question for central and western PA DU's

[fencesitter]

There was an article in this past Sunday's Phila. Inquirer about Arlen Spector doing his annual state tour visiting mostly the central and western parts of PA. He knows how eastern PA feels. The second hottest issue he encountered, the first being Iraq, was immigration. Does PA have a big problem with illegals? I don't see it here, and I live in the Phila. burbs. There are a few pockets, certainly not a big deal. To hear people talk about it, there a huge illegal populations committing rampant crime without fear of deportation. And stealing all those high paying jobs! Getting free healthcare! Collecting welfare paid by us hard working taxpayers!

[JPZenger]

1. Illegals

According to the Federal statistics, PA has much lower numbers of illegals than many states. However, there has been an infusion from New York of illegal Dominicans, etc. Sometimes it is hard to tell because illegal Latinos often pretend to be Puerto Ricans. Some small towns have seen large numbers of Mexicans, including Shenanhoah. Hazelton claims to have many illegals.

All of the cities in eastern PA have seen dramatic increases in their Latino populations over the last 20 years.

[Allenberg]

2. As far as Pittsburgh goes,

its my knowledge that we have very few illegal immigrants here.

[I Have A Dream]

4. I agree. n/t

[FREEWILL56]

5. I think I ran across one about a week ago.

He was in a cab unfamiliar to me with a passenger and he pulled over towards me as I was walking. I am in the eastern suburbs of Pgh. btw. He yelled out to me with some accent that I'd guess may be middle eastern and I didn't understand him so I asked him what did he say? He then asked me "Do you know where Mt. Lebanon Blvd is?". I told him you aren't even close and that he needed to turn around to get onto the Parkway East and head to town where he must then head south where he could get more detailed directions. I would bet that passenger, if not from the area, paid quite a premium as that guy was at least 15 miles off course when he approached me. Well on the bright side he was still in the right county.:woohoo: :applause:

[Allenberg]

6. In fairness.

I was born and raised here, and I own a house in Beechview, and I'm still constantly getting lost around here. :P

[dropkickpa]

3. What do you want to bet that he heard

all the immigration crap in central-PA AKA pennsyl-fuckin-tucky? The middle of this state is hopelessly red and buys into all of the GOP bullcrap. I think that you'll find, on PA's "coasts", this is not the case.

[themaguffin]

7. How about Eastern PA

Wasn't it Wilkes-Barre or somewhere near there that should be happy to gain people who made news for harsh policies regarding immigration?

In any case, most of the state outside of Pittsburgh and Philly doesn't get it.