A couple stories from Wednesday's Sun illustrate how DuPage County is gradually becoming more diverse. It may still have one of the highest per-capita income rates in the nation, where housing is hardly affordable, and where 100 percent of the county office-holders are Republican. But there are signs of change.
First is Tuesday's opening of the Sudanese Community Center in Naperville. Cofounder Gene Tenner of Lisle estimates that two-thirds of the 800 to 1,000 people who fled to the Chicago area from the genocide in Darfur are living in DuPage County. We wish the center success in serving the Sudanese community and welcome the facility to Naperville.
Second is a story about funding for the DuPage County health department, which is proposed to remain flat at $48 million for 2009. Health Department Executive Director Maureen McHugh notes there are 18,000 Medicaid recipients living in DuPage, and that the county is home to more low-income residents now than it was five years ago. A chief contributing factor is the 29,523 Hispanics who have moved into the county since 2003, she said.
That's a lot of change in a relatively short amount of time. How do you see the changing demographics affecting life in DuPage? Will housing become more affordable? Will taxes increase? Will a Democrat ever be elected to a county office? Have you noticed the increasing diversity, and thought about how it affects you?
G wrote:
"As always you have some folks worried about minorities coming into their neighborhood and ruining it all for them. My advice - if minorities are an issue for you...move. More diversity for the rest of us!"
Your solution would actually result in LESS diversity: we'd be under-represented in bigots.
;-)
Signs that DuPage County is becoming more diverse. What a funny thing to say. In fact, I'd say Naperville has been quite diverse for a number of years. I remember being in 6th grade at Washington Jr High 24 years ago and my best friends were Hispanic, Indian and Chinese... oh yea.. and there was that one "white girl" who was actually Swedish and that other "white girl" who was actually German and Italian. The real question is when will DuPage County begin showing some cultural support for all of us mixed up Americans? Those of us who are the ubiquitous mutt? We are so presumptuous about what diversity is. Especially when in fact we are all different in one way or another. How we deal with the differences and what we know about other cultures and traditions is more important than just counting how many brown skinned people there are. Being not-white myself, I find that there are so many other "not-white" people out there that need to learn just as much *tolerance* as they claim the "white" people need. But, prejudice, I can say, is still alive and well. That is one of the strange things about being “not-white” but look it. I get to hear the comments. From both sides. With regards to income and money, Naperville has many many social services where we hand out food and clothes – all very important – much of it stays in the area and provides for local low-income folks. Education, however, does seem to get left to the wayside though: Basic tutoring/quality daycare, art, music and fitness for low-income folks would be nice to see. Again, diversity is not the issue; Support for diversity. I have met some people who call themselves “professional role models” but one of them treated the low-income kids I met like they were criminals already. And those kids spoke freely about welfare checks. Some aspired to do and be something great ~ That was so uplifting and I could only encourage them to dream big! Some of them still didn’t know their colors … and, yes, I am still talking about Naperville elementary school kids. We are certainly a diverse community. What shall we do now? Can we just get over that now? How about we start addressing real issues? How about we encourage our next generation to handle that appropriately? How about encouraging kids to be multi-lingual? I’m glad this came up. And I read Heather Pfundstein’s comments about this article ~ and I was glad she cared enough to comment on it. My last thought is to her point about whether or not people want to talk about diversity. I do think that diversity is a complicated thing to talk about and it is difficult to think where one should begin: Economics? Race? Languages? Immigration? Heritage? Eye Color? But I guess we have to start somewhere. Thanks!
As always you have some folks worried about minorities coming into their neighborhood and ruining it all for them. My advice - if minorities are an issue for you...move. More diversity for the rest of us!
I could care less who lives next to me. All I ask of my neighbors is to maintain the outside of your home and not conduct any illegal activity in your home. When those 2 things start to happen property values go down. For many of us that is our main financial investment and we shouldn't have to suffer because some people are to lazy to maintain a home. By the way, I have been very fortunate to have such great neighbors.
Diversity should happen organically, or not at all. Plenty of people with different origins are moving into Naperville, because it is a desirable place to live. But there is utterly no benefit to deliberately importing low income residents. These people are a tax burden, since they tend to use up services at a faster rate than they contribute to the tax base, not to mention the higher crime and lower property values that accompany them.
We should welcome productive people of all creeds and colors. We should not welcome anyone on the public dole, nor should we attempt to make housing more 'affordable'. Let the market determine who lives here, and we'll see plenty of diversity.
I think we need more Hawaiians in Naperville.
Anyone who doubts diversity just needs to visit this new Mediterranean Oasis store on Bailey Rd.
You will see Arabs from 22 countries, Persians from Iran, Afghans, Muslims from Pakistan and Bangaladesh, Hindus from India, Albanians, Greek Orthodox Greeks and tons of other Eastern Europeans. Even some Russians! I guess they all love their old country food!
The flow is non-stop!
The Naperville Sun estimated a 1000 Muslims in the area!
Based on what I observed the Naperville Sun is right on the money with its numbers!
If you visit this store this month which is the month of Ramdan, be sensitive and do not eat in the store as many of the customers and employees are fasting from sunrise to sunset or nearly 15 hours a day. Not even water is allowed during Ramadan Fasting!
Headline Rewrite
PC
"A couple stories from Wednesday's Sun illustrate how DuPage County is gradually becoming more diverse."
Not PC
"A couple stories from Wednesday's Sun illustrate how DuPage County is gradually becoming less white."
Q
"A chief contributing factor is the 29,523 Hispanics who have moved into the county since 2003, she said.
How do you see the changing demographics affecting life in DuPage?"
A
Yes the effects of the collapse of the US borders, elimination of the internal enforcement of our immigration laws coupled with rampant fraud in the Social Security systems, payroll taxes systems and wide scale counterfeit identification industry has impacted the entire country, including Dupage County. It’s almost impossible to tell who is a citizen and who is not; this includes the 9-11 hijackers. More county resources have been moved to preventing terrorism, and I suspect expanded welfare programs.
Depending on the country of origin and legal status by percentage of new non-white (the focus of your question) arrivals into Dupage County, the effects may vary widely. Anywhere from positive wealth creation to creation of a significant sub-class on permanent welfare in all of its various forms and names. For example, there is no flood of Mexican factory owners, PhDs and Doctors either running across the border after dark or applying for legal immigration into the US.
Naperville is already 10% (15,000) Asian with many engineers and doctors and other professionals and some unskilled workers that tend to be part of the family. In addition, there are a number of other minorities (brown people) who worked their tales off in school, the trades or at a profession that moved themselves into the area. This has been on the whole positive wealth creation that supports the county and its systems.
If other individuals, who are largely unskilled, unable to produce sufficient wealth and are unable to pay their own way move into the county, then the rest of the population (those who produce positive wealth creation) will have to pay the way for them. Think of the county as a life boat with more and more people climbing in, at some point the boat (net wealth of the local or national economy) goes below water and everyone experiences a sinking lifestyle.
Surprising to some, not all brown people are the same. You have to look at the individuals and legal status.
If you are unskilled, no high school degree, don't speak English and have to work for substandard wages because you are here illegally, then the going is hard and the employer that is exploiting your criminality is probably not paying your payroll taxes and buying you benefits in addition to stiffing you on your wages. A substantial number of these types of individuals places a tax on the other residents who have to carry the burden of funding the government systems and in many cases directly subsidizing these individuals.
Q
Will housing become more affordable?
A
Condos can be bought for as little as $120K in Naperville for a 2 bedroom. IMHO housing is affordable today. If you mean would I like for everyone else to buy me a freestanding house for $400K and sell it to me for $150K because I can get a good tan, sure why not.
Q
Will taxes increase?
A
This depends on the education, legal status and skills of the individuals. If on the whole they are low, then yes taxes will increase.
Q
Will a Democrat ever be elected to a county office?
A
With just a little more work, the Republicans in Dupage may be able to produce this result.
Q
Have you noticed the increasing diversity, and thought about how it affects you?
A
Not really, but compared to ten years ago there are a lot more guys with those funny hats and tattoos who are visible these days.
Now hold on, y'all. I'm delighted to celebrate Naperville's diversity. I firmly believe it's a valid question to discuss, given these facts about Naperville from the U.S. Census Bureau:
White persons: 85.2%
Black persons: 3.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native persons: 0.1%
Asian persons: 9.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander: 0
Persons reporting two or more races: 1.2%
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin: 3.2%
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/1751622.html
Given these statistics about Naperville from 2000, I think discussion about Naperville's diversity is entirely appropriate. Mind you, it's not a question of tolerance or acceptance or anything like that--it's simply a question of numbers. The numbers say, DuPage is becoming more diverse. If you ask me, that's news.
I have to wonder about the Sun's reporting skills when a story like this is posted as news. Anyone that has lived in Dupage county for more than a month can see its diversity. West Chicago has had a huge Mexican population for years. People that have been homeowners for years in Dupage county are retiring and becoming low income residents by virtue of living on retirement incomes. The influx of Hispanics only matches the influx of illegal immigrants. Diversity hit Dupage county long ago, and it is no surprise to anyone with minimal powers of observation.
When I was growing up here in the '60's, diversity was almost non-existent. I am happy to see more people here with different skin color, religion and culture. Economic diversity is good too -- I'd like to see more plans for affordable housing in our City.
My immediate neighbors and I cover 5 "colors": Red, black, white, brown, & yellow
We all moved to Naperville for many reasons. I can assure you we have no issues with diversity as long as the city/town itself does not change it's "platform" of low taxes, great education, low crime, police and fire coverage, and great households with parents who care. All else is chafe.
The same attitude applies to the local politics --- people move to a place to either get away from something, or get to something. So, why do they want to change it so much once they get there? Why turn it into what you were leaving or away from what you went to?
Oh no! Everybody panic! Low-income folks! Brown people! Won't someone please think of the children?!?!
If increasing community diversity bothers you, I encourage you to move somewhere else. Personally, I'm thrilled to see Naperville become more of a cultural melting pot.