POUGHKEEPSIE—It’s up to 3,000 and growing.
That’s the number of signatures on a petition circulating in Poughkeepsie to stop a refugee resettlement program being driven by Church World Service, according to those behind it.
The global ecumenical organization, one of nine refugee resettlement agencies in the United States, expects to first set up a local office and then secure housing for displaced families from war-ravaged nations as early as January.
An informational meeting in November at Christ Episcopal Church in Poughkeepsie drew several hundred people. File photo.
Church World Service plans to gradually move up to 80 Syrian, Congolese and Iraqi refugees into Poughkeepsie, a city the agency has identified as an affordable, “supportive” and “favorable” location.
Once the refugees are settled, they will receive assistance with basic needs support, case management, cultural orientation, health care and job preparation.
Not everyone is sold on the plan—the details of which began emerging in October.
Some like Poughkeepsie residents David Cole and Bob “Tiny” Eglit, co-founders of Citizens Against Refugee Resettlement, say the community was blindsided by CWS, which “fast-tracked” the program without regard for the people who live here.
The pair is pushing the petition throughout the city and hopes to collect 5,000 signatures before too long.
“That’s a lot of people to ignore,” Cole said.
“They should have thought of this before they decided to approve it. This is where we have a problem. They didn’t reach out to us beforehand, yet they knew about this months ago.
“We had no time to process this, and this is a major push. A refugee resettlement program is not like a Walmart or K-Mart coming in.”
The main thrust behind the opposition, according to Cole, is that Poughkeepsie has problems of its own such as homelessness and drugs and not enough resources to help its already struggling residents.
“We have veterans and senior citizens and children who are not being taken care of. We have mothers standing in lines, waiting to get into homeless shelters. We have other things to do in this country besides take in refugees from war-torn countries, and I really feel that a lot of the community feels this way, but they’re scared to speak out.”
Part of that, Cole said, is the fear of being labeled racists or xenophobes (someone who mistrusts foreigners).
Cole and Eglit said they have heard their neighbors’ concerns and are willing to step forward to become their “voice.”
“Our goal is to get enough signatures to show these people that we have a community that doesn’t feel the resettlement program is good for this town.
“I wish everyone would have a nice home and a peaceful location, but this is our home. We don’t need an organization to come in and tell us what’s good for us.”
In response, CWS representatives noted the many ways the agency has aided the community over 40 years, including raising more than $260,000 for area charities through its Crop Walks.
“We are also proud that Veterans of Foreign Wars has recently joined the Mid-Hudson Refugee Solidarity Alliance—a group which has initially brought this issue to the forefront at the local level and has been overwhelmingly supportive of our new refugee resettlement office in Poughkeepsie,” said Christina Levin, director of external relations.
“We firmly believe we can take care of our veterans and help refugees seeking to rebuild their lives in the United States. Leadership means taking on responsibility. We have historically done that as a nation and will not turn a blind eye now to the largest humanitarian crisis of our generation. We must play our part and bolster our efforts to help mitigate this global displacement crisis—now more than ever.”
Maria Hoehn, a history professor at Vassar College and the co-founder of the Mid-Hudson Refugee Solidarity Alliance, said she was unfamiliar with the petition and the group behind it.
She did, however, note that the groups and religious institutions backing the resettlement project continue to give their time and talent to help those in need locally.
“We believe it’s not either or. We’re already helping with other problems. It doesn’t mean we’re going to deprive the community of help. It’s a way for us to reinforce what we’re already doing,” she said.
“A lot of religions say you should help the stranger, and that’s how a lot of the people involved are thinking about it. This is just something Americans have always done. It’s a long American tradition to help people in need, and it’s something we can be proud of.”
Cole is not so sure about that. In fact, he said the way the project came about has raised additional questions, particularly the way it was foisted on the community as well as elected officials.
Cole said he has reached out to Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and plans to meet soon with Poughkeepsie Mayor Rob Rolison in the hopes that the petition will bear some teeth.
Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said in November that CWS representatives met with Department of Social Services staff in the spring, but his office was not kept in the loop and did not hear back from the organization until after the project was approved by the U.S. State Department.
Nor was Rolison directly involved.
“The city was notified by CWS in late summer and was not involved in the application or approval process for a refugee resettlement office to open in the Poughkeepsie area,” he said in an emailed statement.
Molinaro, meanwhile, directed further inquiries to Irving Jones, the program officer at the Office of Refugee Admissions Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration at the U.S. State Department.
Jones did not return repeated phone calls for comment on the growing opposition to the resettlement program.
Levin, however, reiterated the ministry’s past claims that it had kept officials at all levels and primary “stakeholders” regularly informed.
“Numerous phone calls and in-person meetings took place. An email announcing proposal submission and confirmation of next steps was sent to these officials as well as other partners on Aug. 19, 2016 with another email announcing site approval on Oct. 8, 2016,” she said.
“Following this, CWS issued a press release regarding site approval, met with numerous stakeholders, presented at two community forums, responded to numerous media inquiries, and continued community consultations.”
Cole is not convinced it is enough and said he will continue to fight on behalf of those too afraid to speak out, particularly in the wake of Monday’s attack at Ohio State University by Abdul Razak Ali Artan, a Somali refugee who was living in the United States as a legal permanent resident.
“They (CWS) are invading our community. They smile and sugar-coat it and say they’re here to help people. At the same time, our people here are saying they’re weaseling their way into our community. While we appreciate what they’re doing for humanity, we don’t appreciate it in our town,” he said.
Hoehn sees it another way.
“It’s an opportunity to make Poughkeepsie a better place to be, and I think this is going to be a very positive experience for everybody,” she said.
Levin added that CWS will continue to “engage” service providers, school districts as well as partners and volunteers in the months ahead “to ensure that refugees are met with the welcome and compassion that has been evident in so many discussions with community members.”
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