LATINOS AND HOUSING POLICIES IN LOS ANGELES
BY STUDENT
After doing some research about the Latino culture, I have realized all of the
restrictions and political issues immigrants have faced for a very long time. There are many individuals that look down on Latinos. From the beginning, the Mexican community in Los Angeles never had a chance for an equal or fair life. The country has always put up some type of policies such as not letting Mexicans vote initially, zoning laws that put restrictions on how Mexicans could use their own land, and non-affordable housing which created sections and neighborhoods without much resources which created crime. LA is the second largest city in the country and the Hispanics are the largest ethnic group. Still, we see that they aren't the most wealthy with most being middle to low class. Do Latinx who are born in poverty grow up with an equal chance in LA and how are they doing compared to other Latinx in other parts of the Country?
Poverty, public housing, and urbanism are all evident in ways in Los Angeles. In my perspective the way our country was set up had flaws and we are still paying for the mistakes of our past generations. Before the United States existed California was apart of Mexico. In 1848, America took over the territory and California became the 31st state to join the United States. It seems as the gold rush started in California from 1848-1855. We can see that the U.S. clearly took over an area being California and started a war because they wanted in on the gold and resources this land had to offer. The US knew it wouldn’t be easy to just get all these native people out of the country so they gave them the option to go to the now much smaller Mexico or be apart of the United States as a citizen. With that being said, you can see how our country beat Mexico out of their rightful money and wealth that could have made a difference in the way they live currently today. After this war was over Mexicans who stayed in the United States saw that they weren’t treated equally. A lot of them lost their rights to own land and had it took because that’s how our laws were set up.
I do believe housing issues become a vicious cycle that normally doesn’t end easily. The housing that does get provided for people in poverty is considered section 8 living. However, the houses provided aren’t particularly the nicest. For most people with free housing, it’s just the basics a small kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom in an area with high crime rates. Most of the provided housing is apartment buildings which leaves no property for children to grow up and play. In “Tierra y Libertad,” by Steven Barber, he says that Latinos struggle being in large families because they’re placed in small homes. On the other Hand, we can see Los Angeles is growing and improving for the better. It is Ranked 1st in the nation for residents with at least a bachelor degree. It also has the highest rate of income growth in the U.S. With that being said The average income for Hispanics in Los Angeles is only around 42,000 which is less than the
national household average. We can see that this gap is slowly but steadily closing as the Hispanic community is developing and getting into higher paying jobs. I think as the years go on we will start to see more of a higher income for this Los Angeles area and the Latinos.
source:
Bender, Steven. Tierra y Libertad: Land, Liberty, and Latino Housing.
New York. New York university press. 2010.
This post has taught me a lot in terms of housing policies. Based off of personal experiences, public housing tends to be the most suitable for minorities in NYC considering the price of housing and availability. This is also relatable to our class discussion about how affordable housing has a list so long, that the next person on the list will not be offered an apartment for about 10 years. Most of the people on these lists tend to be of the minority/Latino population.
ReplyDeleteI agree that it's sad to see how these people were natives to the land and instantly, a new group of people came and striped them of their rights. As you mentioned, Mexicans couldn't vote, live under many restriction, and abide by the rules set by foreign invaders. I find it amazing that they decided to stay and they've fought so much for their rights back. They came a long way so tt's unfortunate they still have to deal with issues relating to poverty, public housing, and urbanism. You present a good argument that the housing issues is a terrible cycle. I'm hopeful that things will get better in the future.
ReplyDeleteI liked how you mentioned the United States involvement in the purchasing of California and explained why exactly they decided to buy that land. It makes me sad that even though all these years have passed, Mexicans are still being treated poorly. Los Angeles has the highest rate of income growth yet the wage gap is still present and that in itself should explain the unfair treatment of Mexicans. I agree with you that the housing issues are a vicious cycle that not only Mexicans have to deal with, but many other minorities as well.
ReplyDeleteI agree that unfortunately Latinx's have a faced a long and unfair history in regards to housing policy in the United States. I thought it was insightful you discussed the 1848 Mexican War, which arguably was the beginning of unfair treatment and discrimination against Latinx's in the US. Sadly, injustice continues towards Latinx's in areas such as housing, as you mentioned. However, I appreciate your positive outlook towards the treatment of Latinx's in modern day and I hope that Latinx's (and all other minorities) will be treated equally without question in the future.
ReplyDeleteYour post really highlights the "Legacy of Loss" as discussed by Steven Bender. Mexicans and Latinos are dispossessed of their land by war, then by redlining, then by foreclosure. I like how you ended it off on a good note, with how Los Angeles is improving for the better and the slow improvement of conditions for Latinos in LA.
ReplyDeleteHesan