Fiscal Note
No fiscal impact.
Title
Celebrating Madison’s Immigrant Communities
Body
WHEREAS, wave after wave of immigrants seeking a better life have built our nation and brought significant social, economic, and cultural benefits to communities nationwide; and,
WHEREAS, Madison, Wisconsin, is such a community, as immigrants have enriched our city’s culture, increased our productivity and innovation, and bolstered our economy; and,
WHEREAS, despite these important and unique economic, social and cultural contributions made each wave of migration over 200 years, the role of immigrants in building our state in the past and today is often overlooked and undervalued due to ignorance, racism and xenophobia; and,
WHEREAS, it is important to reaffirm the value of immigrants because they contribute to Madison's cultural, economic and social well-being; and,
WHEREAS, at least 45,000 immigrants reside in the Madison Metro Area, comprising 7% of the population; and,
WHEREAS, over 16% of Madison area residents have at least one parent who was an immigrant; and,
WHEREAS, over 2,000 local immigrants are entrepreneurs; and,
WHEREAS, immigrants paid $352 million in local, state and federal taxes in 2014, resulting in $934 million in spending power; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison fosters a welcoming and secure environment for all its residents, regardless of who they are or where they come from; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Madison recognizes its diversity as one of its greatest strengths and appreciates the culture and history of our various communities, including immigrant communities, all of whom add to the greatness of our city; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Madison proclaimed March 21, 2017 to be Cities’ Immigration Day of Action (RES-17-00208), declaring its solidarity with its immigrant communities, and asserting its commitment to the values of diversity, inclusiveness, and equality; and,
WHEREAS, On February 27th, 2018, the Madison Common Council re...
Click here for full text