By Cesar Murillo
David Diaz presented the role of Latinos in the urban setting, the role of institutions like 'el barrio'--these 'special' neighborhoods that organize in a unique-but-mundane way in big cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco. These neighborhoods are notoriously linked to high levels of poverty, gangs, drugs, violence, and happily known for children playing about the streets, families hanging out in the patios, street vendors, parks of musicians and holiday parties; perhaps known as 'the ghetto' or 'the hood.' Nevertheless, these are the streets where most Latino families are created; a 'home' for many of us.
David Diaz introduced the discussion with a narrative of his Southern Californian youth, "As a carpenter's son... a professional, in city government, the political universe; and an academic, attending a racist urban planning program in the 1970's (UC Berkeley) and a somewhat progressive program in the late 1980s (UCLA). " (Diaz, 'Barrio Urbanism')
As part of our audience, Anne Cervantes--architect, community activist, and also CASA alumna, shared the racial differences that existed at the College of Environmental Design during the early 1970's. Diaz agreed that the role of all cities is to create a more sustainable one. Despite the location or demographics, making good use of our resources is an important value for the future.
Humorously, Diaz thinks that Latinos have 'been raised' to be sustainable. He says that Latinos know how to live tightly, shop locally, recycle, walk, use public transit, and engage in social/outdoor recreational activities. Diaz says, "Latinos are already sustainable,"---ironically, Latinos have been forced to consider affordability in their way of living and learned to make good use of their resources for survival in the urban setting; but really, with what life-style should you approach a big city? What should be our role in making our cities (especially LA and SF) more sustainable in the next generations?
