Latinos Pledge to Continue Prison Fight

Charging that Gov. George Deukmejian is holding the Latino community hostage, a cross-section of Latino leaders Monday pledged to continue their fight against a proposed prison near East Los Angeles and urged the governor and Assembly Speaker Willie Brown (D-San Francisco) to drop their support for construction at the site.

More than a dozen Latino leaders--representing business, political, legal, educational, labor and community groups--spoke at a press conference as many of them prepared to make yet another trip to Sacramento today in their continuing lobbying effort to stop the prison. They said they expect the issue to be taken up by the Senate once again in a final attempt at breaking the politically charged stalemate on the prison.

While sharply criticizing the governor, they noted that the issue has served to unite Latinos. They claim that the prison issue, which has mobilized intense community opposition over the past several months, has politically solidified Latinos across the state.

“You will be seeing a lot more of us, many of the same faces,” addressing community issues in the future, said Steve Barba, president of the Boyle Heights Kiwanis Club and principal at the East Los Angeles Occupational Center.

In the 1950s, “We said never again,” added Rosemary Lopez, of the League of United Latin American Citizens, recalling the community’s unsuccessful fight to stop condemnation of predominantly Latino neighborhood in Chavez Ravine to make way for construction of Dodger Stadium. The episode remains a bitter symbol among Latinos of government projects that have been forced upon the community.

“This time we’re not going to lose. We’re going to stick together and make them listen to us,” Lopez said.

The participants all wore yellow ribbons on their lapels, which they said symbolized the community being held hostage on the prison issue.

“We’re being held captive by the Administration,” Lopez said.

Several speakers cited polls showing that Deukmejian has lost political support among Latinos recently, and they attributed this to his stance on the prison issue.

Ron Baca, an officer in the Mexican American Political Assn., said, “The Chicano community came out swinging on this battle.”

He added that Deukmejian has received a “bloody nose” and may get “knocked out” before the fight is over.

“We won’t give up,” Baca said.

Opponents maintain that they do not oppose construction of a prison in Los Angeles County, only at the proposed site because of its proximity to the heavily populated community of Boyle Heights and to 26 schools within a two-mile radius of the proposed prison. They also contend that the property, an industrial parcel just west of the Los Angeles River near Olympic Boulevard, could be put to more profitable use for the community through industrial or commercial development.

Alternate Sites

They have also insisted that an environmental impact report, listing possible alternate sites, be completed before the site is purchased. The Deukmejian Administration has steadfastly refused to compromise on these points.

Steve Kasten, president of the Lincoln Heights Chamber of Commerce and a leader in the prison fight, expressed optimism the prison bill will remain blocked in the Senate.