I do not think the contempt you are expressing for the media is warranted. That's especially the case when there has in fact been a great deal of reporting on this subject. The NYT had a lengthy piece a week ago—before the racist "pet eating" lies cranked up—explaining the city's resurgence and the new struggles it's experiencing as a co…
I do not think the contempt you are expressing for the media is warranted. That's especially the case when there has in fact been a great deal of reporting on this subject. The NYT had a lengthy piece a week ago—before the racist "pet eating" lies cranked up—explaining the city's resurgence and the new struggles it's experiencing as a consequence: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/us/springfield-ohio-school-bus-crash-haiti-immigrants.html
Regarding jobs in particular:
>>> In 2017, Topre, a major Japanese auto parts manufacturer, picked Springfield for a new plant in a decaying part of town that had been the site of International Harvester, a farm equipment manufacturer that was once the biggest employer.
By 2020, Springfield had lured food-service firms, logistics companies and a microchip maker, among others, creating an estimated 8,000 new jobs and optimism for the future.
“It was incredible to witness the transformation of our community,” said Horton Hobbs, vice president of economic development for the Greater Springfield Partnership, which executed the plan.
But soon there were not enough workers. Many young, working-age people had descended into addiction. Others shunned entry-level, rote work altogether, employers said. <<<
In particular, please note the first sentence of the last paragraph.
No one disputes that Springfield is facing serious challenges. No one is heedless of the GOP's ability to successfully engage in racist demagoguery even when they have few facts on their side.
Springfield's story does indeed "add up." The claim that "15,000 Haitians have descended upon a burned-out industrial city that's lost half of its jobs....and have done so to find work" is the one that is off-base.
Is it possible that the JD Vance take—that the racist lies don't matter because they're shining a spotlight on Springfield's problems—will actually wind up proving right? Sure. No one with any sense who's lived through the Trump era would dismiss that out of hand.
But Springfield's story is no surprise. It's been deeply reported, and it makes plenty of sense. We've seen stories like it before, and we'll see more like it in the future.
I do not think the contempt you are expressing for the media is warranted. That's especially the case when there has in fact been a great deal of reporting on this subject. The NYT had a lengthy piece a week ago—before the racist "pet eating" lies cranked up—explaining the city's resurgence and the new struggles it's experiencing as a consequence: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/us/springfield-ohio-school-bus-crash-haiti-immigrants.html
Regarding jobs in particular:
>>> In 2017, Topre, a major Japanese auto parts manufacturer, picked Springfield for a new plant in a decaying part of town that had been the site of International Harvester, a farm equipment manufacturer that was once the biggest employer.
By 2020, Springfield had lured food-service firms, logistics companies and a microchip maker, among others, creating an estimated 8,000 new jobs and optimism for the future.
“It was incredible to witness the transformation of our community,” said Horton Hobbs, vice president of economic development for the Greater Springfield Partnership, which executed the plan.
But soon there were not enough workers. Many young, working-age people had descended into addiction. Others shunned entry-level, rote work altogether, employers said. <<<
In particular, please note the first sentence of the last paragraph.
No one disputes that Springfield is facing serious challenges. No one is heedless of the GOP's ability to successfully engage in racist demagoguery even when they have few facts on their side.
Springfield's story does indeed "add up." The claim that "15,000 Haitians have descended upon a burned-out industrial city that's lost half of its jobs....and have done so to find work" is the one that is off-base.
You can learn more in this 2022 article from the local paper: https://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/the-springfield-resurgence-of-springfield/BBFEMFNF25GBFOCJGGN7C54BQE/
What's more, Springfield's story is not isolated or unfamiliar. The Times wrote a very similar story, even more in-depth, about Utica in 2022: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/06/03/realestate/utica-burma-refugees.html
Is it possible that the JD Vance take—that the racist lies don't matter because they're shining a spotlight on Springfield's problems—will actually wind up proving right? Sure. No one with any sense who's lived through the Trump era would dismiss that out of hand.
But Springfield's story is no surprise. It's been deeply reported, and it makes plenty of sense. We've seen stories like it before, and we'll see more like it in the future.