Latinos can air West Side concerns

Susan McCormack

WEST SIDE -- The Latino Advisory Council is planning several ‘living

room’ meetings next week to give Latinos an opportunity to have their

opinions included in the city’s West Side revitalization plan.

Bill Turpit, a member of the group, said he expects more than 100

residents to participate in the meetings. The group is planning to

compile a recommendation to present to the City Council before the draft

plan is completed as planned in December.

Turpit said the group has been working to train volunteers to lead the

discussions since Oct. 20, when a community meeting held on the subject

attracted nearly 100 West Side residents. Many of the participants were

Spanish-speaking and had not attended previous meetings.

“People were commenting on how they were not aware of [the plan],” said

Magdalena Hernandez, who is helping to coordinate the living room

meetings.

“That was the wake-up call,” Turpit agreed.

Hernandez said about 10 volunteers will be hosting one-hour discussions

in their homes next week. The volunteers will use “word-of-mouth” to

inform their neighbors and friends of the meetings.

Concerns vary among the residents, Hernandez said.

“There are many concerns about traffic,” Hernandez said, adding that the

planned narrowing of 17th Street is a major issue.

Turpit said housing has also come up as a key concern.

“[The plan] does not contain significant references to housing issues,”

he said.

Public meetings and workshops have been held throughout the last year,

but recently the Latino and business communities have complained that

they haven’t had enough opportunity for input.

Ed Fawcett, president of the Chamber of Commerce, said business leaders

have since met and are working to formulate questions and concerns to

present to the city at a meeting Nov. 29.

“They’re protecting their businesses,” Fawcett said about the owners. “A

lot of people that are making their opinions known have nothing to do

with the property [on the West Side].”

Anyone interested in attending one of the living room meetings may call

Hernandez at (949) 574-3972.