María Elena Durazo, representative of the 24th district, urged people to get involved, organize and participate in the community to deal with the problems in their neighborhood.
Senator Maria Elena Durazo said it was unacceptable that people who can vote do not, especially now that Donald Trump is in the White House.
"If people don't vote, we are facilitating and allowing more abuse and fraud," said the senator from Café Rebelde, a business in Boyle Heights that has become a space to vent the problems and concerns of the community in the east. of the Angels.
Durazo that for three decades led the efforts of union workers and since last year is a representative in the California Senate of District 24, stressed that people may have understandable reasons why they are angry about the voting process, the electoral college , Iowa, etc., but emphasized that the worst would be to stop participating in an election.
If people do not vote, it is like allowing politicians who have done fraud to continue doing so; he recalled that thousands of people fought for many years to achieve that right; so, participation in the polls is the best way to fight for the objectives that are sought and those of people who still cannot vote.
Durazo stressed that it would be "unacceptable and shameful" for people not to participate in the elections on March 3.
Similarly, the official urged the Latino community to be counted in the 2020 Census that will begin in a few weeks.
He said that today more than ever the community needs to participate in the 10-year count since President Trump is taking many resources out of California and if he doesn't answer the Census questionnaire, the state will lose millions of dollars in resources.
Durazo recalled that Los Angeles County is the most difficult to count in California, so it will be necessary for people who are aware of the importance of the process, to encourage their family, friends and if it is necessary to hold an event in their community for everyone to participate.
The event that began after 10 am on Saturday, February 15, with around 20 residents of the area, began with a summary of the initiatives that the senator has written and supported in her first year at the head of District 24, where 77% of residents are tenants.
That is why as a member of the Budget Committee in California, he said he made sure there was a lot of resources to invest in housing, but emphasized that it was not all money and it was important to fight for the rights of tenants; In addition to ensuring that people have access to affordable housing.
Fanny Ortiz, from the Tierra Libre Community Trust, said they were seeking support from the senator to see the possibilities of tenants being the first option at the time the owners decide to sell the apartments where the tenants have lived.
Cora Cervantes, who is part of the movement for Measure R, expressed concern about the fact that the day before the increase of more resources for migration authorities had been announced in order to reach communities in sanctuary states and help in the arrests of immigrants.
On the other hand, Lidia Quezada said that the media focuses only on immigration and crime, but they do not give space to see how big and good the community is doing. He emphasized the importance of publishing positive things about Latinos and not letting negative comments like those of the president, define the community.
Miguel Perla, businessman, expressed concern about the AB5 proposal that does not allow freelacers make more than 35 contributions, limiting your work options; although he stressed that he had mixed feelings since he knew how important the law could be in sectors where it can give many workers more benefits.
Blanca Espinosa, from the Union de Vecinos organization, closed the conversation expressing the importance of trying to make the change, but always, and not waiting for an election or a Census to get involved.
"As a community we have a lot of power and we must exercise it because we don't need to wait for elections to make the change," Espinosa said. "We must always be working and be aware of what is happening in our communities because everyone is being affected."
The senator listened to all the attendees, answered the questions and if she didn't have the answer, she ordered her representatives to follow up on the issue.
In the end, Senator Durazo emphasized the importance of organizing and participating in the community since there are many economic forces in Sacramento that oppose many of the issues that benefit the people who have less, but if the community is united and organized it will be Easier to counteract those forces.
The event ended shortly before noon, but not before taking the photo of the memory and thanking Arturo Carmona, owner of the place, the opportunity to create a space for people to express themselves and thus seek solutions to the problems of the community.
