I feel a little uncomfortable hosting NO citizens at Ripley, anyone else?

[preciousdove]

Barbed wire, guards, target practice, military around. I know they are OUR guys but I still wish there were some where else they could go.

My Aunt and I were trying to think of another place but housing is tight, rents are much higher than in the south, section 8 and public housing is closed. Colleges are starting up so dorms are unavailable. We just had 5,000 refugees from Asia come in. No empty hospitals or hotels.

BTW. Level 5 Typhoon Nabi expected to hit Okinawa, then Korean peninsula in the next 2 days. My sister and six babies are there. Her husband just landed in Bagdad this week for 6 months. Good thoughts and prayers might be sent that way too.

http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?article=31340§ion=104

[katinmn]

1. The good thing is that there is housing ready to go immediately

It's a camp primarily used to train National Guard and conservation officers, the former of which whose numbers were recently depleted by some 2500. It has it's own landing strip and people can be settled into private residences almost immediately. I would think after being trapped together for a week with no privacy the fresh air and private housing would be a welcome change at least for a while.

I think the plan is to get them into more permanent housing ASAP. Get the kids in school, help the adults find work.

It's not ideal but it's probably the only place in the state large enough to take that many people all at once.

I hope they don't have to stay there long, though.
http://www.dma.state.mn.us/cpripley/present/sld007.htm

[trotsky]

2. I had similar thoughts when I saw the report last night.

Damn thing looks like a jail - no doors on the toilet stalls, communal showers, etc. Better than what they've left behind, but c'mon, is this really the best the state can do?

[katinmn]

4. Cragun's Resort. But I don't see the govt offering to pick

up the tab for the place.

If I were the pretzeledent, I would give the evacuees Cragun's.

[loveable liberal]

3. Fort Snelling.

has beautiful, huge brick houses falling a part, a small hospital also in a state of disrepair, barracks and a church. Not to mention an empty, huge former Bureau of Mines building. This site should be kept up for just such a purpose such as this and for housing immigrants. The Ellis Island of the North! What say you??!!