FEAR AND REALITY
The Industrial Areas Foundation organizations in Southern California (UNO, SCOC, EVO and VOICE) have been created with a vision of people with various racial and ethnic backgrounds working together to solve common problems facing urban America. In 1984, United Neighborhoods Organization, based in East Los Angeles, and the Southern California Organizing Committee, based in South Central, signed a Covenant of Unity in the presence of 7,000 African-American and Latino leaders.
Joel Kotkin’s “Fear and Reality in the Los Angeles Melting Pot” (Nov. 5) contained an unfortunate misquote and misinterpretation of a remark by SCOC leader Fritizer Hopkins. (“The jobs that used to go to blacks are now going to Latinos.”)
The new service economy--so visible in Southern California--has created a great many new jobs. Most of these jobs are low-paying; many are filled by recent immigrants. Our organizations have demonstrated a commitment to the workers filling these new jobs. A pluralistic society, which respects the dignity of all individuals, is at the heart of our value system.
REV. WILLIAM R. JOHNSON JR., SCOC
REV. CURTIS M. PAGE, VOICE
FRITIZER HOPKINS, SCOC DR. LOUIS R. NEGRETE, UNO
MARGARITA VARGAS, EVO
Monrovia
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