Pride on Parade

Stella Guzman leaned against the chain-link fence that surrounds her corner house on Van Nuys Boulevard and De Haven Avenue as she has done for every Pacoima Christmas Parade since the first one in 1967.

“Latinos, blacks, whatever, we’re all in this together,” said Guzman, 42, as she waved to parade participants as they passed her house. “We clap for everybody and we wave at everybody.”

Guzman was among the several thousand who lined the streets of Van Nuys Boulevard on Saturday morning to take in the 33rd annual parade. As its theme “Unity in the New Millennium” indicated, the event encouraged neighbors to get together in pride for an area that has suffered crime and economic hardship.

“We’re on the way up,” said Guzman as her sister Rosie Guzman and friend Irma Flores nodded in agreement.

Radio personality George Lopez of station KCMG-FM (92.3) led the procession of more than 62 entries.

Pacoima’s majority Latino community was well represented, with the colorful display of charro riders on horseback, Mexican folk-dancers and an energetic group of Aztec dancers.

The smell of onions and peppers being cooked by hot-dog vendors wafted through the air.

Parents and children packed the parade route, blowing horns and cheering for the vintage cars, school marching bands and dance groups that made their way to De Haven Avenue, where the parade ended.

Mario Matute, spokesman for the Pacoima Chamber of Commerce, credited city officials for the large number of participants in the parade, which usually attracts 40 to 50 entries. This year, the city hung banners advertising the parade on light posts.

“This is a beginning,” Matute said. “We want the [positive feelings] to continue so we can improve on issues like unemployment, crime and drugs.”

San Fernando High School student Adriana Barritos said the goodwill on the streets was a change from the norm.

“For the first time in your life, we see people get together and not fight,” said Barritos, 17, who was most impressed by the marchers representing Mexican culture. “I feel proud to be from here, and I actually feel safe.”

If Pacoima residents wanted diversity, they got it. The song “Back in the Saddle Again” was playing from a float for “Reel Cowboys,” a preservationist society for cowboy culture. Behind them came Black Velvet Dance Productions, a group of dancers and a DJ backed by a pounding hip-hop beat.

Children and adults alike were enthralled by the display of low-rider cars using hydraulic systems. Some vehicles bounced several feet in the air, and others circled while tilting to one side.

“This is Latino culture,” said Eric Cortez, looking at the cars. “We have a lot of respect for the people in this neighborhood. There’s a lot of pride being from here.”