A recent DC Examiner piece noted that Ron Carlee, Arlington’s County Manager, recently submitted a memo to the Arlington County Board on the impact of immigration on the administration of government in Arlington. From the memo (PDF):

“Much has been reported lately of an immigration ‘problem’ in parts of Northern Virginia. There is no such ‘problem’ in Arlington County,” County Manager Ron Carlee wrote in a Sept. 11 memo. “Much of what is being said about immigration is political rhetoric during a hotly contested campaign season.”

This is exactly right. Mr. Carlee goes on to lay out the facts:

 During a time of rapidly increasing diversity, we have experienced the following:

  • The lowest crime rate in our history.
  • The most rapid increase in property values in our history – now stabilized.
  • Some of the best schools in the nation.
  • Some of the highest incomes in the nation.
  • Full employment resulting in labor shortages.
  • Extensive private commercial investment.
  • Expansion of retail and leisure activities.
  • Lowest tax rate among major jurisdictions in Northern Virginia.

I’d like to see more local governments taking the time to make similarly honest and public statements about the actual impact of immigration in those jurisdictions.