WINONA, Minn. – The City Council voted 4-3 to welcome Afghan refugee settlers who were evacuated from Kabul in a humanitarian airlift. The refugees have been at Fort McCoy for six weeks for a resettlement orientation. At-large Council member Michelle Alexander, who led the opposition, called the welcome empty and meaningless. “We can’t actually help them. We don’t have housing. We don’t have financial funding or resources,” Alexander said. “This should be partnered with organizations that can actually help us do something besides just sending a letter.” Speaking for the majority, Pam Eyden of the downtown Third Ward said: “This letter by itself is important.” Housing and other services are issues for another day, Eyden said. George Borzkowski, from the East End, called the resolution redundant: ”It would just add another layer of governance.” The third negative vote was from at-large Council member Aaron RepiNski. He offered a confused explanatIOn: ““Let’s come back to the table with something of merit more so than just ‘come on in,’ because everybody already knows that. I mean I’m the most welcoming person here probably, so that’s where I stand.” How they voted:
To welcome
Pam Eyden, Third Ward (core city)
Eileen Moeller, Second Ward (West Side)
Scott Sherman, mayor
Steve Young, First Ward (West End and Gilmore Valley)
Against
Michelle Alexander, at large
George Borzyskowski, Fourth Ward (East End)
Aaron Repinski, at large