Somali leaders meet Lewiston mayor
Copyright © 2002 Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.
LEWISTON — Following an emotional private meeting Friday morning with Mayor Laurier Raymond, Somali leaders said they believe the mayor did not mean them any harm when he asked them in writing last week to slow the wave of new immigrants to the city.
At an afternoon press conference at City Hall, Abdirizak Mahboub, a representative of the Somali community, struck a congenial tone, far different from the Somali community's complaints earlier in the week that Raymond was a racist.
"Like all families, we have our misunderstandings, but families draw strength from resolving their issues," Mahboub said. He said the meeting was a "positive communication."
City Administrator Jim Bennett stood with Mahboub in the City Council chambers. "Hopefully this signifies the end of a difficult week and (the beginning of) a new chapter," he said.
Lewiston received national attention after Somali leaders revealed Raymond's letter, which asked the Somali community to "exercise some discipline" and slow the pace of new immigrants to the city. He warned the rapid influx of new immigrants was straining the city financially, physically and emotionally.
Somalis said the letter was an affront and that Raymond was an ill-informed leader who is bent toward bigotry.
Raymond did not attend the press conference, but did issue a press release saying his message had been misunderstood and he wants to work with the elders of the Somali community to assist with the process of absorbing current and future immigrants to the city.
More than 1,000 Somalis have moved to the city of 36,000 in the past 18 months. Many have come from other parts of the United States, especially the Atlanta area, looking for a small, safe city to live in.
The mayor did not apologize, calling the controversy a misunderstanding. But his written statement came close to an apology: "It is regrettable that my intentions have been so misunderstood and have hurt some people," he said. "Having met this day with the Somali elders, I understand that the message they heard was not the message I wanted to convey."
Responding to fears that his remarks would be seen as an invitation to violence against Somalis, Raymond wrote that he "cannot support any person who would cause another person harm or violate the law." He wrote that Somali residents deserve to be treated like any other in the city.
Bennett said Raymond's unavailability to the press in recent days and his absence at the press conference were "not because he's ducking the issue." He said Raymond would be available in coming days, explaining only that there are "other things going on." He said the controversy surrounding the letter has been "emotional" for the mayor.
Mahboub said the Somalis who attended the meeting were satisfied with Raymond's intentions.
"The past week has taught us many lessons," he said. "Among them is a deeper appreciation for the welcome Lewiston has extended to our people."
A coalition of advocacy groups, including the National Limited English Proficiency Task Force in Portland, said earlier this week it plans to ask the Justice Department to conduct a review of Lewiston's programs and services — from the schools to the police department — to ensure they do not discriminate on the basis of national origin.
On Friday, Somalis did not specifically address the call for a federal review. But Abdiaziz Ali, who attended the meeting with the mayor, said, "We don't have any problem with equal services (being) available. We underestimated the mayor. He is really a very nice gentleman."
The meeting came a day after Maine's economic development chief warned that the friction could create an image problem for the city.
"This does have the potential of negatively impacting the perception that these communities have worked so hard to gain," said Steven Levesque, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
Maine Attorney General Steven Rowe circulated hundreds of copies of a letter pledging this week that his office would "strive to ensure that Maine is a safe, tolerant and respectful place for everyone to live."
Rowe's office said the letters were delivered to Somali elders in Lewiston and to places in the area where Somalis gather. "I am writing to let you know how important you are to our Maine community," Rowe wrote.
Gov. Angus King also wrote a letter to the Lewiston community, speaking of the courage it takes to migrate to a new country, and how immigration enriches the community.
He also acknowledged the challenges in meeting the needs of such a large influx of people — helping them secure housing, assistance, jobs, education.
In the letter he announced that he had asked Michael Finnegan of the Maine State Housing Authority and Patricia Ryan of the Maine Human Rights Commission to lead a state-wide task force on refugee and immigration issues. The purpose, he said, is to ensure intergovernmental coordination to address the need for resources and services.