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Letters

COURAGEOUS COVERAGE

Congratulations on your best edition published yet. Your research on CITIZEN LATINO (May LP Special Report) has touched the subject of the racial climate affecting not only undocumented immigrants, but all kinds of Latinos in the state and the nation.

This is a topic that a lot of Latino journalists are afraid to write about, and I am proud of the way you consummated it.

I have been a reader of Latino Perspectives since the premier edition, and I have always had the impression that it targeted only a few people in our community. Today I read this edition and I feel proud to say Latino Perspectives became a magazine for everyone, (one that) not only targets a few educated Mexican-Americans, but it also explains the spectrum of feelings towards such an important subject such as racial identity.

Thank you, again, for the hard work that is put into LP, and I hope you keep up the good work.

Luis Avila

STANDOUT LATINA

This is to thank you for your Salt River Project ad “Meet the Power Behind the Face” (March LP, Page 52). I was in the same Valle del Sol Community Power class. Rachel stood out as an influence in our class. Her approach to problem-solving, great questions and willingness to contribute was evident even then. Her voice in class was exceptional. She continues to be a person giving back to government and the community. Arizona needs more people influencing and formulating public policy. Rachel Perez’s voice should definitely be listened to.

We were the FIRST Community Power class. I’m happy to see the ad regarding Rachel Perez. I’d like to make the suggestion that you consider doing a feature article about Rachel so that other East Valley residents can benefit from reading about her leadership skills and contributions. She deserves a feature story.

Sheila Mitton
Valle del Sol Community Power Graduate, Mesa

'CONTRIVED CRISIS'

I have been perusing your pages today ... and have been impressed by the quality of writing and the user-friendly Web site. I especially enjoyed (Ruben) Hernandez’ most recent From the Editor column (Chronicles of quandaries, soul searches, May LP) about his son, “La Migra” and the wedge issue that is being created by the incessant drum beat of fear surrounding “illegal” immigration.

I hope that all Americans will read this very poignant and personal expression of exactly what is wrong with this contrived crisis and join together to combat the divisiveness and hatred that is driving policy-making in Washington. This is clearly an election year issue designed to “divide and conquer.” Americans would be well advised not to take the bait and demand that politicians put a halt to the rhetoric of impending doom and find positive, common ground to unite us, north and south of the border.

Marianne Maffeo
Maffeo Media, Phoenix

DIGGING DEEPER

I enjoyed very much reading your May special report on CITIZEN LATINO. I am a professor at ASU and do research on border issues. On page 34 you cite the CIS (Center for Immigration Studies) as an independent, non-partisan, non-profit research organization.

While this might be technically the case, the Southern Poverty Law Center lists this organization as an anti-immigrant organization. It was founded and has received funding from John Tanton, who has been key in establishing and funding anti-immigrant and “English Only” institutes. Tanton is founder of FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Control), which acts as something of an umbrella for the anti-immigrant movement and has also funded Arizona’s Prop. 200 campaign. I just thought I would pass this along.

Roxanne Doty