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We were appalled to read Ely Mayor Ross Petersen’s column (Sept 5). “As we looked out the windows of the council chambers and watched the Hispanic men reroofing...I knew what the first question …
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We were appalled to read Ely Mayor Ross Petersen’s column (Sept 5). “As we looked out the windows of the council chambers and watched the Hispanic men reroofing...I knew what the first question was going to be. ‘I wonder what part of Ely those guys are from.”
We have children of color. Although not born in Ely, they attend Ely schools. They are citizens of the United States. We own homes here. We pay taxes. We buy locally. Our children participate in school athletics and activities. We contribute time and money to the community. I would challenge Mayor Petersen to explain how our children are not “from Ely”.
Equally disappointing is the Ely City Council’s silence on Mayor Petersen’s comments. Inherent in silence is complicity.
Although not born here, we’d like to think we’re “from Ely”. And we enjoy our right to vote.
Julie Houle, MD
James Montana, MD
Ely, Minn.