Letter: How about being Americans first?
After discussing Madera’s problems with family and friends for a lot of years and never coming to a solution or suggestion of what can be done, I decided that I’d let you know how I feel.
I miss Madera … the Madera I grew up in, but I miss the era also. It was a wonderful time to grow up, less crime, fewer drugs, less division among us (or maybe we heard less about it). I have lived in Madera County 58 of my 61 years, so that’s awhile to see changes.
In yesterday’s Tribune I read that article called “We got what we created.” It was a good article, and I agree with Mr. Taubert as far as what we have let be created in our downtown. I feel that it is the property owners who just want an income (you can’t blame them for that), but don’t care too much what it looks like. I feel it is our city leaders who don’t seem to care either. I want you to understand that I don’t really mind the color, in fact, except for the yellow/gold place I rather like it. It sure isn’t boring!
Now, to what does bother me. Mr. Taubert’s comment about some of the people who have called into the Red Line, calling them racists because they make sometimes nasty comments about the look of our downtown. How funny it is that he can call people racists, but if the shoe was on the other door it would be okay. And there lies the problem, in my opinion. We Maderans who have lived and loved being here are tired of seeing not only our city, but our state taken over by people who do not want to be Americans.
Do you feel welcomed in most of the stores downtown? I don’t. Their signs are in a foreign language and they speak to you in a foreign language, so why would I feel welcomed?
Fortunately, I was able to know my grandparents, immigrants from Italy, who had to come through Ellis Island, and for two years had to work in Louisiana sugar cane fields to pay back the people who brought them here. That meant two years of two families per house and you could only buy supplies from the plantation stores. Slavery, hmm. But they came. Why? Because they wanted to be Americans. They loved being Italian, and taught their children Italian, but went to school at their expense to learn English and to become American citizens.
So what I am trying to say is that we should be the city to tell America that we want to be American-Italians, American-Russians, American-Mexicans, American-Japanese, American-African or whatever ethnic background — that we are Americans first. That us what I think downtown needs.
Dorlene L. De Cesare,
Madera
Wait wait wait…you’re actually bringing up first generation immigrants with respect to the current immigration concerns?
I’d say you were creating a strawman of some sort, but it’s not worth it. You also compared two years of working as a way to repay debt to chattel slavery, so I really wonder exactly what you were getting at with your letter.
Now, I do want to illustrate a point to you. You claim to not feel welcome at shops that speak another language to you, or have signs that are not in English. This should be familiar to any immigrant who comes to the United States, nothing is in their native language. That goes for people nearly worldwide, upon coming here, they experience a culture shock. Of course people are going to find themselves looking for people who are similar to what they know (this is important).
However, looking for something similar doesn’t always end up in a positive result. So when someone is actually established in this country and can start a family, look for a career and et cetera, it’s not completely out of the question for them to want to provide a service to those who are coming from a similar situation. That’s the beauty of America, anyone can do anything (within the law and reason of course).
It wouldn’t be the same though, without people like yourself, who I think mean well, but come off in a way that exposes your latent biases. You have a problem with people who “do not want to be Americans,” but you have no idea what these people want in life, whether that’s American citizenship or to be a part of the country or whatever. You make an assumption based on what you believe is being an American. It’s not the same for everyone. Since no one is saying this, I feel I may as well say it, the only thing I keep seeing is a bunch of methods to dress up the same old bias.
“They don’t speak English/Signs aren’t in English”
Because they’re catering to those who don’t speak English/can’t speak English/prefer to speak another language, as is their right to do in their business.
“They don’t want to be Americans”
Well, if I came to a country that very clearly segregates and discriminates against people for the sole reason of being an immigrant and therefore different, I’d be skeptical about assimilating too. I mean, you can look at it from the beginning, blacks being first and treated as equals then turned into commerce, Irish, Italians, and Jews all being treated as distinct “races,” Asians and Pacific Islanders being constantly stereotyped as the Ideal Minority, on and on.
The main issue I see with these comments surrounding downtown is that the occupants of the buildings in question are Hispanic or Latino and that they don’t conform to the standards of other people with regards to “being an American.” I sincerely hope that ignorance is put to rest soon.
Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. It’s the American Way. Maybe people should pay more attention to it and stop critcizing people for doing what any immigrant group does.
The problem is not who is in the old downtown buildings.
The colour of the buildings is different from Main Street America of the past; Yes, this is very true.
The signs not being in English. I really have to agree with both letters. The point being many cultures make up this country. Of course being American ment that you wanted to learn the language spoken in your country. Likewise if I were to go to another country I should be expected to speak that country’s language.
However, the real issue is the lack of Madera’s city officals in enforcing building codes and the slum lords that own the property.
Madera’s planning commision is also at fault.
Taggers have also added to the mess, that was once a great place to shop.
Yet, it is the apathy of residents new and old to Madera, as well as our elected officals, that has been the downfall of our, meaning everyone’s, city.
Suggestions:
Getting Flamed rolls right off me so here goes.
1. Move the Fair Grounds and Race track out to 17 and 99 next to the Airport and new casino. Add a water park for famlies to go to.
2. Take down all of the old buildings between The professional Building and The S.S office. Replace them with newer buildings and better parking. I have lived here for many, many years and have not shopped in downtown since Newberry’s and the fabric store went out. All of that was run down then! But I do remember people being nice and saying hello.
3. Build a New Post office. Or open a new branch in an old store like the old Big Lots where there is more parking and more people could be served. This cuts down on angry people in long lines on hot days.
4. Use old buildings like the PG&E one for a Children’s Museum, or some type of outreach educational center for new residents that want to learn English and/or find out what is availble to them in Madera. Kind of a Welcome center even… I know ideas are out there.
5. Clean up the run down apartments and slum housing, Cleveland’s look run by gang bangers. Make those landlords accountable! Hold them to the law. If they won’t fix it, do it for them, then sue against them until they pay up. No one in America, or Madera needs to live in sub-standard houses.
6. Fix the downton roads. Gateway is a mess, at least repave it.
7. Support city wide Pre-school for every child, not just low-income people. Also, offer city backed “Pocket” programs in arts and crafts at un-occupied stores like the old Big Lots, once fabric store by Washington MU or again the old PG&E building. Places within walking distance to people on the East and West sides. This will give more of our young people of all cultures something to do. I know I would be willing to help!
8. Make your voice heard at City Hall! Not just through the newspaper. We voted these people in, let them know what the people want that put them there.
9. Make Madera People Friendly. Say Hello to someone at least three times a day or more, no matter where you shop.
10. Use foreclosed homes as public housing for all races and really screen the people that go into them. Limit the number of people that can live in one house to a mom/or, and/ dad and children only. Not 6 other families, as often happens here.
11. Hold all people to the laws of the U.S. and Madera. Hire more Police to keep drugs , gangs and taggers out of Madera.
That is my 2 cents. Take it, leave it, run with it, together we can come up with a newer Madera, a cleaner brighter future for all people that live here.
Everyone has postive ideas out there. Let us start a grassroots movement for a better Madera. Actual people could run it and everyones voice could be heard.
Then elected officals would have to listen to the will of the people. That is their job and if they will not do it, then run someone for office that will and vote the good ole boys out.
One thing…. moving the Fair Grounds and race track out to avenue 17 and 99 next to the airport and new casino would not make Madera any better or improve it if you look at the issue closely. With gas prices as high as they are it might make less people go to the fair and the races. Where they both are right now are a central location to most of Madera, at least I think so. Moving them seems like a waste of time and money. What would happen to the fairgrounds as they are now? Would they just finish off the rest of it with stores and destroy the rest of Madera’s past? I like them in an area I can get to from any part of town fairly quick.
Also, homeless people urinating just about anywhere dowtown with no care about whether they are seen by anyone or not is a problem too. It was bad enough the first time when I was with a friend and she had to witness it off of a street that gets a moderate amount of traffic…. but when I have to witness it… when there is a restroom that can be used inside of an open business right there….it seems like it’s not just a minor problem that should be overlooked…
Part 2 …When the Fair grounds and Race track were built, they were on the out-skirts of town.
With the new construction, traffic and parking will be a huge problem. More so than the Wed. Swap meet one. With stores, the fair, swap meet all going at once.
Near to the airport, new casino, would give a lot of room to the fair and add new buildings.
Old buildings can be re used as still the skating rink, CDF bunk-housing, larger swap meet space, private rentals for parties. Homeless services, showers and meals.
Newer, Race track - less noise for home owners.
Newer, Fair grounds- newer bigger better fair, bathrooms, livestock area.
New water park for familes to go to most of the year. Keeps children and young adults busy too.
This was my reasoning.
A Lot of great ideas out there!
What is yours?