Mayor’s ‘Vision’ Ignores Latinos
* Mayor Peter Buffa is planning to meet with the Latino Leadership Council to discuss his “vision of a revitalized west side” (May 19). Buffa’s “vision” is one that includes no Hispanics.
The city’s Redevelopment Agency has consistently avoided targeting money in Hispanic areas of the city, hoping they will deteriorate to such an extent that the only way these blighted sections of town can be salvaged is to be razed by Buffa’s country club developer pals. As they always do, the city will rezone, and Hispanic residences and businesses will make way for new expensive homes and generic shopping centers.
Although Hispanics make up 33% of the city’s population, they are less than 5% of the work force in City Hall. In the last 20 years, there has never been a Latino director and no Latinos have ever been promoted to a managerial position.
Why is Buffa even bothering to “discuss” his plans for the west side when it’s pretty clear that he already knows what he wants?
ART ACOSTA
Costa Mesa
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