Annotations for Subject-headings: Social Services

A report by the US Civil Rights Commission says Latinos in the nation's capital suffered discrimination in social services, jobs, and from the police. Pedro Avilés is the executive director of the DC Civil Rights Task Force.

A report by the US Civil Rights Commission says Latinos in the nation's capital suffered discrimination in social services, jobs, and from the police. Pedro Avilés is the executive director of the DC Civil Rights Task Force.

What the US Civil Rights Commission does is that it substantiates what we've been saying. Now we have a report from a federal agency that is basically saying the District of Columbia government is guilty of mistreating Latinos.

What the US Civil Rights Commission does is that it substantiates what we've been saying. Now we have a report from a federal agency that is basically saying the District of Columbia government is guilty of mistreating Latinos.

The Civil Rights Commission says conditions which led to three days of riots two years ago in Washington's Mount Pleasant District also exist in other US cities. The report recommends DC Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly begin outreach to the Latino community. You're listening to Latino USA.

The Civil Rights Commission says conditions which led to three days of riots two years ago in Washington's Mount Pleasant District also exist in other US cities. The report recommends DC Mayor Sharon Pratt Kelly begin outreach to the Latino community. You're listening to Latino USA.

In Los Angeles, the Latino community suffered heavily and has still not recovered from the effects of the disturbances of April of last year. Latinos are half of those who live in the areas most affected by the disturbances. A third of those who lost their lives in the violence were Latino. Hispanic men made up more than half of those arrested and 40% of the businesses damaged in the riots were Latino owned. Reporter Alberto Aguilar recently visited one of the hardest hit Latino neighborhoods in South Central Los Angeles. He prepared this report.

In Los Angeles, the Latino community suffered heavily and has still not recovered from the effects of the disturbances of April of last year. Latinos are half of those who live in the areas most affected by the disturbances. A third of those who lost their lives in the violence were Latino. Hispanic men made up more than half of those arrested and 40% of the businesses damaged in the riots were Latino owned. Reporter Alberto Aguilar recently visited one of the hardest hit Latino neighborhoods in South Central Los Angeles. He prepared this report.

[Faint voice in the background]

[Faint voice in the background]

Very little has changed in Pico-Union, west of downtown Los Angeles in the last year, since hundreds of small and large businesses were looted. Here at the swap meet, the radio may be playing happy rhythms, but to the residents of the mostly Latino neighborhood, the road to recovery has been anything but happy.

Very little has changed in Pico-Union, west of downtown Los Angeles in the last year, since hundreds of small and large businesses were looted. Here at the swap meet, the radio may be playing happy rhythms, but to the residents of the mostly Latino neighborhood, the road to recovery has been anything but happy.

Nosotros perdimos todos los negocios que teníamos. Teníamos tres negocios en la Union y todo fue perdido…[transition to English dub] We lost all our business. We have three little shops here and everything was lost, and we haven't really been able to recover anything.

Nosotros perdimos todos los negocios que teníamos. Teníamos tres negocios en la Union y todo fue perdido…[transition to English dub] We lost all our business. We have three little shops here and everything was lost, and we haven't really been able to recover anything.

María Elena Mejia sold children's clothes at the swap meet. The single mother of two teenage girls lost her life savings when the old theater, that housed dozens of swap meet stalls, was set on fire.

María Elena Mejia sold children's clothes at the swap meet. The single mother of two teenage girls lost her life savings when the old theater, that housed dozens of swap meet stalls, was set on fire.

Lo que a nosotros nos ayudaron de parte del gobierno de la ciudad solamente fueron tres meses de renta. Lo que nos quedó a nosotros de eso solo fueron como… [transition to English dub] What the city government helped out with was three months’ rent, and after that, all we had left of our investment of five years was something like 14 or 10 dollars. I don't even remember now. We suffered so much because you know, being without work in this country is hard, and we were left without work and without anything… [transition to original audio] trabajo, porque nos habíamos quedado sin trabajo y sin nada.

Lo que a nosotros nos ayudaron de parte del gobierno de la ciudad solamente fueron tres meses de renta. Lo que nos quedó a nosotros de eso solo fueron como… [transition to English dub] What the city government helped out with was three months’ rent, and after that, all we had left of our investment of five years was something like 14 or 10 dollars. I don't even remember now. We suffered so much because you know, being without work in this country is hard, and we were left without work and without anything… [transition to original audio] trabajo, porque nos habíamos quedado sin trabajo y sin nada.

This was a gift by a student, but it's called The Day that Los Angeles Cried, and you have an angel trying to turn off the fires and slow down the riots and above the Angel…

This was a gift by a student, but it's called The Day that Los Angeles Cried, and you have an angel trying to turn off the fires and slow down the riots and above the Angel…

Mike Hernandez is a member of the city council. His district includes Pico-Union, the area hardest hit by the riots of '92.

Mike Hernandez is a member of the city council. His district includes Pico-Union, the area hardest hit by the riots of '92.

Pico and Alvarado, for example… it’s one corner where we had the four corners demolished by fire. And so, in terms of intensity, it was the hardest hit area in the city.

Pico and Alvarado, for example… it’s one corner where we had the four corners demolished by fire. And so, in terms of intensity, it was the hardest hit area in the city.

What has happened since then? And a lot of people are now saying that perhaps the City does not have the leadership to bring the city of Los Angeles to where most people want it to go?

What has happened since then? And a lot of people are now saying that perhaps the City does not have the leadership to bring the city of Los Angeles to where most people want it to go?

I think if you talk about community leaders, if you talk about the organization leadership, they very much want to bring the city together and start improving. If you talk about the political leadership, I think the political leadership hasn't displayed that well. They're out of touch with what's really going on in the city. See, the city of Los Angeles is not just the buildings. A lot of the buildings destroyed were empty. What the city of Los Angeles is, it's people from all over the world, and what we got away from is building people.

I think if you talk about community leaders, if you talk about the organization leadership, they very much want to bring the city together and start improving. If you talk about the political leadership, I think the political leadership hasn't displayed that well. They're out of touch with what's really going on in the city. See, the city of Los Angeles is not just the buildings. A lot of the buildings destroyed were empty. What the city of Los Angeles is, it's people from all over the world, and what we got away from is building people.

The building involves encouraging people to become citizens. Hernandez estimates this process can take as long as 10 to 15 years. He also says the City has to improve the educational level of city residents.

The building involves encouraging people to become citizens. Hernandez estimates this process can take as long as 10 to 15 years. He also says the City has to improve the educational level of city residents.

Over the age of 25, we have 2.1 million people. 900,000 cannot claim a high school diploma, and of the 900,000; 600,000 cannot claim a ninth-grade education. So that's 150% of the entire student body of the LA Unified School District. So, we have a tremendous amount of building of people to do.

Over the age of 25, we have 2.1 million people. 900,000 cannot claim a high school diploma, and of the 900,000; 600,000 cannot claim a ninth-grade education. So that's 150% of the entire student body of the LA Unified School District. So, we have a tremendous amount of building of people to do.

[Transitional sounds]

[Transitional sounds]

Those who work with the residents of Pico-Union agree with Hernandez about the work that remains undone.

Those who work with the residents of Pico-Union agree with Hernandez about the work that remains undone.

We're seeing families with multitude of problems… economic, social, relationship problems…

We're seeing families with multitude of problems… economic, social, relationship problems…

Sandra Cuevas works with battered Central American women in South Central Los Angeles. She has seen a decrease in the social services available to people in the area's hardest hit by the destruction. Despite all the publicized good intentions, little action and little resources are being allocated to the solution of the root causes of poverty and unemployment.

Sandra Cuevas works with battered Central American women in South Central Los Angeles. She has seen a decrease in the social services available to people in the area's hardest hit by the destruction. Despite all the publicized good intentions, little action and little resources are being allocated to the solution of the root causes of poverty and unemployment.

There seems to have been a lot of lip service. Little committees forming coalitions, but when you look at Rebuild LA, you have people that are coming from outside the community, very removed from the reality of Los Angeles and particularly of South Central and Pico-Union, that have excluded Latinos, by and large.

There seems to have been a lot of lip service. Little committees forming coalitions, but when you look at Rebuild LA, you have people that are coming from outside the community, very removed from the reality of Los Angeles and particularly of South Central and Pico-Union, that have excluded Latinos, by and large.

Cuevas is not the only Angelino critical of Mayor Tom Bradley's effort to bring back the city from massive destruction. His Rebuild LA has been described as a misguided effort to create job opportunities according to county supervisor Gloria Molina.

Cuevas is not the only Angelino critical of Mayor Tom Bradley's effort to bring back the city from massive destruction. His Rebuild LA has been described as a misguided effort to create job opportunities according to county supervisor Gloria Molina.

Very frankly, I don't want to be critical. I think they're doing their own thing, but I think that the mayor missed the boat in the beginning. I think he could have called many of us together to sort things out because it isn't just in South Central, it's throughout the community. And it isn't just a corporate effort and isn't about giving. It's about putting together a lot of institutions that have been unjust to minority segments of our community. And it isn't going to happen by a corporation coming together and putting together programs. It's about making the system much more responsive to the needs of people in this community.

Very frankly, I don't want to be critical. I think they're doing their own thing, but I think that the mayor missed the boat in the beginning. I think he could have called many of us together to sort things out because it isn't just in South Central, it's throughout the community. And it isn't just a corporate effort and isn't about giving. It's about putting together a lot of institutions that have been unjust to minority segments of our community. And it isn't going to happen by a corporation coming together and putting together programs. It's about making the system much more responsive to the needs of people in this community.

I’m a member of the board, but it's hard among 80 people. A lot of those are corporate people and I’m… I guess, the only immigrant, it's really hard sometimes.

I’m a member of the board, but it's hard among 80 people. A lot of those are corporate people and I’m… I guess, the only immigrant, it's really hard sometimes.

Carlos Vaquerano is one of a handful of Latinos on Rebuild LA's board.

Carlos Vaquerano is one of a handful of Latinos on Rebuild LA's board.

We need to not only to rebuild LA physically, but to rebuild the soul of the city, the soul of people here. We need to make changes in terms of our morality, political changes, because that's one of the main issues in the city. Not only the city, but in the country.

We need to not only to rebuild LA physically, but to rebuild the soul of the city, the soul of people here. We need to make changes in terms of our morality, political changes, because that's one of the main issues in the city. Not only the city, but in the country.

[Transitional sounds]

[Transitional sounds]

Police helicopters assist uniformed officers on the ground in the search for gang members in the Pico-Union district. Longtime resident, Raúl González has been in this blue-collar neighborhood for 20 years.

Police helicopters assist uniformed officers on the ground in the search for gang members in the Pico-Union district. Longtime resident, Raúl González has been in this blue-collar neighborhood for 20 years.

It's kind of scary going out lately. Plus what you hear on the news and people… after the rioters start getting guns and bigger guns and you know what's going to happen in the street. Now you have to carry your own gun for protection… and you have to be careful lately…you know. And it's terrible, it is terrible because we are not supposed to be like this.

It's kind of scary going out lately. Plus what you hear on the news and people… after the rioters start getting guns and bigger guns and you know what's going to happen in the street. Now you have to carry your own gun for protection… and you have to be careful lately…you know. And it's terrible, it is terrible because we are not supposed to be like this.

Um…but if everybody's armed and everybody's afraid…um…. what are you going to do?

Um…but if everybody's armed and everybody's afraid…um…. what are you going to do?

Well, you know…to tell you the truth, if you're carrying a weapon, you have to know how to use it and when to take it out.

Well, you know…to tell you the truth, if you're carrying a weapon, you have to know how to use it and when to take it out.

In Los Angeles, I'm Alberto Aguilar, reporting for Latino USA.

In Los Angeles, I'm Alberto Aguilar, reporting for Latino USA.

[Transitional Music]

[Transitional Music]

May I present Gloria Romero: She played a vital role in the police reform movement in Los Angeles in the wake of the Rodney King beating. The title of her talk is Todavia Ando Sangrando: A Chicana's Perspective on the Fires This Time…Gloria.

May I present Gloria Romero: She played a vital role in the police reform movement in Los Angeles in the wake of the Rodney King beating. The title of her talk is Todavia Ando Sangrando: A Chicana's Perspective on the Fires This Time…Gloria.

[Clapping sounds]

[Clapping sounds]

April 29th, 1992, less than three hours after the verdicts were released, I stood at the intersection of Adams and Hobart in South Central LA. In reality, I stood at much more than the intersection of Adams and Hobart. I stood at but one of many intersections of race, class, and gender in America. Breathing in all I saw, even as light dimmed on America, the reaction in my guts at the intersection of life in America in the shadow of lies of an afterlife as light faded out on America, felt like the full velocity of the bricks hurled through the pane of that liquor store, which on an hourly basis, markets pain to Black and brown men and women in south central LA. Addiction, alcoholism, unemployment, a 50% dropout rate, incarceration, but a chance to win the lotto.

April 29th, 1992, less than three hours after the verdicts were released, I stood at the intersection of Adams and Hobart in South Central LA. In reality, I stood at much more than the intersection of Adams and Hobart. I stood at but one of many intersections of race, class, and gender in America. Breathing in all I saw, even as light dimmed on America, the reaction in my guts at the intersection of life in America in the shadow of lies of an afterlife as light faded out on America, felt like the full velocity of the bricks hurled through the pane of that liquor store, which on an hourly basis, markets pain to Black and brown men and women in south central LA. Addiction, alcoholism, unemployment, a 50% dropout rate, incarceration, but a chance to win the lotto.

We stood at the intersection on April 29th in an America that has bled for too long, from too many unjust verdicts that Simi Valley merely symbolized, any one of which could have sparked fires at any intersection in America. And I believe a riot takes place on a day-to-day basis in LA, but nobody notices. Todavia ando sangrando, even as our trial continues.

We stood at the intersection on April 29th in an America that has bled for too long, from too many unjust verdicts that Simi Valley merely symbolized, any one of which could have sparked fires at any intersection in America. And I believe a riot takes place on a day-to-day basis in LA, but nobody notices. Todavia ando sangrando, even as our trial continues.

The debate over healthcare reform continues. In a full page ad in the New York Times, three California Latino organizations urged President Clinton to include everyone, even the undocumented, in his upcoming healthcare plan. From Sacramento, Armando Botello reports.

The Latino issues for a Mexican American political association and American GI forum based their petition on the assumption that preventive healthcare is a good investment. John Gamboa is President of the Latino Issues Forum.

There's no real good reason why these people should not be counted. First, it's un-American. Second, it doesn't save money. Third, if we don't cover them, the health of everybody else is in jeopardy because a communicable disease that could be prevented may spread to other people and increase the cost, and get other people sick simply because we won't cover them.

According to Gamboa, the only criticism to their petition has come from anti-immigrant groups. However, Arnoldo Torres, former National Director of the League of Latin American Citizens, says the plan is not feasible because of an anti-immigrant climate, a shortage of funds, lack of Latino health professionals, and a lack of consensus among the Latino community to back the proposal. Torres however offers an alternative which would be linked to the Free Trade Agreement.

Some of the revenue and benefit that Mexico will receive from this, and as well as the US, ought to be providing... It should be put into some reserve/trust fund to cover some of the healthcare costs of undocumented people in this country.

So far, the only response to the proposal has come from the California Congressional Delegation, which has asked the President to look into it. In Sacramento, California, I'm Armando Botello reporting for Latino USA.

Seasonal farm workers have been left out of Washington State's newly-enacted healthcare law, considered the most sweeping in the nation. Farm worker health advocates call the exclusion "unwise and unconstitutional", and plant a core challenge. I'm Maria Martin. You're listening to Latino USA.

This is news from Latino USA. I'm Vidal Guzman. President Clinton's economic plan faced opposition from Republicans who called it one more democratic tax and spend plan and even from members from his own party. And as Patricia Guadalupe reports, members of the Hispanic caucus were concerned about cuts to social programs.

Democratic members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus conditioned their support of President Clinton's budget on his backing the House version, which contains more money for social programs. The Senate version virtually eliminates many of those programs. Caucus chair José Serrano of New York says Hispanic representatives are also concerned about amendments they find discriminatory.

There is a mean amendment going around that says that any dollars allocated for any program must meet a test that says if you are... You serve an undocumented alien, anywhere in any of the programs you may run as an agency that you cannot share in those dollars.

President Clinton promised the caucus he would try to include their points in the final budget version. For Latino USA, Patricia Guadalupe in Washington.

The great flood of 1993 has left millions of acres of Midwest farmland underwater and thousands of farm workers with no work. Many of those unemployed migrants are now returning early to their homes in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Attorney Ray Gill is with the United Farm Workers in San Juan.

Many of the people are going to be without unemployment insurance. They're going to be without the wages that they would have earned, that would protect them during the winter, because, typically, the migrant farm workers come back here, hopefully after a good summer of work cashed up to where they have enough money to be able to live at least for a while, buy shoes for the children and clothes for the children and the family, and fix up the family car and maybe fix up the family home. Hopefully, to collect unemployment during the winter to be able to, again, have enough money in May to get the family car together, to buy some gas to go back up North.

Resources to help the expected flood of returning farm workers are scarce in the Valley, says Gill, and many may not be eligible for emergency unemployment insurance.

For all the people that were going someplace in hopes of finding work, but didn't have a solid job that they were going to, but had heard there's there's corn detasseling around the Davenport area in Iowa, there are sugar beets in a particular area in North Dakota, who were going there in the hopes of finding work but didn't have anything solid or substantial ahead of them. Those people may not be eligible for this federal insurance. It's the typical syndrome. People will come back, they'll get on welfare program, aid the family with dependent children, or food stamps, and hopefully find a little bit of work here and there in the Valley, but that's highly unlikely given the 26 or 27% unemployment rate that's here in the best of times. You have a very disasterful situation.

Attorney Ray Gill is with the United Farm Workers in San Juan, Texas. I'm Maria Martin with news from Latino USA.

From Austin, Texas, I'm Maria Martin for Latino USA.

On August 24th of last year, Hurricane Andrew ripped through South Florida, wreaking devastation. When the rains and winds had died down, 150,000 people were left homeless. One year later, many communities hard hit by Andrew have generally recovered, but that's not the case in the mostly agricultural region of South Dade County, where construction and repairs are still in progress. Many farms remain closed or are operating at half capacity. Reporter Emilio San Pedro was in the Florida City homestead area of South Florida on the anniversary of Hurricane Andrew. He reports that life is only very slowly returning to normal in this primarily farmworker community.

The Centro Campesino in Florida City is a farm worker support organization that serves as the unofficial town center for many of South Dade's migrant and year-round farm workers. Housing counselor Leslie Guerra says that every day, the staff at the Centro sees indications that the damages caused by Hurricane Andrew are still affecting the area's farmworkers.

In the long run, or the long term, the farmworker was affected because now there aren’t any- there's not as much work. There used to be a lot of farm laboring work done on lime groves, in plant nurseries, and stuff like that. And, as you know, everybody lost their trees in their backyard or their front yard, so you can imagine how the plant nursery industry did. And the farmworker, especially the farmworker who's here year-round, does lots of work in that particular industry, and that was almost completely wiped out.

One year after the eye of Hurricane Andrew passed over the agricultural region of South Dade, many farms remain closed or are operating at half capacity. The cost of housing has risen sharply, due to the destruction of many of the trailer parks, apartments and homes that house agricultural workers.

Last night I was watching a special program about the hurricane, and it was sad. It made me sad because I'm thinking-

Terry Adellano is a dance teacher at the Centro Campesino. She has seen her life, and the lives of the farmworkers she works with, transformed.

Our spirits really were blown away with the hurricane because our school was completely torn. I mean, our costumes flew away, our shoes. Along with a lot of our students that had to relocate to West Palm Beach, some to Texas, some stayed here, but most of them had to relocate because they didn't have nowhere else to live.

One of her students is Raul. His family stayed, even though their house was damaged, and his parents lost their business.

I learned not to give up by helping my parents after the hurricane, going out, making a little money by cleaning up other people's yards after I cleaned up my yard. My parents were just starting to pick up on a restaurant, and on the same day that the hurricane hit, the insurance man was supposed to come and approve it. But Hurricane Andrew beat him to it.

I'm going to ask Governor Chiles to say a few-

Today, on the eve of the anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, Terry Adellano and others at the Centro Campesino are hosting Florida's governor, Lawton Chiles, and other dignitaries who are paying visits to many of South Dade's hardest-hit regions.

I want to say how surprised I was when I came in here to see not only repairs being made to the homes that were here, but to see all the new homes being constructed. By golly, I'm delighted to see that the tent city is no longer there.

This is one of the houses that was rebuilt. This house was here during the hurricane. In fact, this house was used for-

Outside the office of the Centro Campesino is a housing development called Centro Villas. The more than 60 homes are owned by farmworkers that have participated in the Centro's sweat equity program. Antonia Torres lives in one of the houses and is the president of the Centro Villas Homeowners Association.

No, me falta terminar la cocina…[transition to English dub] I still need to redo the kitchen, and the kitchen cabinets haven't been replaced. Also, the tool shed was destroyed, and my fence has not been repaired [transition to original audio]…todavía.

Today, Antonia brought her husband and two boys to the Centro Campesino to hear what the governor had to say.

Que bueno que nos visitó el gobernador, que bueno…[transition to English dub] It's great that the governor came here, and hopefully it won't be just a visit. Hopefully it will result in assistance for all that need it. Sometimes it happens that way. They visit, look around, say they're going to help, and in the end, they don't do nothing [transition to original audio]…ojalá que esta vez sí ayuden.

Housing Counselor Leslie Guerra points out that houses like those in Centro Campesino are the exception for farmworkers, and that the majority of farmworkers are finding it difficult to make ends meet after Andrew, due to the shortage of affordable housing. She adds that the post-hurricane assistance offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, was in many cases inadequate.

I think that FEMA has helped with maybe their personal property and personal belongings and things like that, but that is not long-term help. When someone replaces their furniture, it doesn't really get them back into the shape that they were in before. Helping them get a better job, helping them get better housing, that's what FEMA really should have done instead of giving them $8,000 or $9,000 and say, "Hey, buy new furniture with it." Is that really helping somebody put them back to where they were, or even helping them put their life back together psychologically and emotionally?

Hurricane Andrew caused over $1 billion in damages to South Dade's agriculture industry, and left thousands of acres of farmland barren. But today, many of the businesses on US 1 are back in operation, and some of the larger agricultural companies are in full swing. But many farmworkers have not yet fully recovered from the loss of housing and employment opportunities. For Latino USA, I'm Emilio San Pedro In Florida City.

There was another free trade-related summit in Tijuana, Mexico. This went to form a community-based agenda regarding NAFTA. Joseph Leon has this report.

Hundreds of people representing US and Mexican environmental labor groups met to discuss the North American Free Trade Agreement. The US, Mexican, and Canadian governments believe that NAFTA will tend to the economic and environmental needs of the communities throughout North America. But for the community groups, the agreement will accomplish quite a different goal. Mike Guerrero of the Southwest Organizing Project in New Mexico.

The North American Free Trade Agreement, as it's negotiated now, has nothing to do with free trade. For them to increase their profit margins means cutting our wages, cutting environmental regulations, cutting social services, and that's basically what it's all about.

Those who met in Tijuana hope to influence the public's opinion on NAFTA before the Congress issues their vote in the coming months. For Latino USA, I'm Joseph Leon.

A much-cited Los Angeles report on the cost of immigrants to local government is being called into question. A report by the Urban Institute claims the LA County report overstated the cost of immigrants on local government services. You're listening to Latino USA.

NPR reporter Richard Gonzales. He says, "Cuban American Congress members remain opposed to the trade agreement." In California, three of several bills seeking to limit immigration and access to services by the undocumented have been approved by the state legislature. Armando Botello has more.

Many Americans are living longer, healthier lives, but that's not true for minority youth or for many of those living in the central cities or rural areas. That was the finding of the government's annual survey on the state of the nation's health, which outlines disparities in health status depending on educational level, race and ethnic group. In unveiling the survey, Health and Human Services secretary Donna Shalala pointed to the rising rate of AIDS and homicide as major health problems. This is news from Latino USA.

The California lawmakers defeated measures that would restrict health and education services to undocumented immigrants. However, they approved a bill that would prevent that same group from obtaining a driver's license. The Latino legislators were divided in their support of the measure. Assembly member Louis Caldera defended the bill, saying it is reasonable and it could diffuse pressure from other more drastic measures. But Assembly woman Martha Escutia and most of the other Latino legislators voted against, saying it could foster more drastic discrimination against non-white immigrants. Other bills that were approved with the backing of Latino legislators would require proof of legal residency to those who apply for employment training under state funds and would make smuggling undocumented immigrants into California a state crime. Reporting for Latino USA in Sacramento, California, I'm Armando Botello.

In San Diego, the county board of Supervisors has voted to bill the federal government for the cost of services provided to the undocumented in this country. Board members say they plan to charge President Clinton for the cost of providing hospital care and jail service to day laborers. This vote follows debate in several San Diego area school districts over the cost of educational access by undocumented immigrants. Wanda Levine reports on a resolution passed in the San Diego community of Vista, which criticizes federal laws requiring all children be taught regardless of citizenship districts.

The original resolution endorsed efforts by California Governor Pete Wilson to control illegal immigration. But public outcry and disagreement among board members toned down the final resolution to read, "The school board is concerned about legislation designed to curtail illegal immigration." School board member Joyce Lee proposed the resolution.

I'd like to be able to count the illegals, send the number back to Washington and ask for federal funding that they would send in foreign aid to Mexico because these are their people. So let's get some of that money back to the school districts.

The final vote on the resolution came after 30 minutes of heated public comments, most critical of the decree. Many called the resolution racist. For Latino USA, I'm Wanda Levine in San Diego.

I'm Maria Hinojosa. Lawmakers in Washington DC took up a bill introduced earlier this year by Democratic Representative Xavier Becerra of California. The measure would create an independent commission to oversee and investigate human rights abuses by the Border Patrol. Patricia Guadalupe reports from Washington.

The Independent Review Commission proposed by Democratic Representative Xavier Becerra of California would be in charge of investigating cases of alleged abuse within the ranks of the Border Patrol. According to the latest findings from the human rights group, America's Watch, cases of abuse by authorities along the US-Mexico border have increased dramatically. America's Watch says most incidents stem from a lack of adequate training and insensitivity on the part of Border Patrol agents. Becerra's proposed commission would review abuse cases and have the power to impose sanctions. It would also include substantial community outreach so people are aware of their rights when they file a complaint. Congressman Becerra says the current system is inadequate. Complaints take a long time to be investigated and then take years to complete. Even then, enforcement is minimal.

So you're talking about something that would take care of making sure that we have actual investigations and enforce investigation of abuse and then enforcement of any abuses of the law.

The new agency which would employ 10 commissioners appointed by President Clinton would cost $15 million. The Immigration and Naturalization Service, which manages the Border Patrol is completely against Becerra's idea. Chris Sale, acting INS Commissioner, calls us a waste of money in these hard economic times. She adds the INS is in the middle of proposing their own advisory board to include cooperation from the Mexican government.

The major distinction is that Congressman Becerra's bill would propose yet an additional governmental agency with a staff that would increase the numbers of entities working the system. And we would prefer, frankly, to let the IG and the Civil Rights Division continue to do their work because it's already being done and to establish a citizen's advisory panel, which would have a broader set of requirements, but also deal with the abuse issues directly for the Attorney General. It's really a matter of not having to further complicate things with more laws.

But Congressman Becerra says he's tired of advisory boards.

It's a good concept. It's unfortunate that it's coming so late and it's only a reaction to what's happened in the past. But again, a citizens' panel only has so much power. It does not have power to investigate. It does not have power to subpoena. It does not have power to institute some type of discipline against an employee who is found to have committed abuses. It does not have oversight capacity that will give it the ability to stop the abuse that has occurred in the past.

Congressman Becerra says he has a lot of support for his measure among his colleagues, but sources close to the committee considering his bill say they don't think it'll pass, as the current climate in Congress is against further spending and more government. For Latino USA, I'm Patricia Guadalupe in Washington.

23 years ago, Luis Aguilar was a homeless, undocumented immigrant, wandering the streets of Los Angeles after being picked up by the US Immigration Service. Today, Luis Aguilar manages two successful restaurants in Lamont, California, but he's never forgotten his humble beginnings. And that's why three times a year this once undocumented immigrant opens his doors to feed the homeless. Jose Gaspar reports from Bakersfield, California.

One of the best-known Mexican restaurants in Kern County, California, is El Pueblo Restaurant, located in the small farming town of Lamont, just 20 minutes south of Bakersfield. As usual, the restaurant today is filled to capacity, but today the clients are the homeless people of Kern County. They've been invited here by Luis Aguilar. The owner of El Pueblo.

It comes from my heart that I like to share this with these wonderful people that they really need it, because I went through this a long time ago, and I know how it feels to be on the streets and without a job, and no place to live.

Luis Aguilar came to this country 23 years ago as an illegal immigrant from Michoacán, Mexico. After being picked up by the Immigration Service in Los Angeles, he was deported to Tijuana but made his way back. He was homeless until a married couple took him in and helped him find a job. Today, Luis Aguilar feeds the largest group of homeless people three times a year. And that means a lot to people. Such as 25 year old Joyce Humble, who's been homeless for the past two years.

It feels to me that they're reaching out and helping us on the ones who can't really get out and afford a lunch like this. And it feels great to know that somebody cares.

27-year-old Roger Barton from Los Angeles also came to eat here today. He hasn't eaten in a restaurant in several years.

Well, a lot of these people probably haven't eaten in a restaurant in maybe five years. And what it does, it adds a little bit of, makes them feel a little bit human. Instead of eating on a soup line, day after day after day, they come to a restaurant, sit down, they're served and adds a little hope to them.

More and more people come for the free meal each time. Unemployment in the Central Valley County is one of the highest anywhere in California, especially for farm workers. It's taken a heavy toll on many farm workers such as 52 year old Fidel Luna.

[inaudible] como tres meses sin casa y eso que se debio porque no pago la renta… [English dub]

I've been without work for three months, he says. "There's no more work for me in Los Angeles. There's no money to pay the rent, and it's much more difficult to survive as an undocumented immigrant when we don't have papers.

Porque el que tienen papeles pos [inaudible] y hay le dan para el [inaudible] Yo no tengo nada.

The person who has papers at least can get food stamps. I don't have anything," says Fidel Luna. You can't help but noticing the number of women and children who, along with the men, join the ranks of the homeless. While he's glad to feed the homeless. Luis Aguilar is also sad to see the growing number of people who need his help.

We got children from two years and up, families of seven to eight members in the family. It just makes me upset, see this, all these children without a place to live and I just feel bad and I want to do more for them if I can.

For Latino USA, I'm Jose Gaspar in Bakersfield, California.