Editorials
More information needed for farm worker housing project
TBO.com
Published: December 16, 2012
Having advocates look out for the betterment of any group is a good thing, unless it goes too far. When that happens, any good is outweighed by the bad. This could happen with the issue of Avon Park studying the possibility of building farm worker housing within the city limits.Published: December 16, 2012
City Manager Julian Deleon brought the proposal to seek more information on building farm worker housing. He met opposition from members of the public and the League of United Latin American Citizens.
Good points were raised by all. Deleon said there is an obvious need for this type of housing. He and City Administrative Services Director Maria Sutherland said that although there are some empty rental houses, they often cannot pass the necessary inspections and are not zoned to have numerous occupants.
Former councilman George Hall said that the city is not good at operating as a landlord and Deleon countered that, if built, a management firm would take care of it.
LULAC members, such as the group's Civil Rights Commissioner Victor Valdez, accused the city of trying to build a "ghetto" where farm workers are forced into an area. Deleon said no one was being forced anywhere, but the housing would be an option since there is an obvious shortage.
Valdez, who operates a Spanish-language newspaper, said he would be writing about the plans, advocating against them. That's fine. He certainly has the right to do that. What isn't fine, though, is that even if it isn't said out loud, some LULAC members hint at racism, and we don't believe that's behind any of this.
Playing the race card when it deserves to be played is one thing, and if there is racism involved, it needs to be exposed. But when the race card is throw out or hinted at every opportunity, all it does is taint the discussion and the people using it lose credibility.
Farm worker housing is an important issue for Avon Park. LULAC is an important organization that provides a needed voice. What's right and what's wrong certainly needs to be hammered out, and maybe this is a project that shouldn't happen. That said, there's nothing wrong with getting all the information so an informed decision can be made.