Diossa – RI Future

Central Falls Mayor James Diossa co-signed a letter with 18 mayors from around the United States telling President Obama their cities are willing to take in Syrian refugees.

“We will welcome the Syrian families to make homes and new lives in our cities,” reads the letter, a copy of which was sent to RI Future from Diossa.

“Indeed, we are writing to say that we stand ready to work with your Administration to do much more and to urge you to increase still further the number of Syrian refugees the United States will accept for resettlement,” it reads. “The surge of humanity fleeing war and famine is the largest refugee crisis since World War II. The United States is in a position to lead a global narrative of inclusion and support. This is a challenge we can meet, and the undersigned mayors stand ready to help you meet it.”

There are at least 4 million Syrian refugees fleeing civil war and the oppressive ruling regime, and many million more fleeing similar strife in other Middle Eastern and African nations. The exodus has been called the greatest refuge crisis since World War II and the sheer volume of refugees has overwhelmed Europe. The United States, which has accepted only 1,500 Syrian refugees in four years of civil war, has been criticized for not doing more.

Diossa joins the mayors of Boston, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Hartford, Conn., Santa Fe, NM, Syracuse, NY, Clarkston Georgia, Paterson, NJ and others in signing the letter. No other Rhode Island mayors signed the letter.

Central Falls has several connections to Syria already. In the early part of the 20th century, many of the Syrian refugees fleeing the Turks settled in Central Falls, according to this official history of migration into Rhode Island. There’s even a Catholic church in Central Falls that was founded by Syrian immigrants in 1907, according to this article in the Rhode Island Catholic. And former CF Mayor Tom Lazieh is of Syrian decent, according to this 2013 Providence Journal article.

Tara Granahan, of WPRO, tweeted about the letter earlier today.

This is the letter in its entirety, as well as the signers:

Dear President Obama:

We commend your decision to open America’s doors to at least 10,000 Syrian refugees displaced by civil war, and applaud your commitment to increase the overall number of refugees the U.S. will resettle over the course of the next two years. This announcement is a vital initial step to honoring America’s commitment to support those fleeing oppression.

As the mayors of cities across the country, we see first-hand the myriad ways in which immigrants and refugees make our communities stronger economically, socially and culturally. We will welcome the Syrian families to make homes and new lives in our cities. Indeed, we are writing to say that we stand ready to work with your Administration to do much more and to urge you to increase still further the number of Syrian refugees the United States will accept for resettlement. The surge of humanity fleeing war and famine is the largest refugee crisis since World War II. The United States is in a position to lead a global narrative of inclusion and support. This is a challenge we can meet, and the undersigned mayors stand ready to help you meet it.

Our cities have been transformed by the skills and the spirit of those who come to us from around the world. The drive and enterprise of immigrants and refugees have helped build our economies, enliven our arts and culture, and enrich our neighborhoods.

We have taken in refugees, and will help make room for thousands more. This is because the United States has developed a robust screening and background check that assures us that we know who we are welcoming into this country. With national security systems in place, we stand ready to support the Administration in increasing the numbers of refugees we can accept.

With Pope Francis’ visit, we are mindful of his call for greater compassion in the face of this ongoing crisis and stand with you in supporting those “journeying towards the hope of life.”

Sincerely,

Ed Pawlowski, Mayor of Allentown, PA

Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Mayor of Baltimore, MD

Martin J. Walsh, Mayor of Boston, MA

James Diossa, Mayor of Central Falls, RI

Mark Kleinschmidt, Mayor of Chapel Hill, NC

Rahm Emanuel, Mayor of Chicago, IL

Edward Terry, Mayor of Clarkston, GA

Nan Whaley, Mayor of Dayton, OH

Domenick Stampone, Mayor of Haledon, NJ

Pedro E. Segarra, Mayor of Hartford, CT

Eric Garcetti, Mayor of Los Angeles, CA

Betsy Hodges, Mayor of Minneapolis, MN

Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York City, NY

Jose Torres, Mayor of Paterson, NJ

William Peduto, Mayor of Pittsburgh, PA

Javier Gonzales, Mayor of Santa Fe, NM

Francis G. Slay, Mayor of St. Louis, MO

Stephanie A. Miner, Mayor of Syracuse, NY

Rod Snyder, President of Young Democrats of America, addresses Northeast regional conference in Providence.

The future of the Democratic Party was front and center at the RI Convention Center on Saturday as the Young Democrats of America (YDA) came to town to hold their New England regional conference.

Nearly 50 attendees from New York to Maine met for day of talks, panels, and business (including the election of their new Regional Director, Dustin Hausner) and the rising stars of Rhode Island politics were well represented.

The Convention Center was packed — with dancers attending the “Jump Dance Workshop” at the sold-out Providence stop on its multi-city tour. The hundreds of teens and pre-teens padding around the convention halls with dance bags and costumes and their booming performance music provided a oddly fitting complement to the proceedings of the young Democrats assembled in a function room on the 5th floor.

Providence Mayor Angel Taveras welcomed attendees, described his own political journey, and spoke frankly about the challenges of leading a city through a difficult financial crisis. “I didn’t want the first Latino mayor of Providence to be the one who brought the city into bankruptcy.” He credited taxpayers and unions alike for being willing to pitch in, and stressed the importance of “being straight and open” and “negotiating in good faith” in bringing everyone to the table.

Taveras urged attendees to rise to the challenges of activism and governance. “You have to stay involved and believe you can achieve. Don’t let negativity and cynicism get in the way,” he said. “Remember, we can change the world.”

That was a theme was echoed by afternoon keynote speaker Rod Snyder, the national YDA President (reportedly contemplating a run for congress in West Virginia at the end of his second term this summer). “Rarely has there been a time,” said Synder, “When young people have more opportunity for impact.”

With a quarter of the US voting population under 35, Synder said, Millennials have come to rival seniors as a key electoral bloc, and their values are most aligned with the Democratic party.

He singled out the Rhode Island attendees for their significant role in passing marriage equality. “YDA is not just riding the wave of the youth movement,” Snyder said, “We’re leading it.”

Another highlight of the afternoon was a panel of young elected officials, moderated by outgoing RI Democratic Party chair (and Secretary of State candidate) Ed Pacheco. In addition to Maine’s Justin Chenette (at 22, the youngest openly gay legislator in the US), the panel featured RI State Sen. Adam Satchell (D-9), Rep. Katherine Kazarian (D-63), Central Falls Mayor James Diossa, and Smithfield Councilor Suzy Alba, who all offered advice for young Dem candidates.

“Don’t wait,” said Satchell, “Don’t back down. If you sit around, bad stuff happens.” Kazarian’s advice, “Stay active, and get your friends involved.”

Alba, who credited her win to knocking on 4,000 doors, suggested that acknowledging diversity helps. “I was very open about my differences,” she said, adding that she found voters responded. Diossa talked about the importance of understanding why you’re running. “If you don’t believe what you’re doing, it’s hard to communicate it to the people around you.” Chenette suggested turning age from a potential liability to an asset.”We’re not beaten down by the system,” he said, “People recognize your passion.”

That was a theme picked up by moderator Pacheco (who, at 31, is still 4 years under the YDA cutoff for “young”). “Many people underestimate us because we’re not 55, not an attorney, and haven’t been in public office for 20 years,” he said. “But we all have something to contribute.” Pacheco, who has announced his intention to run for Secretary of State, talked about the importance of engaging younger voters. “My goal would be to reach out to every young person and invite them to be a part of the process,” he said. “The window can not be half open.”

There were two other panel discussions — one on the policy issues facing young people and another on grassroots organizing, featuring some of our state’s most engaged young activists from organizations like MERI, Planned Parenthood, Providence Student Union, and RIPayDay.org (and, of course, the Young Democrats of RI).

The day wrapped up with the official business of the conference, electing regional officers. Dustin Hausner, of New York, was unanimously elected to be regional director for the next two years. “The Northeast has always been a region of hope and progressivism,” said Hausner, thanking the attendees, “I’m excited to be working with all of you.” Jonathan Sclarsic of Massachusetts was elected deputy region director, and New Hampshire’s Douglas Lindner secretary-treasurer.

Update: Corrected spelling on Rep. Kazarian.

Tag: Diossa

Diossa to Obama: Central Falls will take in Syrian refugees

Northeast Young Dems convene in Providence