HOUSING PROGRAM Phft •- COH
By Paul Coronel
Two years ago we organized in Santa Barbara a Mexican Youth Regional Conference. Social workers, teachers, youth groups, adult groups, all became greatly *n^®restf ed in this new movement All of these people gave to the fundamental motive behind our movement which consists in helping our Mexican-American youth. Unfortunately we can not offer money, clothes, or any other necessities to those who need them. But there is something just as valuable and possibly even more valuable. Our purpose is to reach into the souls of our Mexican youth who need our warm sympathy." It is our job to take this responsibility. AVe Mexican Youth leaders should undertake this work because we understand our people better; we know just what problems are facing our Mexican youth because most of us who are in school have had to contend with these same problems. Such problems as racial conflict, cultural conflict, discrimination have to be overcome.
After working consistently in organizing our Council, we were presented with our first great challenge. Last year the Housing Program suffered a set-back which blocked the establishment of a Housing Authority in Santa Barbara. This year our Mexican-American Youth Council accepted the task of cooperating with those social-minded people who are interested in the general welfare of our community. In Santa Barbara we have about 285 houses which are not fit for human habitation. Most of these houses are habit-ated by Mexican families whose income level is extremely low. Being aware of this situation we took it upon ourselves to distribute pamphlets written in Spanish explaining the Housing Program. I also used the radio for the same purpose.
Social action Such as the one mentioned above is what is greatly needed in our Mexican-American communities. Many a time our English speaking fellowmen refrain from doing a job like the one mentioned above for fear of being misunderstood or not understood at all. We Mexican-Americans should undertake these jobs because we are in a better position to do so. We should also be prepared to cooperate in all social action even if it doesn t concern our Mexican communities.
SIX
By Albert C. Diax
Don Ernesto sat silently on the battered loose stairs of the old casa. Don Ernesto was thinking—yes, for hours now he had been sitting like that. It was the last time he was ever going to be able to sit on those same battered, old worn steps. . . .
* ♦ ♦
He stirred momentarily, removed his hands from his chin slowly and methodically took his worn out sombrero and quizzically scratched his uncombed head. Slowly he turned and viewed his vecino*s casa. He looked at it closely, scrutinizing every detail of the house till his eyes came to rest on a white sbp. The unmistakeable condemnation slip. Shaking his head he thought, his casa was no better than mine . . . but he is gone . .. everybody is going . . . where are they going ?
There was a man in the presidencia . . . he is well liked . . . he is respected and will always be. Said he “one third of this nation is ill housed, ill fed, ill clothed.**
What we need is new housing— housing that will put the country back on its feet. . . housing projects to clear the slums.
We will buy the property.......
build housing projects for them to live. It was buenas nuevas. How much for the property? .. so many pesos, but it's not bastante?....
I paid more than that for this propiedad of mine . . .
But señores this is my house, my home, 1 build it, it's my very thing . . my soul is rooted here. Why, why, wh .. . all my children were born under this, roof. All my amigos live here . . . señores my propiedad is worth more than that. But can’t you see you’re taking ' my land . . . yes my land. We will pay you so much for this propiedad build new casas . . . you will be able to live in new, modern houses cheaplv . . . the casa and property were sold . . . all the houses were condemned and were to be torn down . . .
The casas were older. They were in bad need of repair . . . the beams slowly decaying . . . the color of the paint had long since faded . . . . they needed repairs . . . new houses were needed . . . they were old but they were on your PROPERTY . . . YOUR OWN LAND.
The propiedades were sold. It was true they had been sold, in its
BOV UONOBED
Hector Anton UCLA senior, recently won one of the highest honors given to Business Administration students when he was initiated to Beta Gamma Sigma National Honorary Society. Hector, who also boxes on the varsity team, has averaged a straight “A** and “B** report card since enrolling at UCLA.
Abel Ossorio Psychology Major at UCLA recently revealed that he had won a fellowship last January in the Psychology department. He spends his time as a teaching assistant, along with doing experimental work in the laboratory in preparation for a masters degree.
place a new housing project would arise . .. it would be called Maravilla . . . just as the barrio had previously been called. It was a wonderful promesa. New houses . . . a dream come true.
Don Ernesto was still thinking. I guess we have to move. Go somewhere else. But this is my casa, my home . . . this is where I want to stay and live, the housing project is cosa buena. But it’s too late, el gobierno wants the property to build a housing project. They w 11 build a housing project. . . but that will take a long time . . . too long. When that is done it’s no good to me . . . I still have a few years left in this mundo . . . the application to live in the housing project says . . . that you can rent in it if you’re a citizen. We are not ciudadanos . . . we are not as young as we used to be . . . we are on relief, some of us are . . . . for twenty three years 1 have lived in United States . . .still the housing project is gonna be here where this old casa now is . . . but I will not be able to live in it. . . They said let’s build housing projects . . so they can live better . . . That sounds muy muy bueno to me . . . but 1 cannot live in it ... I won’t be able to live in it . . . you see I am not a citizen, I’m on relief, have a big family . . ■ but sure they can take my home for a few meager pesos . . . my life . ... mv soul, my everything . . . wh?t is wrong?
Don Ernesto rose . . .walked in the house slowly and then almost as soon as he entered he came out, walked down the rickety three steps . . . onto the dirt walk . . never turning back he stooped, picked dirt and lét it run through his fingers. It had been like th s before . . . he had had a handful, now theve was nothing . . . a handful of nothing.