THE proposed City of Sanctuary idea, while coming from the best of humanitarian intentions, has already polarised opinion and needs more rational thought.

Would people come here if they knew there was a vociferous minority, already emailing racist comments and who would make their stay here unpleasant?

Why not let intended newcomers, without the glare of positive attraction, just come here without any fanfare and integrate as any indigenous person would do? Let’s remember that many hundreds of years after the genocide that happened at Clifford’s Tower, very few Jews even now, will visit or live in York.

People will get on better with each other without any state or council interference.

Geoff Robb, Hunters Close, Dunnington, York.