This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/oct/06/pennsylvania-latinos-economic-hardship
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania: 'We came here for a better life for our kids' | Pennsylvania: 'We came here for a better life for our kids' |
| (4 months later) | |
| In the economically ravaged rustbelt city of Reading, Pennsylvania, ranked as the poorest metropolitan area in America, the majority Latino population is suffering from the double blow of vanishing jobs and poor education. Almost half of the 87,000 residents – 58% of whom are Latino – are living below the federal poverty line. | In the economically ravaged rustbelt city of Reading, Pennsylvania, ranked as the poorest metropolitan area in America, the majority Latino population is suffering from the double blow of vanishing jobs and poor education. Almost half of the 87,000 residents – 58% of whom are Latino – are living below the federal poverty line. |
| "Reading is the face of America," said community leader and former city councilman Angel Figueroa, the first Latino elected to the council. "And if we can fix Reading as a mid-sized city we can fix many mid-sized cities in the country." | "Reading is the face of America," said community leader and former city councilman Angel Figueroa, the first Latino elected to the council. "And if we can fix Reading as a mid-sized city we can fix many mid-sized cities in the country." |
| In an election year, Reading could easily be the proving grounds for Democrats or Republicans seeking to sell bold ideas for turning around the economy. But neither major party has invested much energy on the town's Hispanic community. | In an election year, Reading could easily be the proving grounds for Democrats or Republicans seeking to sell bold ideas for turning around the economy. But neither major party has invested much energy on the town's Hispanic community. |
| Two decades before the current economic crash, Latinos from New York and other north-eastern cities came to Reading, lured by a steady job market. Reading's history is infused with the stories of Latino immigrants from Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic who, since the early twentieth century, have moved into the city to work the mushroom fields and manufacturing jobs. | Two decades before the current economic crash, Latinos from New York and other north-eastern cities came to Reading, lured by a steady job market. Reading's history is infused with the stories of Latino immigrants from Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic who, since the early twentieth century, have moved into the city to work the mushroom fields and manufacturing jobs. |
| Luis Garriga, 51 from Jacob Chung on Vimeo. | Luis Garriga, 51 from Jacob Chung on Vimeo. |
| "We came here for a better life for our kids," Luis Garriga, a recent Puerto Rican implant from New York said. | "We came here for a better life for our kids," Luis Garriga, a recent Puerto Rican implant from New York said. |
| Many Latinos who made Reading their home, came for the same reasons as Garriga. But as manufacturing plants have withered and closed across the rust belt, thousands of jobs have vanished. Work once abundant in the mushroom fields, steel mills, textile plants and auto parts factories and, more recently, hi-tech and even chocolate factories, is now hard to find. | Many Latinos who made Reading their home, came for the same reasons as Garriga. But as manufacturing plants have withered and closed across the rust belt, thousands of jobs have vanished. Work once abundant in the mushroom fields, steel mills, textile plants and auto parts factories and, more recently, hi-tech and even chocolate factories, is now hard to find. |
| Garriga, who lost his home and ended up on the streets, knows personally how devastating Reading's recession has been. "Had I known it was going to be this bad here, I would've taken my chances in New York," he said. | Garriga, who lost his home and ended up on the streets, knows personally how devastating Reading's recession has been. "Had I known it was going to be this bad here, I would've taken my chances in New York," he said. |
| In 2011 more than 3,000 jobs were lost as companies such as Hershey, Agere Technology and Dana Systems left the city, former mayor Thomas McMahon said. | In 2011 more than 3,000 jobs were lost as companies such as Hershey, Agere Technology and Dana Systems left the city, former mayor Thomas McMahon said. |
| Even before the exodus of large manufacturing plants in 2011, the city was facing financial hardships. Facing a continuing deficit, the city looked to be on "life support." | Even before the exodus of large manufacturing plants in 2011, the city was facing financial hardships. Facing a continuing deficit, the city looked to be on "life support." |
| Since 2009 Reading has been complying with Act 47, a recovery plan that restructures the financial transactions of the city under the supervision of Pennsylvania's department of community and economic development and provides state assistance in planning, loans, grants and special measures to generate income via new taxes. But Act 47 means lowering salaries, outsourcing work and freezing new hires in the city at a time when jobs are desperately needed. | Since 2009 Reading has been complying with Act 47, a recovery plan that restructures the financial transactions of the city under the supervision of Pennsylvania's department of community and economic development and provides state assistance in planning, loans, grants and special measures to generate income via new taxes. But Act 47 means lowering salaries, outsourcing work and freezing new hires in the city at a time when jobs are desperately needed. |
| Latino-owned businesses are the fastest-growing group in the city and now account for more than a quarter of the 4,568 businesses, Reading's community development director Lenin Agudo said. | Latino-owned businesses are the fastest-growing group in the city and now account for more than a quarter of the 4,568 businesses, Reading's community development director Lenin Agudo said. |
| "We are the backbone of this city," Figueroa said. "Latinos are the ones sustaining local businesses and big businesses. They are the workers of this county." | "We are the backbone of this city," Figueroa said. "Latinos are the ones sustaining local businesses and big businesses. They are the workers of this county." |
| Despite small signs of economic improvement, Latino leaders in Reading say they expected more from the Obama administration and hoped for more direct involvement from the White House in mapping out the city's recovery. | Despite small signs of economic improvement, Latino leaders in Reading say they expected more from the Obama administration and hoped for more direct involvement from the White House in mapping out the city's recovery. |
| President Obama last visited here during the 2008 presidential primary and delivered a rousing campaign speech at Reading high school, promising jobs. "I will spend every day in the White House thinking about you, thinking about your hopes and dreams," he said. "I need you to put me in there. I promise I'll be working for eight years to make your life better." | President Obama last visited here during the 2008 presidential primary and delivered a rousing campaign speech at Reading high school, promising jobs. "I will spend every day in the White House thinking about you, thinking about your hopes and dreams," he said. "I need you to put me in there. I promise I'll be working for eight years to make your life better." |
| But Obama has never returned. His visits to this strategic swing state have concentrated on the voter-rich cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, each about an hour away. Democrats have a field office in the city but have not reached out in an organized effort to Latino leaders. To many Latinos in Reading, Obama's promises of putting the middle class back to work is now a faint memory. | But Obama has never returned. His visits to this strategic swing state have concentrated on the voter-rich cities of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, each about an hour away. Democrats have a field office in the city but have not reached out in an organized effort to Latino leaders. To many Latinos in Reading, Obama's promises of putting the middle class back to work is now a faint memory. |
| "I wouldn't have used two years tackling healthcare reform," Figueroa said. Instead he should have focused more on the economy and education, he said. | "I wouldn't have used two years tackling healthcare reform," Figueroa said. Instead he should have focused more on the economy and education, he said. |
| Hispanic leaders in the town also complain that Mitt Romney has failed to push his economic recovery policy of lowering taxes and reducing government regulations within the community in Reading. "The Latino community is very independent. They're open minded," said Michael Toledo of Centro Hispano Daniel Torres, a non-partisan group that provides services for Latinos and non-English speakers in the city. | Hispanic leaders in the town also complain that Mitt Romney has failed to push his economic recovery policy of lowering taxes and reducing government regulations within the community in Reading. "The Latino community is very independent. They're open minded," said Michael Toledo of Centro Hispano Daniel Torres, a non-partisan group that provides services for Latinos and non-English speakers in the city. |
| "They want to hear about platforms that resonate with them. We want the economy to get better, we want to see job growth, we want to see more in terms of education and educating our youth." | "They want to hear about platforms that resonate with them. We want the economy to get better, we want to see job growth, we want to see more in terms of education and educating our youth." |
| Neither Republicans nor Democrats have made an effort to connect with the Latinos in the city, according to the Reading council president Francis Acosta. Though a local Democratic party field office is less than a mile away from city hall, no effort has been made to mobilize Latino leader for the campaign. | Neither Republicans nor Democrats have made an effort to connect with the Latinos in the city, according to the Reading council president Francis Acosta. Though a local Democratic party field office is less than a mile away from city hall, no effort has been made to mobilize Latino leader for the campaign. |
| "I was there when they opened the office," Acosta said. "They'll usually start calling a week or two before the election." | "I was there when they opened the office," Acosta said. "They'll usually start calling a week or two before the election." |
| Despite the frustration at the apparent lack of political engagement, he still intends to side with the Democratic ticket in November. "Could [Democrats] be better? Yes," said Agudo. But given another term in the White House, he believes, Obama could still turn things round. | Despite the frustration at the apparent lack of political engagement, he still intends to side with the Democratic ticket in November. "Could [Democrats] be better? Yes," said Agudo. But given another term in the White House, he believes, Obama could still turn things round. |
| "I'm prepared to give him my vote," he said. | "I'm prepared to give him my vote," he said. |
| Pueblo factbox | Pueblo factbox |
| (All demographic data comes from the 2010 US census. Voting information comes from state and local elections officials.) | (All demographic data comes from the 2010 US census. Voting information comes from state and local elections officials.) |
| Population: 88,082 % Hispanic or Latino: 58.2 White: 28.7 Black: 10.0 American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.2 Asian: 1.1 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.0 Other: 0.2 Mixed Race: 1.7 Total: 100.1 | Population: 88,082 % Hispanic or Latino: 58.2 White: 28.7 Black: 10.0 American Indian/Alaska Native: 0.2 Asian: 1.1 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0.0 Other: 0.2 Mixed Race: 1.7 Total: 100.1 |
| Per capita income: $13,135 | Per capita income: $13,135 |
| Voter turnout in 2008: 25,648 (50.9% of reg. voters) Democrat: 35,151 69.7 Republican: 7,958 15.8 Other: 7,302 14.5 Current Voter registration: 44,613 Republican: 6,343 14.2 Democrat: 32,125 72 Liberal: 265 <1 Other: 5,880 13.2 | Voter turnout in 2008: 25,648 (50.9% of reg. voters) Democrat: 35,151 69.7 Republican: 7,958 15.8 Other: 7,302 14.5 Current Voter registration: 44,613 Republican: 6,343 14.2 Democrat: 32,125 72 Liberal: 265 <1 Other: 5,880 13.2 |
| Winner of the 2008 election in Reading: Barack Obama Winner of the 2008 election in Pennsylvania: Barack Obama | Winner of the 2008 election in Reading: Barack Obama Winner of the 2008 election in Pennsylvania: Barack Obama |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |