The Baltimore Sun takes a look at rising Latino power in Maryland today. The question remains whether the growing presence of Latinos will promote a political backlash which will balance out of the rise in Latino political participation:
Census figures from 2000 showed that Gaithersburg is 20 percent Latino, but some estimates run twice that high. There's a substantial visual presence, from strip malls with purely Spanish-speaking clientele to the large numbers of Latinos walking and riding bicycles downtown. Non-Latinos seem to be on a step quota: They glide by in cars, but infrequently stroll downtown streets.Personally, I don't buy the "they don't want to learn English" argument. No one comes to America to be poor and not learning English places huge barriers on advancement. Even if new immigrants don't learn English themselves, they universally want their children to learn English because, like all parents, they want their children to be successful.
Stephen Schreiman, who belongs to an anti-immigration citizens watchdog group, is the most vocal Gaithersburgian critic. He wants nothing to do with any politician perceived as immigration-friendly or amenable to day-labor sites.
"It's very personal," says Schreiman. "It's directly affecting my way of life."
Roy Passin says uncontrolled immigration adversely affects his business. He owns Roy's Place, a saloon-like restaurant decorated with vintage campaign posters, movie memorabilia and beer signs that has been a fixture on the edge of Olde Towne for more than 35 years.
Latino men with too much free time to kill, he says, illegally park in his lot, loiter near the property, get drunk, smash his security lights and basically spoil the ambience.
"In certain ways," says Passin, 84, the influx has changed Gaithersburg "a hell of a lot." And, to his mind, generally not for the better.
"I will not vote for anyone who is pushing day-labor centers or anything like it," says his wife, Melinda, 44. "This country was built by immigrants. But legally. ... People aren't trying to fit in anymore. They don't love America."
Melinda Passin is solidly in Ehrlich's and Steele's corners this November. Brian Wilson, a 45-year-old handyman eating lunch at the bar, is still uncommitted. He has good relationships with Latinos and would support a guest worker program. But he has "a problem" with Takoma Park letting illegal aliens vote in local elections and has reservations about the growing two-tier underground economy.
The debate over day-laborer centers in interesting. Even if one believes that illegal immigrants should go home and the federal government needs to do something to stop people from entering the country illegally, would you prefer illegal immigrants who are here to be working hard and contributing to the economy or not working at all? Which path do you think is likely to lead to a failure to integrate into this country not to mention a rise in crime?
