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'Minority-majority' cities

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ogden graduate | 1:22 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
just graduated from ogden high this year and the ogden city school district is definitely minority over white population. but i would say it was a good thing. You meet so many different and interesting people that you wouldnt see at other schools and districts in the rest of Utah.
For WVC | 4:12 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
The minority population is not a problem. The problem is all of the apartment complexes (which our city council is allowing more of). These huge multi-family dwellings drain our law enforcement dollars and raise the crime throughout the whole city. Vote for someone not in office now.
Get them out, now. | 5:03 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
West Valley seems to be bragging about being a criminal town now. Harboring illegals and forcing the minority of americans and legal citizens to be taxed to support city of illegals. This gives a great meaning to being a traitor to america by this city giving homage to illegal foreign nationals.

The diversity is that West Valley is a border town of Mexican inhabitants freeloading off the tax payers.

This should be grounds to close some schools and businesses in West Valley that are aiding and abetting a criminal population.

West Valley is establishing itself as a target city when the next Mexican/American war begins. The mexicans have already declared war on america and we are just letting it happen.
Comments continue below
Chris | 6:22 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
More minorities more gangs. Need I say more?
The Rock | 7:27 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
One of the fundamental obligations of government is to protect the nation from invasion. We have been and are being invaded. It must stop or we will lose our freedom.

I blame both liberals and 'conservatives' for this.
Liberals view illegal aliens as a source of new voters. (The birth rate among liberals is half what it is among conservatives.)
Businessmen want cheep labor.
Labor unions want to organize them and collect dues (and turn them into reliable Democrat voters). The May Day protests a couple of years ago were organized and financed by the AFL-CIO.

There is a culture of freedom. When people come to this country without an understanding of the principles upon which liberty is built they potentially become destructive to liberty itself.
Rose Park/Glendale | 7:29 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
The "immigrants" a euphemism for "illegals" in many cases, have literally taken over what used to be the quiet, blue-collar communities of Glendale and Rose Park and turned them in nothing short of ghettos. It makes me sick because there seems to be no desire to respect their properties. Crime has risen sharply and frankly the communities are dirty and unkempt. They remind me of Mexican border towns. I am a legal immigrant, now citizen, and I am thoroughly ashamed of the way illegal immigrants have taken advantage of this country and its resources. They are turning my American Dream into a trash heap. They need to be deported and apply and wait just like I did. There is no justification for breaking the laws. Yes, it is costly and yes, the process is lengthy, years in my case, but worth it in the end because I can hold my head high and teach my children to live honestly and with pride and gratitude to this country.
Thanks Mrs. Latimer | 7:36 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
We can all learn from your age and experience. I loved your statement, "We didn't really think of them as minorities, just as our friends and kids who went to school with us," she said. "One of my best friends was Japanese."

If only people would realize that we're all human beings, there would be much less tension and hatred in this world.
Anonymous | 7:50 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
"And, "women minority and ethnic groups tend to have a higher fertility rate," which helps increase the minority population."

This part was just silly.

In a general sense, women are equally fertile. Women of minority and ethnic groups don't have a higher fertility rate. They just choose to have children more than some groups (either choose to have them, or choose not to prevent having them)

Or refuse to have abortions more than some groups.

RH | 7:51 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
I have no problem with those who want to come to America legally. But, those who are here illegally are the root cause of our crime problem. Also, they consume government services without paying anything into it and practically demand those services. They also claim constitutional rights which they don't have. They are welcome to enter the USA legally and become a citizen, not a burden.
DH | 7:54 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
This article really brings out the need for an english only policy. A community of people who cannot speak to each other can never develop tolerance and understanding. Where there are so many ethnic backgrounds moving in the need for all of the people to speak english, our national language, becomes all the greater.
JCNY | 8:01 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
yea, you do need to say more, because as of right now you sound like a typical ignorant middle American.
Janet | 8:03 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
"Americans believe that undocumented immigrants are exploiting the United States' economy. The widespread belief is that illegal aliens cost more in government services than they contribute to the economy. This belief is undeniably false. [E]very empirical study of illegals' economic impact demonstrates the opposite . . .: undocumenteds actually contribute more to public coffers in taxes than they cost in social services. Moreover, undocumented immigrants contribute to the U.S. economy through their investments and consumption of goods and services; filling of millions of essential worker positions resulting in subsidiary job creation, increased productivity and lower costs of goods and services; and unrequited contributions to Social Security, Medicare and unemployment insurance programs. Eighty-five percent of eminent economists surveyed have concluded that undocumented immigrants have had a positive (seventy-four percent) or neutral (eleven percent) impact on the U.S. economy."
Francine Lipman, Chapman University School of Law, 2006.
Travo | 8:04 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
West Valley should change its name to Little Mexico (Meheeco). This is not going to help its image as a gangster town.
With more illegals living here that means more people being paid under the table and less tax money being generated for the city, while increasing the amounts that will be paid in welfare programs. Way to go West Valley!!!!!
I wonder.... | 8:13 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
When Virginia was growing up and had friends who were Japanese, Polish etc., how many stores and government services then conducted all their business in Japanese and Polish???

It is long due that English become the official language of the United States and all publicly funded services be conducted in English only. What a private business (that isn't getting a government bailout) does is their business, but public services should be conducted in English only. No exceptions!

Welcome to all those who come here to be law-abiding, tax paying productive citizens of the United States. If you are here illegally and have no intention of giving your full commitment to being a US Citizen, then get out and good riddance.... and all the spineless politicians of any party who will not support deporting all illegals, good riddance to them too.
Janet | 8:16 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
I know a college student with a high GPA, who works many hours and volunteers many hours a week. This student has been living in the U.S. since the age of five. This student could not survive if "sent back" to Latin America. Even if paying the $10,000 or more that it costs for an applicant to go through the legal-resident process were possible, walking into an immigration office and asking to start the process would mean deportation. People from Mexico are not permitted to enter the annual 50,000 green card lottery. A man in our area married a Mexican national and they had to live apart for two years and spend thousands and thousands of dollars before she could legally re-enter the country and be with him. Most of my undocumented students are harder workers and more determined to succeed than most of my American-born students. Stop believing the lies of those who hate. Also, if you entered the country legally, especially from Mexico, before 9/11, your situation was different from today's immigrants'. And PLEASE...Let's pass the Dream Act!
Annalise | 8:23 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
I grew up in San Gabriel, California which is almost completely Spanish speaking now,(some is Cambodian) and the neghborhoods and schools are gang infested.
The education system is a joke in San Gabriel for many reasons, all of them stemming from illegal invasion. Think of how much money is spent on educating children of the 'undocumented'in the Los Angeles area, and the lack of decent education for the children of tax paying citizens.
I worked at a county hospital in the late 1980's and nearly all of the maternity cases were illegal aliens who spoke no English, and expected all there needs to be accomadated in Spanish. Most of these people who come here illegally have no respect for the places that they are living and degrade the standard of living for those who do care about their communities. If you don't do something soon WVC, the entire Salt Lake Valley will be another Los Angeles County situation.
Elmer  | 8:23 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
But ... but ... I've always heard that GROWTH, any kind of GROWTH, is always great! Just wait until Salt Lake County has five million people (minority or majority folks)! Won't that be just dandy?
Bill | 8:43 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
The article, as with many news articles, does not separate the references between illegal and legal immigrants.

Legal immigration is generally good and adds to our communities in an orderly and positive way.

Illegal immigration is bad in that it is costly to citizens, enhances the chances of crime, divides the community,and, as stated.....is illegal.

Let's discuss this realistically, supporting the positive and taking action to eliminate the negative.
xscribe | 8:46 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
I agree, America should speak English only. We sure wouldn't want our kids to learn a new language! We wouldn't want our kids to learn, firsthand, about a different culture. We wouldn't want to teach our kids that most immigrants are here legally and just trying to provide for their family, just like everyone else, usually at lower wages and having to endure stereotypes. We wouldn't want to teach our kids that some of the worst crimes are committed by "white" people.
No, we want to teach our kids that whites are somehow the superior race. We've always thought that. Ever notice how race and gender mean nothing to little kids? Wouldn't that be nice if it could continue into adulthood!
Racism. | 8:49 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
I am not sure how people can continually equate the word minority with the word illegal. Most of those people are not illegal aliens. In fact, most of them were born in this country. Making an assumption that every person that is not white is somehow an illegal resident is nothing short of complete racism. I am a white man living in the Liberty Park neighborhood which is extremely diverse. That was one of the top reasons I chose to move there to raise my family.
Re; Thanks Mrs. Latimer | 8:59 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
"If only people would realize that we're all human beings, there would be much less tension and hatred in this world."

That's much easier to do if you share a common language and culture.

I had a Japanese friend too while growing up. Neither of us cared about the differences in race and skin color because he spoke English and lived pretty much the same lifestyle as I did.

Had his family spoke only Japanese and insisted on flying Japanese flags and celebrating Japanese holidays and creating Japanese-only neighborhoods then it might not have been so easy.

The "Great American Melting Pot" only works if people who come here agree to learn English and be Americans, instead of creating dozens of foreign communities-in-exile.

I notice the people who gush the most about "diversity" are the ones who are least likely to live in "diverse" communities.
Paradise Lost | 9:00 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Welcome to California without the warm weather and the ocean.
Vote for Pedro | 9:01 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
"What is fueling the growth in the minority population?"

How funny. We all know what the answer to that is.
Almost a graduate | 9:03 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
When the "white" race becomes the minority, will they get all of the "minority based" benefits that "minorities" used to get?
Janet | 9:04 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
I try to teach Spanish to English speakers, and English to both English and Spanish speakers. I have studied second-language acquisition. LDS missionaries are the only significant exception I know to the rule that it is almost impossible to learn a second language with fluency after about age 13. I personally believe there is a spiritual, rather than academic, reason for that. Typically, the first generation in a new country never attains fluency; the second generation does a fair job of being bilingual; the third generation loses the first generation's language. You cannot legislate fluency; no one wants to learn English more than immigrants do, but it is very, very difficult. Maybe those who judge so harshly should go hoe a few sugar beets, top some onions, or pick some fruit alongside the immigrants and help them learn English...except most of the haters wouldn't last half a day picking strawberries or doing any other backbreaking labor. I am Scots-Irish, and my family goes back in the U.S. for 12 generations, so I'm blessed, but I'm no more a child of God than anyone else. Are you?
Matthew | 9:06 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Just for clarity: "fertility rate" refers to the number of babies per woman per year (or decade, or lifetime), not how easily they become pregnant. Anonymous 7:50 is therefore wrong in that regard. Many, if not most, minority ethnic groups have much higher fertility rates as compared to the overall population and especially as compared to the white, non-hispanic, non-Mormon population. Anonymous 7:50 is of course right that these fertility rates are the result of choices and attitudes, not some sort of physiological difference.
WOW! | 9:06 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Thats all I can say about most of these comments........and this has nothing to do with race?
Mike | 9:19 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Wake up people! When you allow illegals from South of the Border....it equates to GANG violence. Just look West to California. As a former resident of California, I saw the so called "lilly white" communities turn into gang infested, drug infested cesspools. Schools became a joke, gang violence commonplace. While I support diversiy, I don't support illegal aliens and gang violence.
Hmmm... | 9:22 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Salt Lake, West Valley and Ogden. Those cities happen to have some of the highest crime rates in the state, as well. Coincidence? I think not.
Living in Northern Mexico | 9:23 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
When people finally wake up and realize that social service can not longer take care of 700,000 new illegal immigrants in America, this will no longer be a "racial" issue or a matter of "hate". It's a matter of LOGICSICS!! Build a wall, deport illegals, and enforce legal immigration at a rate that our tax dollars can afford. It's business, it's not personal...
WV | 9:30 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
I constantly hear this RACIST statement by our politicians as if it is something noble to say:

"...city leaders believe "[immigrants] makes our community better.""

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? There's something wrong with a community of just white people??? I am so sick and tired of our leaders stepping all over white folks. This is reverse racism at its finest.

And please, just because you don't live around minorities doesn't make you stupid and naive about the world around you. The question I have to ask is, "when are the minorities going to learn something about US?!?" They demand that Spanish be taught beside English in public school, they demand their own native food, they demand that WE learn THEIR customs and traditions. But when WE ask them to become AMERICAN, they scream that WE are prejudice and racist!

This is an outrage. We live in St. George Utah and my 6 year old son has to go to Kindergarten for an extra 3 hours a day so English and Spanish can be taught with equal time to the students. His homework is all in Spanish. What is WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE???
Definition Says It All | 9:36 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
One way is legal, the other is illegal. How many of you need the complete and exact definition? It is legal to go to a bank and complete a personal transaction, it is "illegal" yo go to a bank to rob it! It is legal to sell with a license, it is "illegal" to sell without a license! It is legal to drive within the posted speed limit, it is "illegal to speed or drive over the posted speed limit! The same scenario exists for living in this country, one way is legal, the other is "illegal"!
Re: Janet | 9:42 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
If they came here illegally, they broke the law.
If their parents brought them here illegally, they still broke the law.
I understand your feelings for these people. Please understand that my feelings are not based on hate, but facts and a love of good laws.

More Americans have been killed by illegal aliens since 911 than died in the war in Iraq.
Illegal aliens account for a huge percentage of drug trafficking. Ask the families of drug addicts how they feel about illegal aliens.
Illegal aliens fill our emergency rooms. Several hospitals in areas with high numbers of illegal aliens have driven hospitals into bankruptcy.
California is now bankrupt because of the burden that illegal aliens put on our systems.

I go to church with some illegal aliens. They are nice people but I don't let my feelings for them get in the way of clear thinking.

American must defend itself from this invasion now.
Disheartening Comments | 10:00 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
It's depressing to read this many bigoted and uninformed comments so early in the day. I had no idea there was so much racism and fear in Utah.
Come on people | 10:01 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
I live in West Valley and not all immigrants are illegals. About half of our neighbors are Hispanic and aren't any problem. In fact there are some white homes that attract more gangs than them. I don't condone illegals or gangs, but we can't just group all Hispanics as those. I think it is cool having a diverse neighborhood. Yeah there are generally more gangs and problems with minorities, but not because they are minorities. It is because we treat them as such and they develop friendships with those that are gang members. People don't usually go into gangs because they like the lifestyle, they go because the other lifestyles are less inviting.
Midwest Member | 10:03 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Thanks for your comments, Janet. It is human nature to feel uncomfortable in an unfamiliar culture. We all need to overcome our fear of the unknown. I admire all immigrants, including my own ancestors, who leave behind the familiar to brave a foreign culture to provide opportunity for themselves and their children. My experience with immigrant workers is that they have strong families, are very religious and have an amazing work ethic far beyond the average American couch potato. Our country is stronger for their addition to our society. As for the dowdy neighborhoods, take it up with the landlords who own or manage the properties. Instead of making English the official language, why don't we spend that time, effort and money to teach everyone to speak both Spanish and English? I'm teaching my children Spanish so that they can communicate wherever they go. It just makes sense. They will be more employable. A single common language is ideal, but until that happens, we should all add to our linguistic skills to help others and ourselves. Mutual understanding is the goal and knowledge is power.
from New York  | 10:03 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
the comments on this thred jsut make me sad and realise I will never be able to come home again,even as a straight white man the culture there is just so toxic tha it boggles the mind. there is nothing to be feared from diversity and sevres to enrich many larger cities including my adopted home.
Felonies to Get Jobs | 10:19 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Janet | 8:03 a.m. writes: "I know a college student with a high GPA, who works many hours and volunteers many hours a week."

Since this individual is apparently illegally in the United States, if he is working, he is committing up to three felonies to get his job - document fraud, perjury on an I-9 form and possibly even identity theft if the Social Security number he is using belongs to someone else.

What is the cost to the families of the 50,000 Utah children whose Social Security numbers are being used mainly by illegal aliens to get jobs when their children's credit histories are destroyed, when their children are denied public benefits such as Medicaid and when their children's medical records are corrupted with life threatening consequences?




Anonymous | 10:25 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
I expect all people to obey the laws. Unfortunately, the liberals are ok with ILLEGAL aliens doing ILLEGAL things. Illegals are a financial and moral burden with high crime and high dependency on the govt(us). The rest of us are forced to pay for their problems.
Re: Janet | 10:26 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
You are absolutely wrong about the cost of illegals in Utah. As a government employee I see daily the costs associated with education in overpopulated schools, health costs related to emergency room overusage by illegals who have no intention of paying, the cost to the criminal justice system to incarcerate or deport criminals and the overwhelming cost to the social service agencies. Not to mention that many refuse to assimilate, they only want the benefits. I had to learn a new language when I came here as a legal immigrant in my late 20's but I was motivated. Of course we can learn new languages, it might be harder but not impossible. I now have a Master's Degree earned, I might say, by paying out of state tuition. I waited in line for 11 years to come here legally. I love this country and consider myself an American. I deeply re-sent those who break out laws and expect to be rewarded.
Wishes | 10:33 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
I wish we could accomodate all those who would like to better themselves by living in America and benefitting from the opportunities afforded by living in this great country, but we cannot. We must give priority to legal immigrants who have waited in line, learned english and who are law-abiding. No-one likes someone who pushes in front us in a line while others wait patiently. We are turning our country into a third world nation, with rampant poverty because those who break the laws are, in general, uneducated, poor, with few skills. Try being an illegal in Russia or Mexico, you will be punished to the full extent of the law. We should do the same. We are all children of God but God expects us to be honest in our dealings.
I like Immigrants! | 10:36 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Doesn't matter whether they're minorities or not. Actually, they're not minorities in those areas. White people are. So drop the "minority" term please, it's getting ridiculous.

I have no problems with venturing into all Hispanic communities. Doesn't mean they're illegal or criminal or any of that! Many of them are just hardworking people, living life in the U.S. the same as they live in Mexico, only with jobs. Like every other group of people, some people are great, some people are terrible and should be avoided. I feel the same way in whitey white Orem.

The only time it's a problem is when nobody around can speak to me in English and I'm left holding my groceries or something looking around for someone who can understand me. It's not Mexico, people. I love diversity and learning languages usually more than the next person, but seriously. We're in the U.S. and we speak English here. That's like me moving to the Czech Republic and expecting that the entire country start speaking to me in English rather than learn the native language. Common sense.
To:New York | 10:40 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
I'm glad I live in Utah, in our toxic culture, where at least we can construct a sentence with appropriate spelling. You are welcome to stay in New York.
NeoCons Killed Reform | 10:47 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
As I recall, GW Bush, John McCain and other fine Repubicans worked with Democrats to draft an immigration bill that would have addressed many of the problems in this discussion. Then talk radio hosts blew the whole thing out of proportion and killed it. They were so proud they about broke their arms patting themselves on the back. And the American people were left with no immigration reform. Nothing.

I fear the same will happen with healthcare. Unwillingness to compromise leaves us with nothing.
Wilkey | 10:51 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Yes, "diversity" is wonderful isn't it? People from all over the Salt Lake metro just clamouring to move to West Valley to experience this glorious diversity!

How about taking a poll of people in the Salt Lake metro asking people to rank which communities they'd prefer to live in? Dan Jones wouldn't mind the business. I wonder where West Valley would rank?

We've seen the results of getting overrun by illegal aliens. The 4 states that contributed most to the costly mortgage crisis are California, Arizona, Nevada and Florida. Tell me what they have in common? California is on the verge of going broke. And its level of education?

In 1996 43% of California 19 year olds were in college; by 2004 - just 8 years later - that had fallen to 30%.

Stop and think about that rather stunning change. Why did it happen, and what does it tell us about our future?

But of course politicians just need to snap their fingers and get rid of "racism" and that'll solve everything, right?

Our future is written on the wall. Thanks to corrupt, irresponsible politicians a once great nation is headed for history's dustbin.
Rule of Law | 11:19 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
It is the Rule of Law which ensures the protection and stability of our nation. If we begin to choose which laws we will support and which we will break because they do not suit our needs, then we will become a lawless and insecure republic. A desire to help "these poor illegals who come here for a better life" is not sufficient reason to relinquish the Rule of Law to anarchy. We welcome those who obey our laws. We can change laws by passing new legislation, but we cannot arbitrarily disobey existing law. Truth and honesty are primary tenets of the LDS faith and those who are truly faithful hold to that. We can be compassionate and kind but we need to uphold the laws.
Bigot? Fear? | 11:37 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Why is it when we want to have the laws obeyed that we are judged as "bigots" and somehow "fearful" of those from different countries. There was a time when those who wanted to uphold the laws of the land were considered decent, good people. I am not a bigot or in the least fearful, I just want the laws, as currently on the books, obeyed.
Rachel | 11:55 a.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Dear Janet,

Of course there are exceptions to every racial/ethnic cultural stereotype, and perhaps you have met many.

As a third grade teacher in Hacienda Heights, CA, let me tell you that I have met with very few of those exceptions. The majority of students I have come into contact over the years are not the "hardworking" types that you describe, but the children of people who expect to benefit from a system that they never contribute to.

There is little regard for education and truancy is epidemic in the hispanic community. I became a teacher because I wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of children and encourage them to persue an education. However, most see no value in an education and end up dropping out of high school.

So sad, and such a waste to throw away the opportunity of a free education and a better life.

Janet, you must not live in a heavily Hispanic area or your experiences would be very different.
Anonymous | 12:51 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009
Why don't all the "spanish-speaking-ONLY" people move to Mexico and help build that country into a more beautiful place. Come to America to visit, and when you learn to speak "English" and work for what you want, then if you want to move here, do so. Maybe if all of you did that, Mexico could become a more desirable place for everyone, and you would have no reason to move to the US. Clean up your own country!
Anonymous | 12:55 p.m. Oct. 28, 2009
No big deal. Until YOU the majority become a minority. Then you will notice a difference. But, its a painful lesson. I live in Oakland CA. It's hard being discriminated because your white here. But its a painful reality.

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Customers shop for produce at Anayas Market in West Valley City Tuesday. The grocery store caters to the Hispanic population in the area.

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