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Italy's Influx of Immigrants Is a Domestic Problem, Too Italy’s Influx of Immigrants Is a Domestic Problem, Too
(34 minutes later)
MARINA DI CAMPO, Italy — The Italian government has had only limited success in pressuring its European partners to share the burden of the 83,000 migrants who have reached its shores so far this year.MARINA DI CAMPO, Italy — The Italian government has had only limited success in pressuring its European partners to share the burden of the 83,000 migrants who have reached its shores so far this year.
Similarly, efforts to redistribute this continuing wave of boat people across Italy, away from Sicily and other heavily affected southern regions, have run into stiff resistance.Similarly, efforts to redistribute this continuing wave of boat people across Italy, away from Sicily and other heavily affected southern regions, have run into stiff resistance.
Violent clashes in Rome and the northern city of Treviso this month forced the police to evacuate migrants from local reception centers, after residents protested the “invasion” of foreigners from the Middle East and Africa. Leaders of the Northern League, an anti-immigration party, last month pressured local mayors to refuse orders from Rome to settle migrants in their communities.Violent clashes in Rome and the northern city of Treviso this month forced the police to evacuate migrants from local reception centers, after residents protested the “invasion” of foreigners from the Middle East and Africa. Leaders of the Northern League, an anti-immigration party, last month pressured local mayors to refuse orders from Rome to settle migrants in their communities.
Tuscany, a left-leaning region known for its generous social programs, is promoting its own model, offering to settle no more than 20 to 30 migrants at scattered sites. But even here in central Italy, many mayors, while rejecting the Northern League’s xenophobic rhetoric, say they simply don’t have the money or the resources to shelter the migrants. As of mid-June, more than 100 of the region’s 278 municipalities had yet to make lodgings available. According to recent figures, Tuscany has accepted some 4,000 migrants — just over 4 percent of the total, compared with about 20 percent still in Sicily.Tuscany, a left-leaning region known for its generous social programs, is promoting its own model, offering to settle no more than 20 to 30 migrants at scattered sites. But even here in central Italy, many mayors, while rejecting the Northern League’s xenophobic rhetoric, say they simply don’t have the money or the resources to shelter the migrants. As of mid-June, more than 100 of the region’s 278 municipalities had yet to make lodgings available. According to recent figures, Tuscany has accepted some 4,000 migrants — just over 4 percent of the total, compared with about 20 percent still in Sicily.
Elba, an island off the Tuscan coast with a population of 33,000 that swells during the summer, was given a reprieve from the mandatory redistribution system after the central authorities acknowledged that it was both costly and impractical to ferry migrants back and forth from the mainland.Elba, an island off the Tuscan coast with a population of 33,000 that swells during the summer, was given a reprieve from the mandatory redistribution system after the central authorities acknowledged that it was both costly and impractical to ferry migrants back and forth from the mainland.
But mayors here share the distress of mainland counterparts hard-pressed to meet the government’s demands.But mayors here share the distress of mainland counterparts hard-pressed to meet the government’s demands.
“Local governments are being asked to help out the state at a time when we can’t give services to our own citizens,” said Lorenzo Lambardi, the 29-year-old mayor of Campo nell’Elba. “It’s a case of a dog eating its own tail.”“Local governments are being asked to help out the state at a time when we can’t give services to our own citizens,” said Lorenzo Lambardi, the 29-year-old mayor of Campo nell’Elba. “It’s a case of a dog eating its own tail.”
Here on Elba, municipalities have seen their revenues shrink drastically this year under a peculiar tax redistribution system that requires them to hand over part of the receipts of local property taxes to a “solidarity fund.”Here on Elba, municipalities have seen their revenues shrink drastically this year under a peculiar tax redistribution system that requires them to hand over part of the receipts of local property taxes to a “solidarity fund.”
This year, Portoferraio, the island’s largest town, had its budget cut by 700,000 euros, about $768,000, under a complicated formula designed to help Italy meet budget requirements mandated by the European Union.This year, Portoferraio, the island’s largest town, had its budget cut by 700,000 euros, about $768,000, under a complicated formula designed to help Italy meet budget requirements mandated by the European Union.
For Campo nell’Elba, the additional loss computed this year was €500,000, a considerable sum given that its annual budget is €11 million. “It’s real madness,” Mr. Lambardi said on his Facebook page after the Italian government made its order to accept more migrants. “To ask such sacrifices is absurd.”For Campo nell’Elba, the additional loss computed this year was €500,000, a considerable sum given that its annual budget is €11 million. “It’s real madness,” Mr. Lambardi said on his Facebook page after the Italian government made its order to accept more migrants. “To ask such sacrifices is absurd.”
With diminished resources, towns on Elba are struggling to meet the demands of their own population. Portoferraio has 800 units of public housing. There are no vacancies, and 100 people are on the waiting list, said Mario Ferrari, the mayor.With diminished resources, towns on Elba are struggling to meet the demands of their own population. Portoferraio has 800 units of public housing. There are no vacancies, and 100 people are on the waiting list, said Mario Ferrari, the mayor.
According to Mr. Ferrari, Elba has a permanent population of about 300 foreigners, mostly from North Africa. More unregistered migrants arrive each summer to sell towels and trinkets on the island’s beaches, and their presence poses few problems.According to Mr. Ferrari, Elba has a permanent population of about 300 foreigners, mostly from North Africa. More unregistered migrants arrive each summer to sell towels and trinkets on the island’s beaches, and their presence poses few problems.
“When there are no problems of hygiene or public security, there is more tolerance,” Mr. Ferrari said.“When there are no problems of hygiene or public security, there is more tolerance,” Mr. Ferrari said.
But the experiences of some communities on the mainland have left “a bitter taste,” he said. He cited a recent case where migrants complained about facilities and services, including the lack of Wi-Fi access. Italy allocates money to local organizations to help take care of the migrants, which includes €2.50 a day per person for pocket money.But the experiences of some communities on the mainland have left “a bitter taste,” he said. He cited a recent case where migrants complained about facilities and services, including the lack of Wi-Fi access. Italy allocates money to local organizations to help take care of the migrants, which includes €2.50 a day per person for pocket money.
As Italy struggles to shrink its public debt — at 135 percent of gross domestic product, it is the second highest by that measure in the European Union, trailing only Greece — mayors don’t understand how they can serve their own populations and help solve Europe’s migrant crisis.As Italy struggles to shrink its public debt — at 135 percent of gross domestic product, it is the second highest by that measure in the European Union, trailing only Greece — mayors don’t understand how they can serve their own populations and help solve Europe’s migrant crisis.
“The communities should provide help,” Mr. Ferrari said, “but there is a limit.”“The communities should provide help,” Mr. Ferrari said, “but there is a limit.”