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CONTACT US OPINION | OTHER THOUGHTS PHONE: (605) 665-7811 (800) 743-2968 NEWS FAX: Immigrants Could (605) 665-1721 ADVERTISING FAX: (605) 665-0288 WEBSITE: www.yankton.net Fill Voids In Neb. EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected] KEARNEY HUB (Sept. 14): We know that immigrants are filling ——— many of the manual labor jobs that Americans don’t want to fill. SUBSCRIPTIONS/ We also know that some highly skilled immigrants are filling posi- CIRCULATION: tions that require advanced knowledge of math, science and engi- Extension 112 neering. CLASSIFIED ADS: Extension 108 Those are two good economic reasons for U.S. lawmakers to NEWS DEPARTMENT: proceed with immigration reform. Here is another. Extension 114 New research by a Duke University professor shows that immi- SPORTS DEPARTMENT: grants are raising the value of housing stocks in some U.S. commu- Capitol Notebook Extension 106 nities. The findings by Professor Jacob Vigdor, based on extensive ADVERTISING OFFICE: study of census data, certainly are of interest to urban Americans, Extension 122 where the Great Recession left scores of vacant homes as owners SD Public Employees BUSINESS OFFICE: walked away from upside down mortgages. The vacancies eroded Extension 119 the value of whole neighborhoods, invited crime and caused NEW MEDIA: urban decay. Extension 136 Vigdor’s study concludes that an influx of immigrants can res- COMPOSING DESK: urrect such urban neighborhoods, but could the same effect not Shielded From Scrutiny Extension 129 be expected in Nebraska, where rural population decline has be- BY BOB MERCER I followed up, asking if two letters were in- come a serious concern? State Capitol Bureau deed sent. Yes, an official replied, but they *** If we believe that immigrants could help reinvigorate rural Ne- weren’t releasing the second letter. MANAGERS braska, the key is allowing them a path to citizenship so they can PIERRE — South Dakota’s laws regarding Initially they cited “personnel” as the rea- settle down. Until Congress resolves the legality issue, undocu- public records are in some ways good and in son for the denial. I asked for the specific ex- Gary L. Wood mented immigrants will continue to live in the shadows. They’ll Publisher other ways bad, depending on what a person emption. The reason then became the hesitate to become permanent residents because their illegal sta- is trying to learn about the everyday opera- correspondence exemption. Michele Schievelbein tus poses the threat of deportation. tions within a government or public school State law, thanks to former Attorney Gen- Advertising Director That’s why allowing a path to citizenship makes sense. Citizen- district. eral Larry Long, contains a specific process Tonya Schild ship would aid immigrants, but it also would aid communities by The laws, rewritten in 2009, clearly favor for formally seeking a record. Business Manager filling vacant homes and giving businesses a more stable work- public knowledge on financial matters. I filed a formal request and cited two rea- force. That section directs the laws be “liberally sons the letter must be a public record. The Michael Hrycko According to Vigdor, naturalized immigrants are more produc- Circulation Director construed” on financial records and citizens two letters were transmittals of a public tive employees. With experience, they win promotions and con- “shall have the full right to know of and have body’s official decision. The letters also dealt Tera Schmidt tribute more to their companies’ success. As a result, they full access to information on the public fi- in some ways with financial matters. Classified Manager out-earn undocumented immigrants by 16 percent. nances of the government and the public bod- If my formal request was denied, I was pre- Kelly Hertz Think of the implications in rural Nebraska, where reform ies and entities created to serve them.” pared to use the appeal process in state law, Editor could open the door for new residents to reverse the population But the laws also clearly shield government where an administrative hearing officer re- decline and provide employers a stable workforce that reinvigo- officials and employees from public scrutiny. views the matter and gives a decision. If neces- James D. Cimburek rates main streets as these new residents put down roots. The Sports Editor Their correspondence, memoranda, calen- sary, I was prepared to appeal an adverse new home owners would patronize grocery stores, appliance deal- dars or logs of appointments, working papers, decision to circuit court, the next step under Beth Rye erships and purchase other goods and services. and records of telephone calls made on the state law. New Media Manager Evidence favoring immigration reform continues to grow, yet job — public or personal — aren’t considered The officials in custody of the letters de- Kathy Larson too many lawmakers in Washington — including most of Ne- public records. cided to relinquish a copy of the second letter. Composing Manager braska’s delegation — are dragging their feet. Why? The consequence is, in most instances, citi- They also mentioned in the course of the dis- Bernard Metivier zens can’t know what public employees are cussion they received a response to that letter District Manager doing except at a public meeting. from the other organization. I asked for and re- Further, the open-records laws don’t apply ceived a copy of the response letter. *** OUR LETTER POLICY to anyone in the judicial branch — and only to The officials made clear they hoped I the Legislature when legislators agree. wouldn’t write a story. One of the officials de- DAILY STAFF The PRESS & DAKOTAN encourages its readers to write let- ters to the editor, and it asks that a few simple guidelines be followed. Recently the correspondence exemption clined to answer a question until he knew Melissa Bader n Please limit letters to 300 words or less. Letters should deal with for officials and employees snagged this re- what I planned to do. I didn’t answer either Derek Bartos a single subject, be of general interest and state a specific point of porter. way and moved on to another topic. Cassandra Brockmoller view. Letters are edited with brevity, clarity and newspaper style in At a meeting held months ago, a public body The letters aren’t the main point of what I Rob Buckingham mind. directed that two letters be sent to another or- am researching. I don’t know yet how the let- Randy Dockendorf n In the sense of fairness and professionalism, the PRESS & ganization. The discussions and the vote were ters fit. But they are telling about attitude and DAKOTAN Jeannine Economy will accept no letters attacking private individuals or busi- shown in the meeting minutes. relationship. nesses. The department in custody of the records Jeremy Hoeck Citizens generally should have the right to n Specific individuals or entities addressed in letters may be given provided one of the letters that I requested. But know what official letters say. Nathan Johnson the opportunity to read the letter prior to publication and be allowed to there wasn’t any mention of the second letter. Robert Nielsen answer the letter in the same issue. Muriel Pratt n Only signed letters with writer’s full name, address and daytime Matt Robinson phone number for verification will be accepted. Please mail to: Letters, Noelle Schlechter 319 Walnut, Yankton, SD 57078, drop off at 319 Walnut in Yankton, fax And The Idiots to 665-1721 or email to [email protected]. Cathy Sudbeck BY LEONARD PITTS JR. dus. Hindus are not Muslims, either. Not that Sally Whiting Tribune Content Agency hating them would be acceptable even if they Brenda Willcuts ON THIS DATE were. And not that the distinction will matter to Jackie Williams A couple months ago, I got an email from the folks quoted above. All dark-skinned people By The Bush returned the American flag to full Supreet. with exotic names or unfamiliar customs are Today is Monday, Sept. 23, the staff at Camp David, symbolically end- Supreet is in the 11th grade. He shops at Muslim terrorists to that bunch of nuclear *** 266th day of 2013. There are 99 days ing a period of national mourning for Wal-Mart and plays basketball. His fa- physicists. left in the year. the 9/11 attacks on New York’s World There was more. “Jessica Ayres” Published Daily Today’s Highlight in History: On Trade Center and the Pentagon. Thou- ther came to this country from India and both are Sikhs, followers of a cen- offered this self-negating bon mot Monday-Saturday Sept. 23, 1952, Sen. Richard M. sands gathered at New York’s Yankee Nixon, R-Calif., salvaged his vice- Stadium to offer prayers for the victims turies-old faith founded in the Punjab when Davuluri won: “I swear I’m not Periodicals postage presidential nomination by appearing of terrorism; Mayor Rudolph Giuliani region. Supreet wanted to tell me what racist but this is America.” Then there paid at Yankton, live on television to refute allegations pledged that “our skyline will rise it is like being a Sikh in America. was “Jonah Carlin,” who tweeted im- South Dakota, under of improper campaign fundraising. again.” Thirteen coal miners were He wrote about how, after 9/11, his ages of blond, blue-eyed , the act of March 3, (The address became known as the killed in explosions at the Blue Creek Theresa Vail, dubbing her “a real Miss 1979. “Checkers” speech because of Mine Number 5 in Brookwood, Ala. father became “perhaps the most Weekly Dakotian Nixon’s on-air reference to the family Ten years ago: Speaking at the hated man in our small town.” He America.” established June 6, pet, a dog named Checkers.) United Nations, President George W. wrote about how his dad had to stop And so it goes. 1861. Yankton Daily On this date: In 63 B.C., Caesar Bush rejected calls from France and wearing the turban Sikh men use to Some of us are not beauty pageant Augustus, the first Roman emperor, Germany to hasten the transfer of fans. Indeed, some of us find them ar- Press and Dakotian was born. power in Iraq, insisting the shift to self- cover their “kesh,” the hair their faith established April 26, In 1779, during the Revolutionary government could be “neither hurried forbids them to cut. He wrote about Leonard chaic outposts of retrograde sexism. 1875. War, the American warship Bon nor delayed.” A federal appeals court bullying and depression suffered by But surely all of us can agree that if Postmaster: Send Homme Richard, commanded by unanimously put California’s recall young Sikhs. He wrote about black PITTS we are going to have such pageants, address changes to John Paul Jones, defeated the HMS election back on the calendar for Oc- boys who taunted him as “Osama’s they should not be stained by xeno- Yankton Daily Press Serapis in battle. tober 7. son.” He wrote about Wade Michael phobic prejudice. & Dakotan, 319 Wal- In 1780, British spy John Andre Five years ago: Iranian President was captured along with papers re- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad accused Page, who in 2012, shot 10 people, killing six, at deserves better. So does nut, Yankton, SD Supreet. Their families, after all, chose this 57078. vealing Benedict Arnold’s plot to sur- what he called “a few bullying powers” a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, likely thinking it render West Point to the British. of trying to thwart his country’s peace- was a mosque. He wrote about how President country. Consider what that means: To give up *** In 1806, the Lewis and Clark ex- ful nuclear program and declared in a Obama canceled a visit to a Sikh holy site in everything you have always known and of all pedition returned to St. Louis more speech before the U.N. General As- 2010, which some people thought was because the other options available, decide that this is MEMBERSHIPS than two years after setting out for the sembly that “the American empire” where you want to be. Presumably, one factor Pacific Northwest. was nearing collapse. A 22-year-old male visitors are required to cover their heads The Yankton Daily In 1846, Neptune was identified gunman opened fire at his trade and Obama didn’t want anyone calling him a in that choice was America’s promise: here you Press & Dakotan is a as a planet by German astronomer school in Finland, killing 10 people be- Muslim. are equal, here you are free, here you may rise member of the Associ- Johann Gottfried Galle. fore fatally shooting himself. “But Sikhs are NOT Muslims,” wrote Supreet. to whatever height aspiration and hard work ated Press, the Inland In 1908, an apparent baserunning One year ago: “Homeland” won “Why do we keep getting labeled as Muslims?” will take you. Daily Press Associa- error by Fred Merkle of the New York the Emmy Award for best drama se- It is a plaintive question with which the new So the treatment they have received is not tion and the South Giants cost his team a victory against ries, and its stars Claire Danes and the Chicago Cubs and left the game Damian Lewis each won leading actor Miss America would doubtless sympathize. just ugly, but embarrassing, and not just embar- Dakota Newspaper Nina Davuluri of New York state won the crown rassing but promise-breaking. Jonah Carlin and Association. The Asso- tied 1-1. The Cubs won a rematch and awards. Republican presidential can- ciated Press is entitled with it, the National League pennant. didate Mitt Romney told reporters he last week, becoming the first Indian American others like him need to read the writing on the In 1912, Mack Sennett’s first Key- would spend less time raising money exclusively to use of all to do so. Her triumph was marred by an erup- demographic wall. What was exotic and unfa- stone short subject, a “split-reel” of and more time with voters. The Libyan tion of — pardon the tautology — ignorant big- miliar yesterday is shopping at Wal-Mart and the local news printed two comedies both starring Mabel militia suspected in the attack on the in this newspaper. Normand and Ford Sterling (“Cohen U.S. diplomatic compound that killed otry on social media. shooting hoops today. Change is coming; that Collects a Debt” and “The Water the U.S. ambassador and three other “Audrey Graham” tweeted, “Miss America is fact is non-negotiable. But our success or lack *** Nymph”), was released. Houston’s Americans said it had disbanded on a terrorist. Whatever. It’s fine.” thereof in incorporating that change will deter- SUBSCRIPTION William Marsh Rice Institute, later re- orders of the country’s president. “Luke Brasili” tweeted, “9/11 was four days mine what America is 50 years from now. named Rice University, opened for Today’s Birthdays: Actor Mickey ago and she gets miss America?” Step one: Decide if we are serious in what RATES* classes on the 12th anniversary of Rooney is 93. Singer Julio Iglesias is “De La Rutherford” tweeted, “Congratula- we claim ourselves to be. In other words, we (Payable in advance) Rice’s death. 70. Actor Paul Petersen (“The Donna In 1949, President Harry S. Tru- Reed Show”) is 68. Actress-singer tions, Al-Qaeda. Our Miss America is one of can either keep America’s promise or else stop CARRIER DELIVERY man announced there was evidence Mary Kay Place is 66. Rock star Bruce you.” making it. 1-month . . . . .$12.09 the Soviet Union had recently con- Springsteen is 64. Rock musician And you are almost — almost — less ap- 3 months . . . .$36.27 ducted a nuclear test explosion. The Leon Taylor (The Ventures) is 58. Ac- palled by the bigotry than by the slack-jawed, Leonard Pitts is a columnist for The Miami 6 months . . . .$72.53 test had been carried out on Aug. 29, tress Rosalind Chao is 56. Golfer knuckle-dragging, dull-eyed ignorance of people Herald, 1 Herald Plaza, Miami, Fla., 33132. Read- 1-year ...... $133.09 1949. Larry Mize is 55. Actor Jason Alexan- In 1957, nine black students who’d der is 54. Actress Elizabeth Pena is so stupefyingly uninformed that they can’t even ers may contact him via e-mail at lpitts@miami- MOTOR ROUTE entered Little Rock Central High 54. Actor Chi McBride is 52. Country hate straight. Miss America’s parents are Hin- herald.com. (where available) School in Arkansas were forced to musician Don Herron (BR549) is 51. © 2013, The Miami Herald 1 month . . . . .$14.51 withdraw because of a white mob out- Actor Erik Todd Dellums is 49. Actress 3 months . . . .$43.53 side. LisaRaye is 47. Singer Ani DiFranco is 6 months . . . .$87.05 In 1962, “The Jetsons,” an ani- 43. Rock singer Sarah Bettens (K’s YOUR LETTERS 1 year ...... $139.14 mated cartoon series about a Space Choice) is 41. Recording executive MAIL IN RETAIL Age family, premiered as the ABC tel- Jermaine Dupri is 41. Actor Kip Par- A Helpful Project I do want to clarify that we did not provide TRADE ZONE evision network’s first color program. due is 37. Actor Anthony Mackie is 35. the furniture; only matching bedding sets, cur- In 1973, former Argentine presi- Pop singer Erik-Michael Estrada Pauline Akland, Yankton 1-month . . . . .$16.93 dent Juan Peron won a landslide elec- (“Making the Band”) is 34. Actress tains for the kitchen area, bathroom and new 3 months . . . .$50.79 tion victory that returned him to power; Aubrey Dollar is 33. Tennis player President, GFWC Yankton shower rod and curtain. This was a small proj- 6 months . . .$101.57 his wife, Isabel, was elected vice pres- Melanie Oudin is 22. Yankton’s General Federated Women’s Club ect, but a way for our club to give back to the 1-year ...... $148.82 ident. Thought for Today: “The only in- would like to thank Chad Bent at Walmart for the community. MAIL OUTSIDE In 1981, the Reagan administra- teresting answers are those which de- donations toward bedding and Randy Kaiser and We enjoyed working with Carol and John RETAIL TRADE ZONE tion announced plans for what be- stroy the questions.” -- Susan Sontag, Tiffany Schliuing of Sherwin Williams for the do- Poole. General Federation of Women's Club 1 month . . . . .$19.35 came known as Radio Marti. American author and critic (1933- nation of the paint for our recent homeless shel- (GFWC) tagline is “Living the Volunteer Spirit” 3 months . . . .$58.05 In 2001, President George W. 2004). ter project. and we are dedicated to community improve- 6 months . . .$116.09 I also want to thank Mary Pietila, Maysel ment by enhancing the lives of others through 1-year ...... $186.33 FROM THE BIBLE Goltz and Judi & Sonny Olson for their help in our volunteer service. This was a great partner- * Plus applicable sales painting, cleaning, searching for the bedding and ship project and we look forward to doing other tax for all rates Owe no one anything, except to love each other. Romans 13:8. Sonny for building new cabinet doors for the projects in the future. Portals of Prayer, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis cupboards in the basement.