Latino Issues Addressed at Town Meeting

Noting the growing political and economic power of Latinos in Orange County, five community leaders on Thursday night led a town hall meeting that attracted about 500 people discussing issues facing Latinos.

Dozens of people lined up for two hours to pose pointed questions to panelists at the Latino Community Townhall, sponsored by Cal State Fullerton, on issues from bilingual education to school vouchers. The opinions of participants were as various as those in the community at large.

“Latinos are just like anybody else,” said Jess Araujo, an attorney and founder of the Latino American Voters Assn. “We have our own interests and we’re not going to ever be able to agree on every issue--sometimes not even in our own families.”

Araujo was joined on the panel by accountant Robert Miranda, businessman and community activist Amin David, Cal State Fullerton student Janette Hyder, and Sister Carmen Sarati of the Sisters of St. Joseph. It was moderated by Monica Lozano, executive editor of La Opinion.

Latinos now make up more than 25% of the Orange County population. In elementary schools, that percentage jumps to 37%. Latino-owned businesses are growing rapidly across the country, especially in California, where the number of those businesses have grown by 500% in the last five years, according to Miranda. And yet, 47% of Orange County Latinos do not finish high school, according to Cal State Fullerton figures.

While the panel discussed these issues, they also gave the media poor grades for too often focusing on the negative when covering Latinos. Panelists added that it’s up to Latinos themselves to change their image.

“We need to be more active in getting the word out that we’re a positive influence in California,” Miranda said.

Panelists also said more money should be spent on recreational facilities, music programs, and other alternatives to gang involvement for Latino youths.

“We need to start building parks, something positive that our kids can go to [such as] museums and recreational facilities instead of parking lots,” said Hyder, also a Latino student leader at Cal State Fullerton. ‘The community needs to put pressure on our elected officials.”

In a similar vein, Araujo said laws can work against Latinos, but they also can be changed.

“As onerous and oppressive as the law can be, we can use it to our advantage,” he said. “As long as our values are in the right place, we can make our laws reflect them.”