Latino Voting Rights in the News

Posted in *Walatinos Project Research*, Voting Rights on 10/15/2009 11:29 pm by duffyze

Hello, world! A quick introduction before I get to the main point of this blog post: my name is Zach Duffy and I am conducting a project for the State of the State for Washington Latinos course in conjunction with Seattle University Law School’s National Voting Rights Advocacy Initiative initiative, led by Professor Joaquin Avila, a nationally recognized Latino/a voting rights expert who has successfully argued two voting rights cases before the United States Supreme Court. I am also being assisted by Naomi Strand, a 3L at SU Law.

In my own research, I have been looking at the representation of Latinos in Washington State’s local voting jurisdictions, and examining the electoral methods and demographic factors that may be contributing to what I have started to find is a severe lack of Latino representation  – even in areas with very large Latino populations.

This all makes a couple of stories that have made the headlines very interesting to me. The first, an article in the Visalia, California Times-Delta, serves as an example of how even local voting districts like Visalia’s school board can be set-up in such a way that minority voices within them are disenfranchised. Juan Guerrero’s effort to change the school board to a district-based election system is not an isolated case, but the fact is that even forty-something years after the Voting Rights Act was signed into law, there just really isn’t enough research on whether minority candidates are being systematically denied access to local offices. That’s where I come in for Washington State, and I think I’ll find some really compelling information.

The second piece,  an AP article addressing the immigration reform efforts of one of the nation’s most prominent Latino rights organizations – the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) – notes that one of MALDEF’s top priorities is “protecting Latino’s voting rights when legislatures take up redistricting after the Census, probably on an expanded geographic scale than in previous years because of growth of the Latino population.” This just serves as a reminder to me that even with the voting rights work that is going on around the country, new and unpredictable challenges to Latino enfranchisement lie ahead. Still, here’s to a beginning.

 

“A Sustainable Bounty:” the secret side of agriculture in Washington State

Posted in *Walatinos Project Research* on 09/29/2009 03:04 pm by popovind

It’s hard to get the personal stories of almost 3000 farm workers about housing conditions, employment issues, health and child care. But that’s exactly what the Washington State Farmworker Housing Trust spent most of 2006 doing. Last Thursday they presented a compilation of the state-wide survey results to a room of interest groups, ranging from representatives from Habitat for Humanity to the Washington State Farm Bureau to interested college students like myself. They presented some striking findings showing the important impact farmworker housing issues in Washington  have on the agricultural industy and the economy as a whole . The agricultural industry provides $2.30 in economic growth for every $1 invested in crops – or $8.4 billion a year – making it the largest contributor to Washington’s economy and all the more reason to make sure it is sustainable on economic, social, and environmental levels.

After conducting nearly 3000 interviews across the state, the Housing Trust was able to start pinpointing where the main issues are with housing conditions for farm workers in all different kinds of crops. Some of the more shocking findings included:

- over 1/3 of all farmworkers interviewed reported some kind of housing problem

- 6% of those interviewed live outside, in a shed, or in a car

- 91% of farmworkers said better housing conditions would encourage them to continue work in the agricultural industry

- 80% are without health insurance (slightly higher than the estimated 85% national average for farm workers)

The Trust works to provide more sustainable and humane housing conditions for Washington State’s  187,000+ farm workers and their families through various housing projects, including year-round, seasonal, and temporary structures. One of their main concerns right now is getting more private investments to fund these projects and get more input about the regionally specific and crop specific housing needs in different parts  of the state.

One of the current projects is going up within the next year in Franklin County. Despite some initial opposition, the Ringold “green” housing project that will provide seasonal housing for 96 farm workers has gotten State funding and plans are well in the making. There will be a “ground-breaking” event this October and the housing project is on schedule to be completed by June 1, 2010 – just in time for the harvesting season.

 

Stimulate the Economy

Posted in Latino Education Issues, Uncategorized on 04/02/2009 11:34 pm by heathernh

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn’t think our nation needs some serious economic work.  The recent $8 billion dollar stimulus package is an attempt to inject federal dollars into the veins of society.  In general, the resonse to the stimulus package has been positive.  The average American stands to gain, especially if the average American happens to be a first time home owner or car buyer.

Part of the stimuls package includes expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit to offset the economic burden for those suffering the most from this crisis: the low income-earning families.

This is great.  Our state should follow this tactic.  By instating a state wide EITC and making the federal EITC more accessible to Washington’s workers, we have a chance to pull out of the economic crisis.

 

College Students Can Do More Than Chug Beer

Posted in *Walatinos Project Research* on 04/02/2009 01:18 pm by lisacurtis

One of my friends once told me that he didn’t think there was any point to being an activist at Whitman. He explained that he was here to learn and that he didn’t want anything interfering with that. He also doubted that anything he did in Walla Walla would have any sort of national or statewide impact.

Last week I saw this friend and told him that together with my fellow researchers, I had spent an hour in the Washington Secretary of State’s office informing the Secretary’s staff on how they could do better outreach to Latinos. They were asking us questions, looking to us, undergraduate students, as experts.

My research in Walla Walla was defied my expectations. I had always thought of research as a process of reading a ton of information and then compiling that information into a report. While “researching” strategies to engaging Latinos in the Walla Walla community, I attended visited different homes, attended neighborhood meetings and developed strong relationships with the people I was “researching.”

I was nervous while writing my forty-page report, but my anxiety didn’t stem from the grade I would receive but rather from an urgent desire to do justice to the people I was writing about and present their issue in the best manner possible. The true test of my research came when I communicated that research first to the community and then to policy-makers.

I have learned more from my community-based research that I could have possibly learned in any class. I met incredible people I never would have known otherwise and discovered abilities I never thought I had.

Social change doesn’t require a degree. As college students, we are uniquely positioned with resources and freedom that we can use to make change.

 

Sharing responsibility means sharing funds as well!

Posted in Community Engagement, Public Communication on 04/01/2009 10:59 pm by enricamaffucci

sharing

Washington’s giant budget deficit means cutting a lot of programs, and therefore eliminating many services that people have come to rely on. Another option, which my research in Quincy, WA identified specifically with educational programs and civic engagement, is the way that a community-based organization made to fill one purpose can often serve double duty because it is already positioned to provide other programs. This is especially important for minority communities, such Latinos.

This seems like an easy ‘Yes’ choice across the board, because the more liberal thinkers love the wealth of program options it offers, while the more conservative thinkers hone in on the economic efficiency.

What I found in Olympia, though, was interesting. Many people have difficulty seeing the crucial partnership aspect of having community-based organizations either support or take over previously government run services. While legislators are happy to pass the responsibility for these projects to local organizations, they tend to not want to pass even a small portion of the funding already earmarked for those projects, saying that the state really can’t afford to be funding any more programs (it is left unstated how these small programs can expect to finance their newfound responsibilities).

If you can spend half as much to support an organization that provides not just the one, but multiple services, isn’t that actually funding fewer programs while providing more resources?

One thing which stuck strongly with me from the trip to Olympia is how important it is for legislators look not just at cost-cutting changes, but rather at truly cost-saving options when working to tackle the looming budget dilemma.

 

INTERCONNECTED: The Web of Success

Posted in Public Communication on 03/31/2009 06:56 pm by estelavasquez

Washington’s Representatives are concern about America’s economy. MONEY was a constant theme in all of our conversations. Where should the money go? Where cuts should be made?

The Governor’s Interagency Council on Health Disparities spoke to us about their model of health care. Often times it seems as though health care is about tests, doctors, vaccines, insurance, nutrition among other direct health services; however, it reality health care is much more than that. Health is affected by our immediate surroundings (e.g. quality of home), organizations (e.g. school), communities (e.g. neighborhood), and affected by our society (e.g. public policy).

Therefore, essentially the wellbeing of an individual is really the well-being of a society. At this point I realized how important policies are. Providing the tools and the resources for communities is imperative in order for the whole community to succeed.

The challenge is in identifying the tools that are most effective and efficient in order to financially support those tools. Research is needed for this. However, the research that is necessary is lacking, especially research concerning minorities. The resources available for our government to rely on are limited.

My trip to Olympia made me realize the significance of doing this type of research in order to support and create movement towards certain policies that will reflect the need present in our communities. Latinos are the fastest growing population of the United Sates and their needs are not being met. The well being of the Latinos is the well being of the whole community.

 

Enhancing School Environments = Closing the Acheivement Gap

Posted in Latino Education Issues, Public Communication on 03/31/2009 04:24 pm by estelavasquez

Going to Olympia Washington to speak to the Senators and Legislators of Washington Sate was EMPOWERING! I learned THREE things: Yes, our voices do matter. Yes, we can make a difference. And yes, it is CRITICAL for us to ENGAGE!

An area of great concern is providing quality education to close the achievement gap. Currently in the state of Washington There is a 26% high school graduation gap between Hispanics and Whites. I was excited to learn that the state requested and now has full achievement gap reports for certain minorities and specific recommendations on how to close the gap: Hispanics, African American, Asian American, Pacific Islanders etc. (SB-5973 Addressing the achievement gap).

Recommendations range from providing better teacher training, challenging courses, and even material access; however, little in regards to the school environment is present. In light of the school violence—bullying, harassment, gun-shooting etc—creating a welcoming, respectful, and comfortable school is crucial to successfully closing the achievement gap.

As I spoke to the Governors Gregoire Executive Policy Advisor who focuses on Education I was inform of the increase efforts for school-community programs–programs that bridge the in classroom learning with the real world. This not only increases the student’s involvement in the school but also outside the school, it increases their peer and adult network, as well as allows them to feel a sense of purpose and practicality in their life. Although great, more needs to be done.

I found in Walla Walla High School that RACE MATTERS. We need policies that address the racial inequalities because they are present in schools. Latinos students experience a higher degree of racial jokes and a higher degree of negative stereotype assumptions based on their skin color. They also not only have poorer teacher-student relationships, but a less extensive peer and adult networks as well which limits their access to resources and information in regards to obtaining higher education. Although these experiences are real, students feel hopeless and disempowered.

Wa-Hi has recently implemented a Civility Initiative in all of their primary and secondary schools. THIS IS GREAT!! We need more civility programs that address the violence occurring in schools and that actively focus on enhancing the environment. Yet, race must be actively incorporated in order to be address. Every child deserves the opportunity for a higher education. Every child deserves to feel welcome, comfortable, and respected when they are in school in order to increase their academic performance. I strongly encourage schools and the state to consider civility programs as a means to close the achievement gap.

Parents, students, community members, and organizations, lets start recognizing the importance of (1) school environment (2) race and (3) our ability to advocate change.

 

Where Will We Get the Money From?

Posted in *Walatinos Project Research* on 03/31/2009 12:44 pm by heathernh
No Money?!

No Money?!

After engaging in a rather uncomfortable discussion with Senator Mike Hewitt of our own Legislative District 16, I left wondering how Washington will be able to afford the changes we so desperately need. I asked Senator Hewitt to consider funding a state Earned Income Tax Credit (which was passed last year) and to encourage bilingual outreach of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

“Who would you have me take the money from to implement your suggestions?” he demanded. What he didn’t seem to realize was that my recommendations will actually bring more money into the state.

With an $8 billion dollar deficit, Washington needs as many federal dollars as it can get. The EITC is a federal tax credit available to working families with low incomes. Families can receive up to $4800 a year, enough to boost many families past the poverty threshold. Unfortunately, I found through extensive surveys and interviews that Latinos are unlikely to know about the EITC, and are even more unlikely to claim it. This means there are many people living in poverty that needn’t be.

This should upset you. Simply on a humanitarian level, you should be concerned for these people who should be claiming the tax credit – the mother who can’t afford to buy her 16-year-old son new jeans, the young couple who is evicted because they can’t afford rent. But even if that doesn’t strike a chord, you should be upset because this money belongs to your town! Walla Walla County alone stands to gain an extra $8 million dollars if every eligible person claimed the EITC. I know I can think of a few things to do with an extra $8 million dollars.

The costs of implementing bilingual outreach would be minimal. The IRS already offers many EITC outreach materials, and some in Spanish. Senator Hewitt need only encourage the use of these materials, as well as provide training for Spanish speakers at free tax preparation sites. A simple public acknowledgement of the problem may prompt local tax preparers who work with Latinos to inform their clients of the EITC and to make sure those who are eligible are actually claiming it.

Click here for my full report.

 

Where should the buck start?

Posted in Public Communication, Voting Rights on 03/30/2009 05:49 pm by Tim Shadix

money

Going to Olympia to discuss policy with state legislators becomes a tricky task when said legislators are dealing with an $8 billion shortfall in the state’s budget. Everyone is hyperaware of the potential budgetary implications of the issues you bring up, and quick to point them out. This made for a somewhat challenging environment for our group of students to pitch their policy recommendations. On the other hand, the budgetary focus of our reception illuminated an important aspect to my research that I had not previously considered.

My colleague Pedro Galvao mentioned in a recent post the importance of following laws with more adequate enforcement. What this trip emphasized for me is the importance of following laws with proper funding.

Along with classmates Nick Dollar and Pedro Galvao, I researched Latino voting rights in city council elections in Pasco, Washington. Our research was designed in part to look for violations of the federal Voting Rights Act (VRA). Among other provisions, the VRA protects minority voting rights by requiring certain jurisdictions to provide bilingual elections materials and voter outreach.

My research found that the implementation of bilingual programs and election ballots in Pasco doubled Latino voter turnout in the first two years after they were introduced. This is an important achievement in a town where Latinos comprise 56% of the population, yet comprise only 5% of voters in local elections and have no representation on the city council.

The situation is very similar in other towns in eastern Washington, indicating a widespread need for bilingual election outreach. The VRA responds to this need in its regulations, but the law was passed with no budgetary allocation to help states and counties actually pay for bilingual programs. A staff member of the Washington Legislature’s Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs who we spoke with about our research aptly called the bilingual requirements of the VRA an “un-funded mandate.” That is, the federal government has required action on bilingual election materials by local government but provided no source of funding. Practically this makes these programs dead in the water for local and state governments facing tight budgets.

This revelation comes as no shock, since difficulties in translating policy from the national to local levels is an all-to-common feature of federalism. However, this comment did reinforce in my mind the need for Washington State to consider drafting its own voting rights act, something already accomplished in California. The budget shortfall likely prevents such action for the moment, but drafting a state voting rights act might not only help to provide more funds for bilingual programs, it could also reinstate the important judicial recourses to voting rights violations that have been progressively eroded in the federal Act by a number of U.S. Supreme Court decisions.

 

Using Creativity in Government

Posted in *Walatinos Project Research* on 03/30/2009 10:02 am by lisacurtis

As my colleague Alisa Larsen-Xu pointed out in her post To Cut or Not to Cut, in this time of severe economic crisis it is incredibly important that we figure out which programs are most crucial for government funding. I would add that it is also crucial that we find ways government can influence policy without spending money.

Alisa noted that there is a neighborhood organization in Walla Walla called Commitment to Community (C2C) that has had great success in engaging Latinos in the greater community. I also worked with C2C but took a different approach, analyzing their strategies of engagement to figure out why they have had such success.

I found that the C2C strategy can be divided into three categories: trust, empowerment and a sense of common group identity. C2C builds trusting relationships in the neighborhoods by literally going door to door and talking to people about their needs. They find out what people want and then help them to make it happen; such as painting murals over The Spark to Civic Engagementgraffiti. By bringing the neighborhood together to fix problems they all face (such as crime) they create a sense of common group identity.

So what happens if we apply these strategies to government?

One of the things we asked legislators in Olympia to do was to encourage more Latino political participation through the provision of voter education materials in Spanish. The representatives were quick to tell us that they couldn’t help us because of a lack of funds.

What if instead of asking them for funds, we asked them for leadership? And not just any type of leadership but a type that utilizes the above mentioned strategies, trust, empowerment and common group identity.

What if those legislators all went back to their home districts and made a real effort to get to know their Latino constituents? What if they had a town hall in Spanish where they responded to their constituents questions? What if they worked with the community to set up volunteer booths where Spanish-speakers could go to have their ballots translated, thereby avoiding printing costs? What if they did outreach to their non-Latino constituents and told them that  problems the Latino community faces are problems that we all face, thereby creating a sense of common group identity?

It is clear that something needs to change. Perhaps we need to stop looking at our representatives as mere piggy banks and start looking to them to provide the type of leadership that they were elected for.

 
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