Thread: How clout of Latinos will shape our future

Published: 12.09.2007

How clout of Latinos will shape our future
Tucson may be half-Hispanic by 2015, and influence grows
ARIZONA DAILY STAR
The presence of Latinos in Tucson is obvious almost everywhere, from the thump of banda beats from car stereos to the city's nickname, the Old Pueblo.
Latinos already are integral to Tucson politics, education, business and social life — and if changing ethnic demographics continue, they most likely will become even more influential.
Fueled by higher birthrates, domestic and international migration and longer life expectancies, Tucson's population is expected to be 50 percent Latino by 2015, the U.S. Census reports.
Tucson's youth already are familiar with the community they'll inherit and may not even notice the demographic shift. How local institutions will adapt to a Latino majority is less clear. A large Latino population doesn't automatically mean greater political power or business influence, though roots seem to have taken hold.
Nationally, there's been a rise in anti-Latino sentiment and hate crimes against Latinos, although hate crimes in Tucson are rare. And local students and some academics are quick to point out that as the Latino population continues to grow, legislation and political action perceived as anti-Latino will be met with community opposition.Read more about how Tucson's changing ethnic demographics will affect us all. Page A4
Find out more about the poll and read more stories about Pima County's growth in the Star's Pima County at One Million series at go.azstarnet.com/onemillion.
Related link:
Read more about Pima County's changing ehtnic demographics and the entire Pima County at One Million series.
Some thoughts on race
The Arizona Daily Star asked Tucson teens and young adults their thoughts on race. We invited students in public, private and charter schools as well as recent grads to answer 20 questions. Here are some of their thoughts. Read more on A6.
• Is race important?
No: 59% Yes: 41%
• Have you dated outside of your race?
Yes: 62% No: 38%
• Would you marry outside your race?
Yes: 80% No: 20%
• Is racial profiling a helpful tool for police?
No: 60% Yes: 40%
• Would you vote for a minority presidential candidate?
Yes: 86% No: 14%
How to contact the reporters
• George B. Sánchez at 573-4195 or at gsanchez@azstarnet.com
• Nathan Olivarez-Giles at 307-0579 or nolivarezgiles@azstarnet.com
• Nicole Santa Cruz is a University of Arizona student apprenticing at the Star. Contact her at 807-8012 or at starapprentice@azstarnet.com
• Gabriela Rico at 573-4232 or at grico@azstarnet.com.

http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/215444

If CA is any indication on how things will go in the future when Mexicans...err, Latinos gain political power, well, here's what AZ and the rest of the country can expect. Third world politics, Mexico style, coming to city near you.


Our Mexican Future

South Gate, California, is a town of 98,000 about 12 miles southeast of Los Angeles. It is 92 percent Hispanic, and its politics have taken a distinctly Mexican turn. Until January 28, city treasurer Albert Robles was the real power in town, and he and his pals seemed intent on lining their pockets and doing favors for friends. Mr. Robles is a colorful figure who, last year, stood trial for telling a California state senator he would rape her and kill her husband, and also for threatening to blow the brains out of a state assemblyman. His lawyer argued that threats were just politics as usual in South Gate, and Mr. Robles got off with a hung jury. His cronies on the city council approved more than $1 million in city money for his defense, but he now faces new assault and weapons charges.

During Mr. Robles’s tenure, the city council voted itself a 2,000 percent raise, and stripped the elected city clerk of most of her duties when she refused to act as a rubber stamp. The council also hired a convicted embezzler as a litigation specialist, as well as a police officer who was once fired for tipping off drug dealers about raids. The FBI is looking into a shady deal whereby the city council tried to channel $4 million in federal money to a Robles crony, ostensibly to build a recycling plant. The Robles crew has managed to work its way through an $8 million city reserve fund, and the treasury is now empty.

The city’s two police unions, which call the current council a bunch of “klepto-crats,â€

Wasn't it Calderon who said, "Wherever there is a Mexican, there is Mexico"?

Couldn't be more true in South Gate, California.