I had heard that weekly meal plans were being offered by Latino restaurants and this sign reminded me that there are apparently many individuals living here who don't have cooking facilities of their own and need these plans.The 2010 census revealed a huge increase in the number of Latinos in Plainfield and authorities are more frequently bringing up the need to engage them in decision-making on the city's future. But outside of a handful of Latino/Latina leaders who make the news, who speaks for the many families and single men who live here but do not see Plainfield as their hometown? Their hearts are elsewhere, as one can see by recent political signs downtown and on cars for a candidate in the Peruvian presidential election. If only the Latino community at large could embrace local issues the way they do those in their homelands, the city might have made its 50,000 population goal or had larger support for saving Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center, for example.
Among Rutgers School of Business findings on economic development discussed at a recent community forum, a major point was the need to get Latinos involved: "Any plan for economic resurgence in Plainfield must harness the people power and culture of the Latino community now emerging as a demographic force."
Actually, there are many cultures within the Latino community that is discerned as monolithic by outsiders, but has members from dozens of homelands in Central and South America. One only has to look at the array of avocados in the Twin City supermarket to see that there are nuances of preferences for foods, let alone broad ideological differences.
The outcome of any work generated by a process to improve the city's economy and quality of life by 2021 will depend in large part on how well this burgeoning minority is included. Sure, many will eventually just go home and others will move out of Plainfield to the surrounding suburbs. Perhaps it will be just as hard to interest the Latino population here in school board and municipal elections as it is to get the majority of current registered voters to the polls. But the work of engagement has to start.
Thousands of Latinos attended the July 4 weekend festival downtown, where the flags of many nations flew along with Old Glory. If someone had taken a survey or poll on what they know or like about Plainfield, what would the answers be? Would any be willing to help take on the city's challenges or promote the city to friends and family as a good place to live? Did the people of other cultures who attended take away any sense of understanding or togetherness with Latinos?
These questions will become increasingly important in this second decade of the 21st century in Plainfield. The city can no longer rely on a few self-appointed or politically hand-picked speakers for the Latino community, but must involve many more Latinos in the Rutgers School of Business report's recommended "broad-gauged assessment that produces a realistic strategy for the municipality."
Food for thought?
--Bernice
Who speaks for the Black community in Plainfield? Who speaks for the white community in Plainfield?
ReplyDeleteBernice says "The city can no longer rely on a few self-appointed or politically hand-picked speakers for the Latino community"
ReplyDeleteI find this comment highly offensive to the Latino community in Plainfield. The Latino community in Plainfield has many leaders. There are business leaders, cultural leaders, religious leaders, leaders of youth and adult sports activities. Your definition of a leader is somebody that is visible to you. Most of these leaders are able to operate successfully within their own target audiences. When they need to access city government or interact with te broader community, they tend to approach those people that they know have those established relationships. Thereof no one go-to person, but several. As the Latino community in Plainfield continues to grow, more cross-over leaders will emerge. The city and school government could accelerate this growth by hiring more Latinos into visible positions of authority. Unil then, we will have to wait for the natural rate of growth to take place.
I think that 12.09 was so busy taking offense that she missed the point which is exactly that there are but a few "go-to persons" who interact with the governmental structure. It is in the public exchanges of the city council, the school and planning boards, and even the blogs that leaders emerge for their own constituencies and for the city at large. Until there is significant growth of public visibility of Latino leadership the community will get only what crumbs are cast their way.
ReplyDeleteI agree with 1:52pm. To 12:09pm, if there are leaders in Plainfield who are Latino, where are they? Don't see anyone on the council or on boards or commissions. If the leaders want to operation within their target audience, then let them pay for the bilingual pamphlets, day care and other services designed to help Latino citizens.
ReplyDeleteIf they choose not to be a part of Plainfield, and operate on their own, fine. So I say, as a taxpayer, not more services. Let them service themselves.
Latinos are too busy reviving Plainfield's economy to hang out at city council and school board meetings. They are busy buying and renovating run-down homes. They are busy opening small businesses with their own money (since many lack access to capital and government business subsidy programs). They are busy making education in Plainfield better by participating in the education of their children. They fill the seats of the various school events instead of spending hours complaining at school board meetings where they would be ignored or yelled at. They are working and paying taxes (yes, Latinos are taxpayers). Latinos are doing the same good stuff that all other residents (Black, white, etc.) are doing to improve the situations of their families and the overall community. They may not all be doing it in a very public way, but they are doing it.
ReplyDeleteYou seem to think that Latinos need to perform for you if they want to benefit from services. Well, given the amount of economic and civic activity already being done by Latinos in Plainfield, I think they have performed enough.
To 11:31 am, it's sad to say that Latinos has also become the ethnic group with the highest percentage of criminal activities in Plainfield as well. Has anyone ever wonder about all the Latino restaurants in Plainfield and North Plainfield? Let's be realistic, no one eats' out that much. I'm willing to bet that a nice percentage of businesses they open (with their own money) come from drug money and the stores are drug fronts. While you may believe they are reviving Plainfield's economy, the crime, the benefits they receive from the city and state along with the amount spent on illegal immigrants are helping to drain this city dry. And let’s not even start on the special attention they get in school; what do you think happens when they can’t speak or read proper English? I venture to say that only a small fraction of the 50% of Plainfield residence that are homeowners is Latino. I am not a racist, I truly believe in the melting pot, but please let's paint a true and accurate picture of who's who.
ReplyDelete