Communities like mine need immigrates for jobs
By: Ed Weibrecht
YourTurn
Guest columnist
..... As the owner of the Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa in Lake Placid, New York, I have had the privilege of being part of a community that embodies the best of America's welcoming spirit. while our town is often associated with the grandeur of the Olympics and the iconic 1980 "Miracle of Ice," those of us whew live here know that Lake Placid's true magic lies in its people - including those who have journeyed from across the globe to make this community their home.
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Since 1977, many family has owned and operated the Mirror Lake Inn. My own story is rooted in immigration. My family fled political turmoil in eastern Germany before World War I, eventually finding a new beginning just outside New York city. Like so many, our journey to Lake Placid was part of a broader American story - one of perseverance, opportunity and the promise of a better life.
..... "Ive been proud to see my family become part of the fabric of this special place, Lake Placid - which hosted the Olympics in 1980 and bore witness to the historic "Miracle on Ice" victory of the American hockey team over the Soviet Union. Our family journey in this country has come full circle, as my son Andrew Weibrecht represented the United States as an Olympic skier and brought two medals back home.
..... Andrew now manages our family inn, and we see the same promise of America tat has brought Venezuelan immigrates to our community.
Our employees are family
..... Over the decades, we have learned an enduring truth: Immigrants are the lifeblood of our local economy and culture. Today, [03/21/2025] more than 20% of our staff are immigrates, many of whom hold Temporary Protected Status visas.
..... These individual have not only contributed to the success of the Mirror Lake Inn but have also become integral members of our community. These are hardworking individuals who've escaped violence and hardship in search of safety and stability.
..... At our inn, which dates to the mid-1020s, immigrates are more than employees - they are family, working alongside us to keep our doors open, serve our guests and make sure that the Mirror lake Inn is ready for its next century of operation.
..... Today, [03/21/2025] however, their future is under threat.
.... The Trump administration's recent decision to revoke TPS for Venezuelans risks turning their lives upside down, stripping them of stability and thrusting them back into uncertainly. this decision could force thousands of families p many of whom have lived and worked in the Unites States for years - into the shadows, or back into horrific conditions of extreme poverty or persecution.
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For Lake Placid, an for rural America, this is nothing short of a crisis.
We need immigrants
..... We are already grappling with labor shortages across nearly every sector: at ins, like ours, farms, hospitals and schools.
..... As the U.S. chamber of Commerce reported last month: [02/2025] "right now, the latest data shows that we have 8 million job openings in the U.S. but only 6.8 million unemployed workers."
..... Immigrates and newcomers have thankfully stepped into this void.
..... Instead of "taking" jobs and public resources, they are "giving their work and energies to our communities. They are not just filling jobs and paying taxes, they are helping build the future of our towns. They are buying homes, enrolling their children in our schools and contributing to our neighborhoods.
..... Without these new arrival, our businesses, our towns and our communities will suffer, and I urge our politicians to reverse the harmful TPS revocation and restore TPS protections.
..... But my call today [03/21/2025] is to go one step further.
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What we - as rural Americans and small business owners - rally need is for our federal government to enact immigration policies that provide stability for these families, recognize their contributions, and give them the dignity and safety they seek.
..... I know that's not the tenor of the conversation in Washington, D.C. So I invite our elected leaders to come to Lake Placid, to meet the workers who greet our guests, prepare meals and keep our Mirror Lake Inn running smoothly.
..... Their stories, their spirit and their unshakable belief in the American dream are powerful reminders of what is at stake - not just for them, but for all of us.
..... America's strength lies in its diversity and its tradition of welcoming those in need. It is a tradition that has shaped the story of the Weibrechts, my business and my community. It is a tradition I'm ready to fight for - and it is one that must guide our nation;s policies, today [03/21/2025] and in the future.
..... Ed Weibrecht, a Saddle Brook [NJ] native, is the owner adn operator of teh Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa in Lake Placid, New York.