Thread: Latino Bloc Has Far To Go

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... home-local
May 29, 2005

Latino Bloc Has Far to Go

For myriad reasons, L.A.'s largest ethnic group hasn't harnessed its full political power.
By Sam Quinones, Times Staff Writer


You might expect city politics to engross Melchor Moreno and his family.

As owners of La Chispa de Oro, a small restaurant on Los Angeles' Eastside, they depend heavily on municipal services: garbage collection; street parking; economic development; graffiti and crime prevention.

And America has given Moreno, who emigrated from Mexico 30 years ago, a middle-class life he probably couldn't have achieved in his homeland. He is impressed with this country's political system and its fairness.

"I tell everyone," said Moreno, 63, "you have to vote."

Yet he hasn't become a naturalized citizen, though he is eligible, nor has his wife. Their son Demetrio, 21, is a citizen but did not go to the polls in this month's mayoral election. Another son, Melchor Jr., 26, and a daughter, Claudia, 22, cast their ballots for winner Antonio Villaraigosa.

In many ways, the Morenos represent the slow, fitful political evolution among Latinos in Los Angeles.

Latinos are a growing political force: Voter registration has risen steadily over the last decade, and turnout in the mayoral runoff election was higher than ever. A Newsweek cover story touted Villaraigosa's victory as proof that "Latinos are making their mark on politics as never before."

But their political punch in Los Angeles is not nearly what it could be.

"There's a silent city out there," said Mike Madrid, public affairs director for the League of California Cities and a former political consultant on Latino voting patterns. "It's enormous."

The 1.8 million Latinos in Los Angeles make up nearly half the city's population. Yet they amount to only a quarter of the city's registered voters.

Villaraigosa, the first Latino mayor in modern L.A. history, received just 100,000 votes from Latino supporters, according to exit polls. He could nearly have unseated Mayor James K. Hahn without them.

Although many Latinos cannot vote because they are here illegally, about half a million â€â€

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but illegals CAN'T VOTE!!

That is election fraud.....

No wonder the city is Silent....they're all illegal.

Geez....

ILLEGALS CAN'T VOTE?? Sorrrrrry.........as long as they have a license, they'll be able to VOTE in most places! Who checks?

2ndamendsis--Voila!! You are so right....hey, MAYBE that's why the National Council of La Raza initiated a National Agenda to get them driver's licenses???? So they could:

1) steal our jobs

2) get to the jobs they stole on time

3) AND VOTE ILLEGALLY

WHERE IS THE FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION??? ANYBODY HOME???

EXACTLY!! Simple, very simple!!

Through it all, he always intended to return to Mexico. "All of us think that way," he said of Mexican immigrants, "all of us."

This was the line that jumped out at me. These people when it comes down to it really don't want to be here if they had a choice. They only come to the U.S. for money and the freebies. They do not have a desire to become citizens or part of the country like many other immigrants. Even when given the chance to become a legal citizen some of them don't bother. Not the kind of people we really need or should want in our country. I love legal immigrants that desire to become American citizens with all their heart, and truly want to make this their home. It just shows how illegal immigration is not healthy for the country's future since they do not love it or respect it.

WE don't want them to become citizens. We have enough Citizens. We can't feed and sustain all of our existing American citizens. 1 American Child out of every 4 lives in dire poverty in almost every state in the country. Here in my county it's almost 28% higher than the national average.

25% of American Children live in POVERTY!

And the stupid Catholic Bishops want us to incorporate millions of poor Mexicans into our society??

For what purpose? To increase the 25% to 40%??

There is no understanding proponents of pro-immigration other than to just accept the fact that they are not working in the best of the American People. Therefore, they can not bet trusted and must be treated as irrelevant, which they really are when you get right down to it.

Any politician, any government agency, any not for profit, any lawyer, any corporation wanting to help foreign nationals reach a "better life" is taking the "better life" that belongs to an American and trying to "sell it". Well, these lives aren't for sale. That isn't what American elected them to do' it's not why we buy their products; it's not why we allow tax exempt status for charities and religious organizations.

They have violated both the law and the trust of the American People.

THROW THE BUMS OUT!!