Testimony / ONE PERSON’S STORY ABOUT COMMUNITY ACTION : ‘I Know What We Need Because I’m Poor’

I got married when I was 18 and dedicated my life to my kids. I also worked in factories, offices and, for three years, as a cafeteria worker.

But when I saw my kids growing up in this (housing) development, with all of its problems, I started to get involved in the community--to help pull kids out of the streets and not (let them get) involved in gangs.

Thank God, I succeeded with my kids because they never had problems with the law. They go to school. I taught them to respect people, respect properties.

I got involved in the community because I want change--I don’t want to see kids dropping out of school, getting in gangs and selling dope. The kids have parents, but the parents don’t realize their kids don’t go to school; parents don’t push them to go back to school.

About three or four years ago, I began helping Councilman Richard Alatorre’s office pass out toys to kids at Christmas. Alatorre recommended me to the mayor. Three days later, they called me from City Hall and asked if I would accept the position on the Affordable (Housing) Commission. I didn’t think twice--I said, “Yes.”

But I didn’t know the responsibility--I thought this kind of commission (position) was an easy job. It is not, it’s hard. But I’m a fighting person, I’m not a quitter. I’m trying to learn--reading all the information, going to the library to find out about “affordable housing.” Every time I go to a meeting, something new comes up and I keep it in my mind--I don’t want to fail.

Alatorre is a busy person, but he said to call him about any problem or any question. And, yes, every time I have any questions I call him and he answers my calls right away.

I think (City Hall) chose me because I am from a low-income community and--I’m not 100% sure--but I think this is the first time they’ve appointed somebody from the low-income community. Nobody knows the problems like me because I’m here all the time. I know what we need because I’m in the same condition--I’m poor.

What I would like to see are changes. We want (the city) to listen to us and see what we need and consider that we are people too. No matter what color, no matter what religion, we are all people.

I want something different (than Aliso Village.) I would like to feel proud to say I worked hard for something. I think it’s not impossible--it’s my dream and I think that everybody dreams like me. This is not just to benefit myself, it’s to benefit everybody. There’s nothing wrong with Aliso Village, but everybody thinks that because we live in a housing project, we are all the same--ignorant or criminal.

It’s not true. We are hard-working people, but we have not been lucky. We want to make people realize that we are working hard because we want to succeed, we want something better, we want to live in a better community and see our kids learning and playing without any fear. There’s nothing wrong with Aliso Village, but we want something (that is) ours. We don’t want to pay rent for the rest of our lives. I’m fighting because I want something (that’s) mine--and then (for) my kids (to) feel proud of me. That’s what I want.

If we all come together, the city, the government, will listen to us. But, unfortunately, nobody wants to fight, they don’t want to come to meetings, they don’t want to know anything. People in the community need to get together, to raise our voices, to keep fighting and fighting every day. Sooner or later, (the city) is going to get tired and listen to the people and say, “Yes, you are going to receive the help you are asking for.”

(Richard Riordan) is one of the best mayors we have ever had. My expectation from him is to listen to us and consider that we need more affordable housing. There are a lot of people who make $200 or $250 a week and pay $800, $700 a month in rent with three, four, five kids. It’s hard to survive with low income. It’s hard. That’s why I’m fighting.

(I want the mayor) to lower the rents, to find more places to construct more affordable housing and to relocate people. I don’t have many plans because I want to think more about what I’m going to say and do. I want to make my plans first. It’s not easy to say, “This is what I want and this is what I want to do.” There are a lot of people who promise things, then don’t do it. I don’t want to promise anything because I don’t want to fail the people.

I don’t criticize the mayor, I don’t criticize the government. I criticize people because they don’t get together to fight. The government won’t come to us, we have to go to the government. We need to let them know what’s going on.

My expectation is not only for the people in Aliso Village, but for everybody who lives under the same or worse conditions. We’re lucky to have a roof (over our heads) and know when you finish your job you have a place to sleep.

There are a lot of people who live on the street and they need a decent place to sleep. A lot of people live under the bridge, under the freeway, on the street. It’s pretty bad--go to Hollywood, Santa Monica, (it’s) the same thing. No jobs, people losing their jobs, losing their houses.

It’s got to change--if we get together. (The city) hasn’t done enough; they need to come and see what we need.

I invite the President, the mayor, everybody in those positions in the government to come and see what we need. They need to come down and see our conditions.

I’m going to fight for this and I don’t want to fail. I’m going to succeed.