federal grant formula, the ability of the federal partner to help on our urban problems was constrained, as the City became one of only many cities across the country, rather than one of the larger, most impactful cities on its own. So strategies to increase the city population deserve special consideration, yes? Well, perhaps not.
However, before leaping with criticism and concern, I'd like to hear about a city immigration strategy from Mayor Jackson. On Thursday, the Mayor joined with Mayors across Northeast Ohio to talk about shared approaches and regionalism at a forum sponsored by the terrific group, cleveland365.com, Professionals in the City Series. There were a lot of positive comments and mutual support, but I was troubled by a a response to an immigration question when Mayor Jackson said we first "need to take care of our own." I know what he said, but before I leap to criticism, I want to know more about what he means. I worry that the comment illustrates a deeply troubling approach to immigration. We need a strategy of supporting growth for the city and the region by embracing immigration and we shouldn't create new conflicts between current residents and more recent arrivals, whether the result of immigration from outside the country or simply outside the region.
Certainly we need to strengthen education and employment opportunities for everyone, but creating new community fault lines will limit our growth potential and limit the availability of federal partnerships under federal grant formula. Embracing immigration's potential is part of a growth strategy and a natural step, given our multi-cultural history. Immigration helps grow the city, creating new opportunities to infuse new ideas and strategies. While education and job creation should be the cities' highest priority, they are never-ending commitments. To use current needs as an excuse to turn away from strategies for growth or suggest that one must wait for the other, is a false and misleading choice. Support for immigration is a positive, not negative, strategy for growth.