Daniel Marsh: Blom understood the plight and needs of refugees
Re “Former county supervisor helped preserve farmland” (Front page, Oct. 7): It was a sad thing to read about the recent passing away of former county supervisor Nick Blom. I primarily remember him as the county supervisor who represented west Modesto.
In the 1990s there was an influx of thousands of southeast Asians into west Modesto. Blom was asked for help in getting easier access to county government social services, employment training, medical services, etc. I was an active volunteer working with a local refugee agency and Blom sure did a wonderful job in most cases.
Supervisor Blom had a very special understanding of the needs of the refugees coming to America for the first time. As he often said, he arrived that way himself having been born in The Netherlands. His thinking on this issue of refugees was instinctive and gracious. He was a superior county supervisor on these matters and hard-working, too. Many owe him thanks.
Daniel Marsh, Modesto
This story was originally published October 10, 2017 at 11:09 AM with the headline "Daniel Marsh: Blom understood the plight and needs of refugees."