Waiting Latino Workers Make Laguna ‘Nervous’

Your story is an unfortunate example of biased and selective reporting.

The second full sentence refers to women being “leered at” by “dozens of hard-faced unemployed men who loiter” outside the Circle K market. This language, with one broad brush stroke unjustly characterizing a whole group of men seeking honest employment, sets the negative tone for the entire article, which then fails even to mention the most important and constructive aspect of the hearing before the Laguna Beach City Council.

As a board member of the North Laguna Community Assn., and one who lives two blocks from the area of Coast Highway where the men wait to be offered a day’s work, I have been aware of the problem and proud of the efforts that have been and are being made to find solutions. Neighbors have been justifiably concerned about the problems described in the article, but--almost without exception--they have been remarkably willing, even anxious, to find humane solutions satisfactory to the men and the people who employ them, as well as to the neighbors.

Testimony at the hearing Tuesday described the important work of a citizen committee working on the matter. The committee has held a series of meetings with representatives of the Latino workers and their families to hear their problems and let them know the needs and requirements of the community.

In addition to the suggestion that a different, more satisfactory pickup area be provided in Crystal Cove State Park, the committee has recommended that Spanish church services and more evening classes in English as a second language be offered in Laguna. In addition, they have drafted a bilingual pamphlet designed to be helpful both to the workers and the prospective employers. The City Council pledged its support and appreciation for the continuing work of the committee. None of this was even mentioned in your story.

Please let the people know that Laguna is not just nervous but is continuing to seek and find cooperative, creative and humane solutions to its local problems.

LOUIS GARFIN

Laguna Beach