In Cleveland, a lot of folks moved on. And many of the tens of thousands of people who moved to Columbus in the most recent decade were immigrants, primarily from Somalia and Mexico. As in previous decades of economic prosperity, immigrants breathed life into America's largest cities, including Los Angeles, revitalizing old neighborhoods and filling the low-end jobs that made the economic boom sustainable. Boston's pro-immigrant campaign helped reverse a decline that had seen it lose more than a third of its population since the 1950s. Two years ago, Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino established the Office of New Bostonians, a social service agency that helps immigrants get settled.
Immigrants really help cities renew and reinvent themselves.
Baltimore's population remains slightly larger than Boston's overall, but its Asian community is a quarter the size of Boston's, its Latino community barely one-tenth. They are less likely to be on welfare, more likely to be employed and start businesses and they're willing to take on tough neighborhoods. This is about continuing to feed this capitalistic society with people who expect nothing more than an opportunity. Philadelphia is a funny place in many ways, very inbred. We're just not the place that industry or people look to for major employment opportunities.