Anti-Latino Bias

So Costa Mesa city officials are disappointed the Latinos did not turn out in force for their West Side Planning Fair (Feb. 22).

What did they expect? From their history of anti-immigrant, anti-day labor policies, which nearly got the city’s federal funds cut off, to their targeting of Latino pushcart vendors and Latina bar owners, to the hiring and promotional practices that have ensured Hispanic underrepresentation at City Hall, city officials have demonstrated a clear and consistent bias against Latinos.

Now, I guess, they will blame Hispanic residents for not participating more fully in the redevelopment meetings the city is so graciously offering to let them attend.

Did it ever occur to Costa Mesa’s power elite that perhaps they are partially to blame for the poor relations City Hall has with the Latino community?

ART ACOSTA, Costa Mesa