Rep. Maxine Waters

I attended a town meeting at Washington High School on Sept. 12 called by Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles). I live in an adjacent congressional district and went to learn what is happening in and for South-Central Los Angeles 4 1/2 months after the spring uprising. I was inspired and moved by the open dialogue and can-do orientation of the gathering.

At this time when pundits and polls tell us government--Congress in particular--is widely seen as part of the problem, Maxine Waters is clearly part of the solution. She brought together a couple of dozen presenters--from the Employment Development Department to the First AME Church, from “City of Quartz” author Mike Davis to young keepers of the gang truce--and an audience of a few hundred. Audience members and panelists alike expressed their discontents, but the focus was on healing and recovery.

When a government representative would mention an available program--JTPA, Chapter 8, PSE, etc.--Ms. Waters would ask for a show of hands, “How many in the audience have heard of this program? How many know someone who has applied? Someone who’s been helped?” Two points were made--positive programs do exist and few people are aware of them. She repeatedly emphasized that both citizens and government have got to get to know each other better, and learn to work together.

I got a glimpse of democracy struggling to fulfill its promise in a world never imagined by the people of vision who founded this country. The obstacles to its working are enormous, but Maxine Waters and my fellow citizens at Washington High School are a source of hope.

TERRENCE E. McNALLY

Los Angeles