Heartland Draws Hispanics to Help Revive Small Towns

[shaarona]

Heartland Draws Hispanics to Help Revive Small Towns

BY MIRIAM JORDAN


(Another perspective on immigration... This may turn out to be a good thing. Note remarks about safe neighborhoods.)

OTTUMWA, Iowa—José Rodas moved to this blue-collar town on the Des Moines River in 2001 to take a job at the Cargill pork plant, after more than a decade eking out an existence in California and Nevada.

Within a year, the Guatemalan immigrant had saved enough money to buy a house for his family. Last March, he opened the town's first tortilla factory.

"It's much better here than in California," says Mr. Rodas, who works mornings at his "Tortilleria Los Twins" and the late shift at the Cargill plant. "There's lots of work, it's tranquilo and the cost of living ...

snip

The "Latino Diaspora" is playing a key role in revitalizing small-town America once plagued with a shrinking tax base and dim prospects for economic growth.

Since the 1990s, Latinos have flocked to places like Dalton, Ga., to work in the carpet mills, and to the Piedmont section of North Carolina to work in furniture manufacturing. Many Hispanics work in the hotels and golf courses of Hilton Head, S.C. Some analysts believe the influx could eventually tip more traditionally Republican Southern states into the Democratic column.

The big Hispanic movement to Midwestern small towns has been more recent. Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population in the Midwest swelled 49%, more than 12 times the 4% overall population growth there, according to the census.

continued

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...654098514.html

I love small towns and have been disappointed to see so many shrinking over the past 15 years. This development may prove positive..........

[Peter1469]

Many Latinos are natural republicans. The are however, one issue voters. The GOP needs to embrace some sort of sane immigration policy and the Latino voters will come home.

[Calypso Jones]

The article means guatemalans and one or two other countries NOT MEXICO. And that is not a substantial number of people to make a difference. We have Guatemalans in the local Republican party. Most mexicans are conniving little governmental abusers who learn quickly how to work the system. They want to destroy this country even if it means themselves.

I don't buy that article for the most part.

[shaarona]

Many Latinos are natural republicans. The are however, one issue voters. The GOP needs to embrace some sort of sane immigration policy and the Latino voters will come home.

That makes sense, Pete.. but the Republicans also need to shed the nuts like Palin, Bachmann, Trump and Karl Rove.

[shaarona]

The article means guatemalans and one or two other countries NOT MEXICO. And that is not a substantial number of people to make a difference. We have Guatemalans in the local Republican party. Most mexicans are conniving little governmental abusers who learn quickly how to work the system. They want to destroy this country even if it means themselves.

I don't buy that article for the most part.

Georgia has more hispanic immigrants than Arizona and for the most part they seem very frugal and industrious. Drive thru some small towns.. Store fronts that were formerly boarded up now have small businesses and shops.

I know a family from Brazil.. She cleans houses and he hauls and sells fruit... Now he has two trucks.

[Calypso Jones]

Yeah. I'm sure you have what's good for the country and republicans in your heart.

[Mister D]

The first generation is usually fairly industrious although much of that money returns to their home countries. Their offspring not so much. Moreover, they are steeped in identity politics from an early age and are raised with the idea that America is holding out on them.

[Mister D]

Heartland Draws Hispanics to Help Revive Small Towns

BY MIRIAM JORDAN


(Another perspective on immigration... This may turn out to be a good thing. Note remarks about safe neighborhoods.)

OTTUMWA, Iowa—José Rodas moved to this blue-collar town on the Des Moines River in 2001 to take a job at the Cargill pork plant, after more than a decade eking out an existence in California and Nevada.

Within a year, the Guatemalan immigrant had saved enough money to buy a house for his family. Last March, he opened the town's first tortilla factory.

"It's much better here than in California," says Mr. Rodas, who works mornings at his "Tortilleria Los Twins" and the late shift at the Cargill plant. "There's lots of work, it's tranquilo and the cost of living ...

snip

The "Latino Diaspora" is playing a key role in revitalizing small-town America once plagued with a shrinking tax base and dim prospects for economic growth.

Since the 1990s, Latinos have flocked to places like Dalton, Ga., to work in the carpet mills, and to the Piedmont section of North Carolina to work in furniture manufacturing. Many Hispanics work in the hotels and golf courses of Hilton Head, S.C. Some analysts believe the influx could eventually tip more traditionally Republican Southern states into the Democratic column.

The big Hispanic movement to Midwestern small towns has been more recent. Between 2000 and 2010, the Hispanic population in the Midwest swelled 49%, more than 12 times the 4% overall population growth there, according to the census.

continued

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...654098514.html

I love small towns and have been disappointed to see so many shrinking over the past 15 years. This development may prove positive..........

Another WSJ propaganda piece. Tell us, have Latinos "revitalized" CA?

[respectfulguest]

That makes sense, Pete.. but the Republicans also need to shed the nuts like Palin, Bachmann, Trump and Karl Rove.

I support all immigrants that come to this country legally.. also Palin and Rove have been out of the game for awhile and Trump never was.. perhaps the dems can shed Biden, Obama and Axelrod.

[shaarona]

Another WSJ propaganda piece. Tell us, have Latinos "revitalized" CA?

They haven't.. that's why they are settling in small towns in the Carolinas, Mississippi and Georgia..

The cost of living is far lower and they can start mom and pop businesses.