To Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P]
After maps of several Texas counties were drawn and approved in the wake of the 2020 Census redistricting, various representatives of Latino communities called on the new commissioners to listen to everyone's voices and address the needs of the most vulnerable residents.
During a media session held by Ethnic Media Services, Marla Lopez, Texas coordinator for the organization My Family Votes, said that while it is true that the Latino community does not agree with how the map was reorganized, which will be in effect for the next 10 years, he said that the fight to obtain better resources and quality of life should not stop.
Representatives from localities such as Spring Branch, Green Ridge, Greenspoint Area, Kignwood East, Aldine, and Southside Place, recalled that, as in other cases, minority communities, especially those of color, and their needs have not been taken into account at the time of redistricting, which has led to a deterioration of the localities and difficult access to more and better resources for Latino residents of such areas.
Dayana Iza, youth organizer for My Family Votes, He pointed out that the big problem with this type of maps that do not consider the most vulnerable and their needs is that "the voters do not choose their representatives, but the representatives are choosing who their voters are."
This, he said, allows these representatives to maintain a government of their own choosing, not one that truly serves its residents.
The distribution of districts and their layouts have been a constant in Texas, which has led to a lack of attention to basic services, adequate infrastructure, and security, said these spokespersons for these Latino communities.
They added that, with the previous layout, the black inhabitants who live in these areas have faced flooding due to poor project planning that has not taken into account the effects on the residents.
In addition to the complaints, there are increases in taxes, reductions in green areas, and poor public services such as garbage collection and emptying of septic tanks.
During the discussion, it was mentioned that, even if residents of certain areas want to look for a better place or one with better conditions, they need to be a citizen or have a permanent residence, since, to rent housing they ask for a social security number.
This situation, they argued, segregates undocumented residents seeking to improve their quality of life.
The Latino community faces these problems every day in these localities, and the outlook does not look better for the next 10 years if the rights of these taxpayers are not defended, they said.
In light of this, they called on all Latinos who have the option to vote to exercise their right and raise their voices on behalf of all those who cannot do so by means of a ballot in order to elect the representatives that best suit the general interest of the inhabitants.
"We are not asking for luxuries or expensive things, but for basic services for all communities. That includes septic drainage services, taxes according to the area, equity and accessible resources for all," they said.
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