Letter: Bob Parks got it right

I found it interesting how the Tri-City community seemed to be shocked by Councilman Parks’ remarks. Thanks Bob, it needed to be said. I believe I stand with the majority of our multicultural community when I say we don’t welcome illegal immigrants of any race to the Tri-Cities as permanent visitors or residents. There is a legal way to go about visiting and putting roots down in the Tri-Cities.

However, there is a community development part to the equation. The legal property owners and renters of our community pay property taxes (and all that entails) and as such obtain an entry into the administrative record of the community of choice and all the associated rights and privileges. These rights and privileges cost the taxpayers a considerable amount of money. And it is the duty and responsibility of our elected representatives to insure that those funds are appropriately allocated and used for the benefit of the ratepayers.

I believe we are an all-American community! We are a diverse community of ethnic, racial, and religious subgroups, to name only a few! Those of us who are here legally can proudly say we are, first and foremost, American.

This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 2:40 PM with the headline "Letter: Bob Parks got it right."