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Another View of Segundo Barrio
by Peter Viola
AFTER READING the El Paso Times front page article, “O’Rourke Goes Door-To-Door To Get Residents’ Views on DOWNTOWN PLAN” by David Crowder on May 21, I was left with many unanswered questions about Beto O’Rourke’s informal survey of residents who would be potentially affected by the Paso Del Norte Group’s Downtown “renovation” plan. I decided to visit the area and make some of my own observations.
Two posters, one in English and one in Spanish reading “Segundo Barrio is Not For Sale / Segundo Barrio No Se Vende,” were plastered prominently on the front windows of a neatly landscaped residence in Segundo Barrio. I stopped to talk with some of the members of the family who were gathered on their front lawn. After asking each of them how they felt about the current situation it was obvious to me that this was a home that Representative O’Rourke must have skipped over in his recent walking tour of the district.
“We don’t like it,” the mother of the family (who wished not to be named) and owner of the home stated. She continued to say that her family lives in the house and other relatives live around the corner, and that they do not have any desire to relocate. Her two little boys, one who attends Alamo Elementary and the other Guillen Middle School, echoed their mother’s comments: “We like it here. Our friends are here and we like our neighborhood.”
The mother continued by talking about the positive economic culture in the community, “There is good business here. People come over from Juarez to shop.” She explained how the stores provide inexpensive but important goods that she and her neighbors could afford as well. About the plan she also remarked, “They want to put more expensive stores in this neighborhood… it’s about money.” I proceeded to question if she knew of others who felt the same way: “Oh, yes,” she responded, “my sister’s house is right behind ours and we have other neighbors who do not support the plan – a lot of people feel the same way.”
One of the boys’ friends, obviously curious about the stranger on the other side of the chain-link fence, came by on his bicycle. I asked him how his parents felt about what was going on. “The same way,” he responded, “they don’t like it at all.” At this point, the woman’s mother came out and wanted to speak. As she leaned against a tree to hold herself up, she immediately became very emotional, stating in Spanish that she disagreed with the plan and that in her opinion it was all about money. She lamented that it would displace her grandchildren who are very happy in the neighborhood. She continued to say, at this point tears visibly welling up in her eyes that the plan was clearly for the rich people and questioned repeatedly where are the rights of the poor? After this visit, I thanked the family for taking time with me and attempted to find a few others on the streets. The next two people I spoke with had little or no idea about the plan, and this made me decide to come back better prepared - with handouts, fact sheets in Spanish and English, and information on future meetings.
Many of us for a long time have wanted to see improvements to the Segundo Barrio and Downtown. Few deny that restoration is needed. I am sure that the family I spoke with today would like to see better quality roads, regular clean up of the streets and some necessary new development. We all want “something better than this” for the Segundo Barrio and Downtown. Many of us believe that restoration and improvement need not be preceded by a total devastation of a 127.5 acre area rich in history, culture and people.
So back to the unanswered questions that O’Rourke and Crowder did not address: On his walking tour what did he ask the residents specifically? Where did he go? Who did he see? What did he talk about? What information did he give them? How comprehensive was the study? Did anyone at all say they were against it? I will be the first to admit that my impromptu conversations today were much less than comprehensive or scientific surveys, but I think O’Rourke should admit the same. And perhaps it was chance that the first block I turned down had a sign stating “Segundo Barrio: Not For Sale,” but I know already that there are more signs being made as people are become educated on the issue. To me the most critical questions are simple ones: Whose interests were in mind during the development of The Downtown Renovation Plan? Who will benefit most from the plan?
Peter Viola holds degrees in political science & education from Columbia University and is a high school history teacher.
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