Quantcast
Channel: WhichWayNC » Siler City
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 5

Q & A with the voices of Siler City

0
0

There are many voices in the debate on immigration – even within a town of less than 8,000 people. As WhichWayNC explored Siler City, different opinions arose in the discussion on immigration, its impact and the town’s past, present and future.

 

How has Siler City changed in the last 20 years?

“Siler City was a much more thriving town up until three or four years ago. While it was never a booming metropolis, there were still a lot of places to work. We had five major chicken companies in Siler City, and they did employ a lot of the immigrant population. And then one by one they all left Siler City. And then other things started closing down too. Now it is trying to rebirth itself. We are trying to make downtown a place of interest. And as you know, that’s a very difficult thing to do because when everything closes at 5 p.m.” — Yvonne Stegenga, owner of Heartfriends Inn Bed and Breakfast

“I think people are people. I think you find that people have different opinions and ideas, see things differently. I’m sure that there were people in our community that did not welcome the immigration. But whatever you do you’re going to have opponents. But I would say a lot of our citizens opened their hearts and said you know, these are our new neighbors.” — Joel Brower, town manager of Siler City

 

How would you describe Siler City? What was your first reaction when coming here?

“Boring. You know it’s like in the cartoons. ‘What you doing?’ ‘I’m watching the growing grass.’” — Orlando, upholsterer at Lazar Industries

“When I first came in, at first [the locals] seemed kind of rude. But then I came to learn that they’re not rude, they’re just hard to get into. They were raised that way. And they’re actually good people, but they were farm-raised. It’s just being raised tough. But they’re really nice people once you get to know them and they get to know you.” — Christian Ramirez, manager of Compadres Mexican Restaurant

“The people here are nice. We have good days and bad days, but the people here are really humble so it’s good. It’s tiny and there’s really nothing to do here, but if you just want a quiet town to settle down in Siler City would be a good place.” — Margarita Basilio, hairstylist and student

 

Have gangs been a problem with the rising Latino population?

“The Hispanic population is half of the population, so if things wasn’t going pretty good, all hell would be breaking loose. Some people want to paint us as having some gangs and different things, but I beg to differ. Do we have some problems? Yes. Do we have some gang members? Yes. But we ain’t been overrun. This is a safe town.” — Gary Tyson, police chief of Siler City

“Before I got here there was a lot of Hispanics and that brought a lot of violence because of gangs. And that’s what concerns me. I would take [the presence of gangs] as a fact. I come from a big city in Mexico and I know gangs.” — Christian Ramirez, manager at Compadres Mexican Restaurant

“I don’t see it as active. You may have someone draw on the side of the car wash or something.” — Charles Johnson, mayor of Siler City

“Nine years ago, we had an issue with some kids when 18th Street got real big for a short time, where kids were breaking into houses. Any charge I could get on them I would hit them with it. As they say when you go hunting for a flock of quail, I took one at a time. I’d find one at a time and take them down. They kind of just faded away, most of the crimes that they did in Siler City as a gang was graffiti and breaking and entering. They weren’t so well organized other than the fact that they hung out together. Now we mainly have Southside 13 and Crips. A rumor started four years ago that I was going to do an ICE round up with them and deport them, and their activity really stopped after that rumor got out — like night and day, like someone turned a switch. What we have now is a handful of younger siblings that’s about the extent of the gang problem.” — Raymond Barrios, special operations deputy with the Chatham County Sheriff

 

What is the future of Siler City? Was there a mass exodus with the closing of the poultry plants?

“I would consider Siler City a bedroom community. People only sleep here. They work somewhere else, if they’re still here.” — Neal Kight, chaplain for police department and pastor at Church of God

“Many people moved to other cities to find work, and now business in the city has gone down. Some can’t write anything and they have to do something manual. If they stay here they don’t find any jobs. It’s important to learn English (to get by).” — Willfredo Calderon, worker at El Centro Tienda

“There was thinking that we were going to see an exodus, but it’s my understanding from the school system that the enrollment numbers have held steady. So that would tell you, I think, that there may be some moving, but it’s not a massive thing.” — Joel Brower, town manager of Siler City

“I think as time passes, I think people do become more watered down as far as their prejudices are concerned. So I feel that Siler City did actually experience some of that watering down effect where they’re not so black or white. There are a million shades of gray in between black and white. And I think more people really did start thinking in shades of gray rather than simply black or simply white.” — Yvonne Stegenga, owner of Heartfriends Inn Bed and Breakfast

 

What was your reaction to Obama’s deportation policy announcement?

“I was happy because I’ve been here since I was nine and I don’t really remember Mexico. I didn’t really have a choice to come here, my parents pretty much just packed me in the little luggage. I consider this my home even though I’m an immigrant. It’s really hard paying out of state tuition, even at a community college I pay about $1,000 per class. I work here everyday, but I don’t really see my money because it all goes toward school and tuition. I see my path a little bit brighter now.” — Margarita Basilio, hairstylist and student

“I think President Obama’s announcement is a step forward on this, trying to get a little amnesty there. I hope the DREAM Act is next. I feel like that’s important. These kids are graduating from high school with nowhere to go.” — Charles Johnson, mayor of Siler City


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 5

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images