None of the Town of Estes Park Trustees opposed the board’s commitment to immigration reform, first affirmed in a 2018 resolution adopted by previous board members and under similar political conditions, but each of the members had strong opinions about reaffirming it at the Feb. 25 Town of Estes Park Board Meeting.
As written, Resolution 15-25, which described the importance of immigrants in Estes Park and encouraged our representatives in Congress to advocate for immigration reform, was not approved; Town Trustees sent the draft resolution back to staff for revisions before the mayor will sign it. It was a very close vote: two Trustees abstained, one voted no, and three Trustees and the Mayor voted yes, approving a revised version of the document.
The word “forced” will be removed from several paragraphs where the term “forced reduction in workforce” was mentioned. This was Trustee Frank Lancaster’s suggestion after a lengthy discussion about the tone of the resolution. Mayor pro tem Marie Cenac and Trustee Cindy Younglund felt that any resolution about immigration at this time would be partisan. “I think that everybody will agree that it’s at least polarizing” said Cenac. “I think that there’s some people that feel like the timing of it polarizes the community. I didn’t like it two weeks ago, and I still don’t like that for that reason.”
“I think that this opens up the appearance that we are elevating protection for a certain group of people in our community, when we should be advocating for every person in our community, and not necessarily elevating protection for anyone,” said Trustee Igel. “I do like people, I like humans, but I want to advocate for the whole community, not any particular class.”
The remaining three Trustees found the proposed resolution to be non-partisan and supported its passage. “I’m comfortable approving it as is,” said Trustee Kirby Hazelton.
“I support this resolution in large measure,” said Trustee Bill Brown. “I think that people from all sides of the aisle agree that our immigration system is broken and needs reform to really make it work properly. And I don’t think you need to be a Democrat or Republican to feel that way. The majority of people would say that. The other thing is that it does relate to a local issue, insofar as we have quite a large immigrant community for this size community, and so it’s definitely relevant, particularly with our tourism-based economy.”
Lancaster would support the resolution as presented, but recognized the points presented by Igel. “I’m trying to find a way to maybe tamp it down a little bit,” Lancaster said. “And I would like to see this pass in some form.”
“As a resident of this town for 41 years now, I’ve seen a very gradual growth in the number of immigrants in our community,” said Louise Olson of Estes Park during public comment. considering Resolution 15-25. “I love the diversity, and I’m blessed with being an adopted member of a Mexican family. I’m their American grandma, we share meals in each other’s homes, we spend holidays together. We love each other very much. I don’t agree with Mr. Igel, I don’t understand how we are ‘elevating’ them; we’re just recognizing that they have a problem right now that the rest of us don’t have.
“I’m trying to understand your position in trying to be neutral, because this is such an important human issue, it could be tragic. I think you don’t want to add anything divisive to an already divided climate in our community. I understand and sympathize with that. But while you’re being well intentioned if you hold those views, I think you may be misguided. Because, as Bishop Desmond Tutu said once, ‘if you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen to side with the oppressor.’ That’s a pretty serious statement.”
It is crucial to thoughtfully consider the implications of maintaining an undocumented workforce. The immigration initiative proposed by the trustees raises important ethical questions that deserve careful dialogue, as it may be perceived as influenced by fear or self-interest. I encourage open discussions to explore the potential effects on the vulnerable members of our community and to reflect on the long-term outcomes of these actions. It is vital that we approach this issue with insight and compassion.
Additionally, I invite you to contemplate the implications of relinquishing your own American citizenship and how this decision could affect various aspects of your life, including employment, travel, family connections, and future opportunities. Understanding the rationale behind encouraging individuals to reside in the United States without the benefits of citizenship is an important consideration.
I firmly believe in the importance of strong border policies, as I view a country’s borders as integral to its identity. It is essential that local governance respects the democratic process and acknowledges the diverse perspectives within our community. I would like to express my concerns to the town trustees and the Mayor regarding the rights of myself and many fellow community members, as I feel these rights are being overlooked.
Lastly, regardless of political affiliation, I urge all community members to consider the impact of their votes for the EP trustees and Mayor. It is important that we protect our democratic values and ensure that all voices are represented in our decision-making processes. This proposed act is a heinous attack on our political diversity.