Barrio Under siege Ch' 4 Rush Perez

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Barrio Under siegeCh. 4Rush Perez

• Latino Sense of Place in San Francisco, California

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Latino Population

• The Latino community in San Francisco is made up
  of primarily Mexicans and Central Americans. The
  Central Americans are there primarily due to
  companies such as the United Fruit Company which
  sent up freight boats full of Central American
  workers to San Francisco This Latino presence
  makes up 14.2 of the population in San
  Francisco, this percent only covers documented
  residents.
• While the number may be small it is impressive
  because it has remained unchanged since 1971
  despite rising rent and property taxes.

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Mission DistrictHistory of the core of the
Latino Community

• The Mission District was originally known as
  Mission Dolores founded in 1776
• However, the Latino Population here has been
  pushed and pulled out of the District throughout
  its history
• During the early 20th century European immigrants
  quickly gentrified the area, raising the property
  values there
• During the Great Depression the area suffered
  heavily and as a result quickly became a working
  class neighborhood. The Latino community moved
  in swiftly to reclaim the area.
• It quickly became a working class bastion and the
  property taxes and rent rates went down
  substantially.
• By 1980 it was 60 Hispanic
• However, while it became ethnically Hispanic,
  there were still the problems of real estate
  prices

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Lay out of the Mission District

• West Mission An upscale area, that has only a
  20 Latino Population, it has the most housing
  renovations in the area
• North Mission An area that has traditionally
  served as a bridge to the South of Market Area.
  It is comprised of blue collar workers primarily
  but recent real estate price changes has brought
  in more affluent whites.
• The Mission Core This is the epicenter of the
  Barrio, here the Latino Population comprises 60
  of the total population.
• The Latino Population in the Mission District are
  40 Mexican, 20 Salvadoran, 15 Nicaraguan, the
  other 25 hail from Guatemala, Honduras, Peru and
  other Countries.
• The large Central American population can be
  explained due to the civil strife those nations
  underwent in the 1970 and 80s.
• The Latino Population in San Francisco is very
  united and stand together as a single minority,
  intermarriage is common between different Latin
  American nationalities.

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The Problem

• The problem that is currently facing the Latino
  Population in the Mission District is the threat
  of gentrification and real estate renovations.
  Prices in the area are steadily increasing, and
  many Latinos fear that they will be overrun soon
  by Yuppies.
• Within the past 5 years the median sale price in
  the Mission District has gone up 74.5. That is
  a large increase and has lead too an influx of
  affluent whites to move into the area.

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The Answer

• To maintain their culture and their Barrio the
  Latino Population has used communal festivals to
  reinforce their solidarity.
• Festivals such as Cinco de Mayo which is often
  more extravagant than the celebrations in Mexico
  itself, and is also used to promote Central
  American culture. There is also the Carnival
  Festival which can attract between 50,000-100,000
  people.
• Community Art is another way Latinos make their
  presence known, 100s of Murals dot the Mission
  District while cultural centers such as the
  Galeria de la Raza have become political and used
  their influence to speak out against
  gentrification.
• Another method of defending their neighborhood
  has been the use of the Latino youth to make
  their presence known. Due to a lack of jobs, and
  after school activities the youth often
  congregate in the streets making it quite clear
  to others that they are still present in the
  community.

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Conclusions

• Despite the fears of displacement, rising housing
  costs, and threat of gentrification the Latino
  Population in the Mission District has managed to
  maintain their stability.
• According to Godfrey this is due to the Latino
  Territoriality which has allowed them to maintain
  their stability. However, he states that there
  is a problem with social resistance based solely
  on cultural factors. The use of murals for
  example has caused more people to move into the
  district. Also political activity is more likely
  to occur among wealthy affluent citizens.
  Godfrey, is somewhat ambiguous as to whether or
  not the Hispanic presence in the District will
  stay alive but he does believe ethey have a
  chance.