Welcoming Migrants to Lowell
For Immediate Release: September 17, 2023
Re: Welcoming Migrants to Lowell
By: Bobby Tugbiyele, Lowell City Council At-Large Candidate
As a community whose culture has evolved to become more welcoming and inclusive, we firmly believe that our diversity is our greatest strength. In Lowell, we welcome and celebrate immigrants and culture in our community with every flag raising, festival, and learning opportunity. Immigrants and their children have not only become our neighbors and friends here in Lowell and in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but they have also gone on to become entrepreneurs, CEOs, chiefs of police, city managers, mayors, school superintendents, and university chancellors. When we are more inclusive, we teach our children love, empathy, and understanding.
For some, the idea of a new wave of migrants coming to our community is a cause for alarm or fear. Others have raised concerns about financial burdens on a system and resources that already feels strained and at times, insufficient. I say to these residents that we must never forget that Lowell is a strong and resilient city. I believe that the strength of our city is inextricably linked to how well we prioritize and invest into our economic assets as well as the health and wellness of all residents. Having a functioning year-round hotel is a vital anchor to the success of our downtown but we must also address the housing crisis and rising rents that are affecting so many individuals and families in our city. This month’s Merrimack Valley Housing Report, published by UMass Lowell’s Institute of Housing Sustainability and the Middlesex Registry of Deeds, reveals alarming trends between the housing market and household income that we, as a community, cannot afford to ignore.
“In the city of Lowell, for instance, home values witnessed a remarkable surge of 60%, increasing from $279,180 to a staggering $410,000 during this eight-year period. Conversely, median household income in Lowell saw a far more modest uptick of only 12%...This growing disparity between housing costs and income levels carries profound implications for the residents throughout the Merrimack Valley region and has broader ramifications for the housing market. It raises concerns about housing affordability, access to homeownership, and the overall economic well-being of individuals and families in these communities.”
As leaders, we have a critical responsibility to build a city where any individual, family or business owner who calls Lowell home can survive and, most importantly, thrive. Available housing, workforce and jobs are necessary for this to happen. So, let us seize any and all opportunities for stronger collaboration, communication and advocacy between local officials, policymakers, nonprofits, residents, and the business community to address these issues. Our history in Lowell shows that when needed, we can shift our goals and problem-solve to prosper. This is exactly what our community needs and deserves to bridge Lowell forward.
As a Downtown resident for almost 15 years, the pang of disappointment, sadness, and frustration any time a business closes, is all too familiar. Yet I still remain optimistic that by bringing together all stakeholders, we will find a way. And we can do so without ostracizing newcomers who could very well be future workers, business owners, homeowners, educators, and leaders within our community. Maya Angelou once said, “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.” Whether you are a life-long resident or a newcomer, let us all work collectively and intentionally to create the best Lowell possible. This is the way we have always done it and now is no different.