Marilu Montiel, a parishioner of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church in Los Angeles, came to the United States from Mexico with her family when she was five years old - as an undocumented child. Now at age 22, she is unable to obtain a legal driver's license. With few options available, she took a chance and began driving her sisters to school and herself to work. Then while driving through Santa Monica, she was stopped at a checkpoint. When the officer discovered that she had no license, he immediately gave her a ticket and impounded her car for 30 days, a process which incurred expenses in excess of $1,000. Montiel had to find a second job in addition to taking the bus three hours each way to get to work.
"It was very hard time for me, my sisters, and my whole family," Montiel said. "I am telling you my story because I do not want other families to have to go through what I have gone through."
Finding a way for people from other countries to obtain valid drivers' licenses in the United States was one of the many issues discussed at the One LA-IAF (Industrial Areas Foundation) delegate's assembly meeting held at Wilshire Christian Church in Los Angeles June 25. More than 1,400 people from Catholic parishes and Christian congregations, synagogues, schools, labor unions, and civic organizations packed the hot church to meet with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other city officials.
Other critical issues discussed at the meeting included reducing the Bradley Landfill in Sun Valley, moving the Los Angeles Marathon from Sunday to a state holiday, improving education and safety for students in the city, increasing affordable housing in Los Angeles and promoting an awareness and respect for the dignity of immigrants.
During a talk with Mayor Villaraigosa, Ricardo Loredo from Fernangeles Elementary School in Los Angeles said that a recent report measured the poor air quality around the Bradley Landfill, and he encouraged the mayor to visit the site where residents live with "a mountain of trash in their backyard every day." The mayor agreed to the walking tour, and stated that he is working toward a solution.
"We know that this issue of environmental justice is an issue that has plagued our community for a long time and coming together we can resolve it," said the mayor. "I am committed to continuing to accommodate your position."
"The Bradley dump is right next to us in Sun Valley," said Ovidio Velasquez, a parishioner of Santa Rosa Parish in San Fernando who attended the meeting with a busload of fellow parishioners. Velasquez stated that parishioners from Santa Rosa Church held a candlelight vigil through the streets, located right next to the landfill, to protest. He said that in the Bradley Landfill issue, he feels confident in working with One LA-IAF because of previous experience with the organization.
"Especially in my neighborhood, there was a lot of drug activity," Velasquez said. "Because of One LA, they helped us organize a lot of house meetings with the police and the city council and they are helping send people away that used to sell drugs."
Concerning the marathon, the mayor said that in 2007 there will be a new route that allows access to 90 percent of the churches blocked by the former course. He stated that in three years, when the current contract expires, he will bring members of One LA-IAF to the contract renegotiations and the event may be moved to a state holiday.
The mayor also agreed to work with members of One LA-IAF to collaborate on the needs of schools from the views of both teachers and parents.
Terry Carter, from Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, said that during housing meetings for One LA-IAF, she constantly hears stories of poor housing conditions and high rent. "Los Angeles has a housing crisis," Carter said. "Less than 12 percent of LA residents can afford to buy a home."
Eric Garcetti, city council president, said that he is working toward affordable housing in the city through four means: a billion-dollar housing bond, finding a permanent source for the housing trust fund, creating inclusive housing for people of all incomes, and by protecting the rights of tenants.
"This is not an issue we can talk about here and solve inside a room," Garcetti said. "As we speak, you know that there is someone else who is losing their housing today. We know there is a family that is hitting the streets for the first time in their lives tonight."
Oblate of Mary Immaculate Father James Fee, pastor of Mary Immaculate Church in Pacoima, said that his parish has been involved with One LA since its inception.
"It gives us the strength, power and ability beyond what we could do alone. As we sit (in the meeting), we find out that our needs and our problems are shared needs and problems. They don't exist just at Mary Immaculate. I think it is a great way to witness to the kingdom," Father Fee said.
Bishop Gabino Zavala, who gave the opening prayer, said that the experience of people in Los Angeles is not the same, though he thanks God for the "opportunity of mending the world."
"Because we are doing the work that breaks down barriers of race, geography, language, economics and point of view, we find that power comes from being in relationship with one another," he said. |