In my newsletter of August 27, 2023, I reviewed the Lowell City Council’s discussion of the possible use of the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center as emergency housing for migrants. In their comments, several Councilors distinguished the circumstances of today from those that existed in Lowell in the 1980s when thousands of Cambodian refugees arrived in the city. Here is what I wrote about those comments:
That was quite a time. The xenophobia extended to within the very school committee…. One of its members said publicly that my (Jewish, NYC-born) husband should “go back to where he came from.” Your Dad, a mentor to this very green school committee member, was a calming influence and important leader as Mayor during much of that time.
Brilliant, well-researched and insightful as always, Richard. Thank you for sharing this.
Excellent, thanks.
Thank you for writing this post. It was interesting to learn about Lowell’s past and it should not be forgotten. Keep up the good work.
The first reaction to change is invariably negative. But then some step up to actually work to solutions. Who will do that in this case?
Thanks, Richard—
That was quite a time. The xenophobia extended to within the very school committee…. One of its members said publicly that my (Jewish, NYC-born) husband should “go back to where he came from.” Your Dad, a mentor to this very green school committee member, was a calming influence and important leader as Mayor during much of that time.
Mary Anna Sullivan