Los Angeles Regional Office FY68 - Richard Alatorre (Folder)

    r LOS ANGELES REGIONAL OFFICE FY68 
Richard Alatorre



M E M O R A N D U M

TOt Richard J. Alatorre 
FROM: Jean Fairfax

February 28, 1968

I hope you had a profitable little visit to Washington
and am looking forward to your report. Derrick Bell
was in the office on Monday and expressed his regret
that you were not able to see him last week. He is
spending several days a week in Los Angeles and will
probably be there full-time by April. He will be the
executive director of the Western Center on War and Poverty. He
will be an exceedingly valuable resource to you.
Requisitions to reimburse you for your expenses have been submitted. 
Ji.have -feh€ fO.l.lQwing questions .and’.MduQ-d appreciiate hear­
ing from you as soon as possible about them:
Insurance: The travel insurance became effective
immediately upon your appointment as a staff member.
You will be reimbursed for the $35.70 for the insurance 
you recently purchased. Also, you should know that 
as of February 17 you are covered with a general 
insurance policy and a major medical policy.
Telephone: We could not tell from the telephone bills
which you gave us what the LDP share should be. There­
fore, I am returning the bill. Until you have an office, 
we will pay for your monthly service rate. Please figure 
out what we owe and let us know. Return the bill to us 
with your figures.
Travel and miscellaneous expenses: During this exploratory
period, I feel that you should feel free to spend what 
is required to make your contacts and to do your inter­
viewing, especially since you were saving on rent and 
basic office expenses. Your report on travel and 
miscellaneous expenses was very full and, except for 
a few parking receipts which were missing, most of your 
supporting material was included. I am concerned about 
the amount of money which was required for parking. I 
realize that this is one of the expenses of operating 
in a large city where many of the persons whom you visit 
are in downtown offices. I imagine that even trips to 
East Los Angeles will involve parking fees. Let me have 
your thoughts concerning how we can keep this expense 
down. I am also concerned about your personal parking 
bill which you will have once we establish an office.
This should probably be an important consideration any­
where we locate. Keep this in mind when you are looking



office space and try to find a place where parking is 
cheap because parking while you are in your own office 
will be your responsibility.
When you were here, you asked me about including entertain­
ment, :banquet;i-" and so forth in your expense report.
I told you to include them for the time being; I think 
this is a valid cost for getting acquainted. In general, 
however, I find that I can get along with very little 
official entertaining. Most people do not expect a civil 
rights organization, which must depend on private contribu­
tions, to entertain them. I find that most persons do 
not expect to be taken to lunch or dinner and are quite 
willing to "go dutch."
Oh February 2 you had one miscellaneous item of $10.85 
for which there is no report. I am assianing that you are 
including as miscellaneous such items as tips, parking 
and local telephone calls. If a miscellaneous item is 
over $2.00, please specify what it is for.
I will be Working on the follow-up of our staff conference 
and will be in touch with you about matters affecting your 
program.
Meanwhile, let me have your reactions to your Eastern 
trip. It was wonderful having you here. I am very 
excited about our new program in the Southwest. Regards 
to Phil.

Memo to R, Alatorre
February 28, 1968
Page 2

JF/11Enclosure



M E M O R A N P U M

June 28, 1968

TO* Richard J. Alatorra
Allan Black, Jr.
Robert Valder

FROM* Jean Fairfax
REj STAra COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH PLAINING APVISORV

COUNCILS

This is a follow-up of my earlier memorandum to you in 
which I informed you that we are hoping to develop an 
equal health opportunity program which will be concerned 
to in^rove the delivery of health services to minority 
groups and the poor. We havehad several very interesting 
meetings recently and there have been other developments 
about which I shall write you when 1 return from Europe. 
Meanwhile, two things*
1. Keep open the week of September 8-13. We may be 

involved with the Urban League in a training work­
shop on health which I would want you to attend.

2. The urgent concern this suimner is to get a state- 
by-state run down on the development of the 
comprehensive state health planning councils.
Please refer to my earlier memorandum. I would 
like you to do the following.
A. Check with the governor's office in the 

states to which you are assigned. Please 
find out which agency has been designated 
as the planning agency and who is the 
responsible state official;

B. Find out whether the state advisory council 
has been nominated and, if so, get a run 
down on each member. We are not only 
interested in the minority group representation; 
we would like to have as much information as 
possible about all of the council manners;

C. Where there are Urban League offices in the 
state capitals, please contact their directors 
to let them know that we are involved in a



Merao to Regional ©iractors 
Juns 28, I9€8 
Fage 2

joint psrojeet w l ^  th« Satioaal ©j^aa 
League which Mrs. Cemearie Johaeon is 
coordinating.

4. State assignments are as
Richard Alatorre - Check with Mrs« Juanita 
Dudley then get the Shove iafomatioa on Mmi.
Mexico, Arizona, ?exaa ai^ Bsvada.
Allen Black » Louisiana, Teaneasee, Mississippi,
Alabama and Arkansas. Cheek with Clarence Colimaan 
in Atlanta.
Robert Valder * Morth Carolina, South Carolina 
and Virginia. Also check with Clarence Coleman 
in Atlanta*

In most cases ttds will probably Iweolve a one-day visit 
to the state CJ^itals. Aside frcsa the necessary preparation 
woric, 1 hcpe you will i^t need to dtevote s»re than this 
amount of tit^ now.

JP/ll



m e m o r a n d u m

March 28, 1968

T0> Richard U. Alatorrs
FRCMj Jean Fairfax
RE: Office Expei»3itures

We have received your memorandum which transmitted 
your recent office expenditures. However, you failed 
to include suK>orting doctaaentation for the amount of 
$23.71, pay^le to Linda Marraolejo, secretary. We 
have processed the requisition so that you may be 
reimbursed as quickly as possible, but we would 
appreciate it if you clarify this e3q>enditure.

JF/11



M E M O R A N D U M
March 22, 1968

TOs Richard J. Alatorre
FROM: Jean Fairfax
RE: Budget and Financial Reports

Your budget as we have amended it is as follows:
SOOTHWESYERN REGIONAL OFFICE BODGET:
Rant: 12 months at$135= $1,62D«,00
Equipment 1,300.00
Office expenses

(Including telephone) 1,400.00 
Travel 4,100.00
Printing 1,800.00
Misc. (conferences,

workshops, etc.) 1,000.00
I have noticed in other office expense reports that telephone 
bills tend to be a high proportion of the office expense. If 
we get our WATS line extended to California, we will advise you 
to call us collect. We will not receive the calls but will 
call you right back on the WATS line. In the meantime, I suggest 
that you place all long distance calls person to person.
You will be expected to observe the following procedures in 
handli:^ your budget:

1. You have received an advance of $1,000 for
a revolvir^ expense account which, we under­
stand, you have deposited in a commercial 
account. Please send us the name and address 
of the bank and the number of the account.

2. All expenditures must be made by check.
Since you will undoubtedly purchase some 
small items, we suggest that you provide 
your secretary with a petty cash account 
of perhaps $10.00. That is, give her a 
check for $10.00 for such items and have 
her make a report when this amount has 
been used up. Yourchecks should correspond 
with your bank statement. This means that 
from time to time you should sutmiit the 
bank charges to us.



Memo to Richard J,March 22, 1968Page 2
Alatorre

3. Send us a monthly financial stat^oent (as 
noted above, this should include your bank 
charges). We will reinEOourse you for the 
amount \diich you stSomit monthly. This should 
permit you to maintain an adequate revolving 
account. This HK>nthly report must be accompanied 
by a receipt or some other kind of documentation 
for each item. For regular expenditures such 
as rent, for which you have made an annual 
contract, you do not need to iiiclude the receipt 
since we know what the agreement has been.
^end us a copy of the lease which you have 
Signed.

4. Prcxa your checking account, you will pay for 
rent, telephone, supplies, printing, temporary 
secretarial help, etc. Salaries are paid from 
this office. You will recall that 1 mentioned 
to you earlier that funds for conmiunity aides 
will be available frcan ray budget. Should you 
develop any projects using community workers 
on a short term basis, vm will work out a 
procedure for paying such persona frcan here.

5. Yovir travel is a separate item and will also 
be reiinbursed frcan this office. Prepare vouchers 
as usual and sxdMnit them separately from your 
financial report. We would like to keep a 
record of the travel expenses which you charge, 
i.e. air travel, car rental. Please save your 
travel stubs and have your secretajTr send them 
to us monthly with a report which totals the 
amount charged. T M s  is the only way we will 
know how much you are spendii^ on travel and 
whether this item should be revised in the 
budget for our n«xt program year.

Since you are probably using up the $1,000 with your equipment 
purchases, you may submit a report to us right away so that 
we can reidburse you without delay. Please allow about ten 
(10) days to two (2) weeks for reiMtoursement after you have 
submitted your expense reports. Sometime we are able to 
rush through a voucher for an emergency but I do not like 
to place this extra burden on our finance office.
We will keep you supplied with letterhead. Please anticipate 
your needs so that we can send you shipments from time to 
time via parcel post. Mrs. Livingston mailed two reams

o



Memo to Richard J,
Harch 22, 1968
Page 3

Alatorre

yesterday and also sent a little packet first-class for your 
inunediate use. We have also asked Mrs, Walton to order calling 
cards for you,
I have asked 'Mrs. Livingston to handle all matters, other than 
program, relating to the regional offices. Since 1 am out of 
town so much, this means that vouchers will not be delayed 
because of ay Usance. Please feel free to contact her at 
any time to discuss problems which you have or to get advice.

JF/11



M E M O R A N D U M
April 12, 1968

TO* Richard J. Alatorre
FROM* Jean Fairfax
RE* PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

Suggestions from our Consultation

I. EDUCATION

11.

III.

A. Issues
Mentally Retarded 
Tasting Programs in general
Unequal Educational Facilities and progrmsf accreditation 
Segregation
Language* Bilingual Bducationf Prohibition against 

use of Spanish
B. Project Posaibilities

Civil Rights Commission Conference Follow UJj 
Strategy Session for N^ro-Mexican American Coalition 
Project centered around Los Angeles County 
Santa Ana suit re mentally retarded

COMMUNITY ASSESSMENTS
Cooperation with Civil Rights Commission on overall assess­
ment of Mexican American situation ins Phoenix, San Jose, 
Fresno, Seattle, Denver, San Diego, Tucson, Albuquerque
ADMINISTRATION OF JXKTICE
A. Issues

Jury Discrimination 
Police Brutality 
Excessive Bail Bonds 
Differential Sentencing

B. Project Possibilities
Colorado (police brutality)
New Mexico (CRC report, available in June, 
basis of project)
Stanton, Oakland, California

Could be



Memo to R. J, Alatorre 
RE: Program Development
April 12, 1 9 ^
Page 2
IV. EMPLOYMENT 

A. .I.̂ awes
Pviblic Employment 
Upgrading, Seniority 
Testing
Exploitation of workers because of lack of proper 
immigration papers 
Child labor violations

B. Proleet Possibilities
Texas: Petroleum Project
Colorado: Porcelain factory (Boulder)

Coors Brewery (Denver)
V. RUSAL PROBLEMS 

A. Issues,
Right to state prograuns
Farm laborers not permitted to have organizers 
Housing

VI. WELFARE PROBLEMS
VII. CONSIMBR FRAUD

A. Proleet Posaibilitles
East Los Angeles: Furniture, Finance, Car Dealers,

Jewelry Stores
VIII. VOTING PROBLEMS

A.
Gerrymandering of districts to prevent Mexican 
American majority

IX. MimCIPAL SERVICES
A. ,i.ssagtg.

Lights 
Hydrants 
Paved streets
Police and fire protection

B. Project Possibilities 
Bernadillo County (New Mexico)



Memo to R. J. Alatorre 
REt Program Development 
April 12, 1968 
Page 3
X. LAND QUESTIONS

A. Issues
Land use
Illegal seizure of land 
Treaty violations

XI. PUBLIC PLANNING
A. Issues

Urb̂ n̂ renewal
Highways
Zoning
Model cities

XII. CITIZENSHIP PROBLEMS, IMMIGRATION, NATURALIZATION

XIII. PROBLEMS OF INDIANS

JF/11



M E M O R A N D U M

March 27, 1968

TOs Richard J. Alatorre
FR(M! Jean Fairfax
REs Pacific Southwest Airlines Bill

Please do not have individual bills for air travel and 
car rental sent to this office. We use the credit cards 
and central billing to cut down on the work of our 
finance office. If you should be in a situation where 
separate billing is necessitated (perhaps because a 
small line does not participate in a central billing 
arrangement), pay by check or have the bill sent to your office.
We will go ahead and pay this bill. Thanks.

JF/ll



M E M O R A S D U M

TO: Richard J. Alatorre
FROM: Jean Fairfax
RE: Miscellaneous

March 27, 1968

1 hope you are comfortably settled in your office by now,
I am eager to see it and will try to schedule a visit some­
time this spring. Here are some miscellaneous matters which 
are on my mind:
1. You should have a basic set of docvanents, reports, 

regulations, guidelines, etc, from Federal agencies,
I assume that you gathered these when you were in 
Washington visiting agencies. Most of them you could 
undoubtedly get from West Coast offices. If not, let 
me know and I '11 order them from Washington. 1 am 
referring to Commission on Civil Rights reports, HEW 
Guidelines for School Desegregation, EEOC bulletins, 
complaint forms, etc.

2. I have given to Mrs. Doswell the information which 
you sent about your secretary. However, she has not 
yet received the W-2 forms which she sent to you to 
have Miss Marmalejo fill out. Please have them returned 
immediately. Otherwise, she will not get her check 
next week,

3. Please vrork out a system for regular reporting. You 
have my memo re financial reports. I would like a 
weekly program report from you. This does not have 
to be a detailed document. Why not plan to dictate 
every Friday a summary of your week’s work and include 
plans for the following week. This will give me a 
general idea about what you are doing. Then prepare 
substantive reports from time to time on projects
you are developing. It is a good idea to make a 
record of all of your interviews and telephone conversa­
tions. These do not necessarily have to be typed up 
inanediately. However, I do want to have a record 
of your contacts with people and organizations. You 
can find the most convenient way to keep me informed. 
Also, you will know, on the basis of your interviews 
here, who else in the office should be kept informed 
about what you are doing. Send me copies of correspon­
dence with the attorneys her® and let me know when



Memo to R. J. Alatorre
March 27, 1968
Rage 2

you want me to follow up on a given matter.
4. I am eagerly awaiting the report of your visit to 

Sacramento and of davelo]^ents in Santa Ana,
5. 1 thiiSt it would be helpful to have your 3~month 

program goals. This %#ould convert into a set of 
program objectives your observations from your travel 
through the Southwest, from your Washington inter­
views and fro® staff consultations here, and your 
own personal thoughts. I knew you have been thiiik- 
ing in te n m  of at least one project in each state.
I would like your ideas about what these should 
be and your timetable for getti;^ them launched.
Also, let me know what you and Rhil are consideriitg 
so far as cooperative projects are concerned. When 
1 have your ideas, I shall send you reactions 
and suggestions, I may be able to make some extra 
resources available for certain projects. For 
example, 1 have told you that my budget can provide 
funds for consultants, short-term coraaunity workers 
and literature particularly if they are part of 
leadership trainii^. If you develop a consumer 
fraud project in East Los Angeles and need money 
for brochures in Spanish and for training part- 
time grassroots workers to advise people of their 
rights, I might be able to absorb this cost here. 
Also, at one point in the Santa Ana project, you 
might want to put out an informational broch\ire 
in Spanish advising Mescicaa-Amarican parents what 
to do if they have a child who has been defined 
as mentally retarded by the school system. But 
we need to anticipate together %^at your project 
demands will be so I can set money aside for th^,

6. We*re working on the anaouncment of the South­
west Regional Office,

Best wishes. Let me hear fro® you.

JF/11



M E M O R A N D U M

March 27, 1968

TO I Richard J, Alatorre
FROM: Jean Fairfax
RBs Pacific Southwest Airlines Bill

Please do not have individual bills for air travel and 
car rental sent to this office. Me use the credit cards 
and central billii^ to cut down on the work of our 
finance office. If you should be in a situation where 
separate billing is necessitated (perhaps because a 
small line does not pacrticipate in a central billii^ 
arrangement), pay by check or have the bill sent to your 
office.
We will go ahead and pay this bill. Thanks,

JF/11



egal efenseF N A A C P  LEGA L D E F E N S E  A N D  E D U C A T IO N A L  F U N D , IN C . 
10 Colum bus Circle, New York, N .Y . 1 0 0 1 9  •  JUdson 6 -8 3 9 7

A N N O U N C E M E N T

Richard J. Alatorre, Director 
Southwest Regional Office 
Division of Legal Information 

and Community Service 
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund 
408 South Spring Street 
Los Angeles, California S0012 
213-628-2131 & 2

The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the National 
Office for the Rights of the Indigent are pleased to announce 
the appointment of Richard J. Alatorre as Director of the new 
Southwest Regional Office of our Division of Legal Information 
and Community Service. The office will serve California, 
Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Colorado.
Richard J, Alatorre has been a research assistant for the 
Foundation for Mexican-American Studies, the director of the 
Education Resource Center for the Association of Mexican- 
American Educators, field supervisor lor the California Center 
for Community Developm.ent and a con.r' Itant with the Los Angeles 
County Department of Community Service.
Under Mr. Alatorre's leadership, the Regional Office will 
work with our cooperating attorneys, concerned individv.als 
and local organizations:

-to identify patterns of discrimination and to 
develop effective strategies for eliminating them; 

-to monitor major Federal programs to ensure 
that citizens enjoy the rights and benefits to 
which they are entitled;
-to develop affirmative action projects to 
secure equal opportunities for all citizens.

We welcome your suggestions and enlist your cooperation as 
we develop this new program.

Jean Fairfax, Director 
Division of Legal Information 

and Community Service

Jack Greenberg 
Direc tor-Counsel

March 29, 1968
Contributions are deductible for U. S. income tax purposes



M E M O R A N D U M
March 15, 1968

TOI Richard J. Alatorre
FROM* Jean Fairfax
REi Office of Federal Contract Corapliamce

Petroleum Industry Project

Yesterday Edward Sylvester, the director of OFCC, and a 
number of his colleagues in the Department of Labor visited 
our office to confer about mutual concerns and closer 
coordination. In general OFCC does not like to handle 
individual complaints of discrimination. It is concerned 
to make pattern-setting changes. It operates through compliance 
reviews. Teams of investigators go into a plant and review 
the total operation. On the basis of the reports, an 
affirmative action plan is worked out and submitted to the 
company. Failiare to accept and implement this plan will 
subject a company to sanctions, i.e. the withdrawal of 
Government contracts. No contracts have been cut off.
OFCC states that firms tend to comply before they lose their 
funds. OFCC sets priorities for these compliance reviews.
It is interested in looking at individual firms, clusters 
of companies, or total industries where the impact on 
employment patterns could be impressive. OFCC is involved 
in our textile industry project. Allen Black is working 
closely with OFCC in his Pulp and Paper Industry Project.
In the discussion yesterday two types of industries were 
mentioned which will interest you. OFCC has decided to 
look at patterns of employment of Mexican-Americans in the 
petroleum industry, particularly in Texas. Compliance 
reviews will be made in Corpus Christi, El Paso and Kings­
ville (not sure about that last one), with the beginning 
emphasis on Humble Oil. OFCC will be looking at Mexican- 
American employment across the board, I told them of our 
deep interest in this project. I will keep in touch with 
the Washington headquarters and will pass on to you their 
ideas about what you might do, I stressed the importance 
of their est£iblishing good relations with the Mexican- 
American community so that the results of theia efforts 
will be maximized. This might make a good Mexican-American- 
Negro project for us.
They also mentioned their interest in taking on public 
utilities in the South and Southwest which have a pattern 
of exclusion of Negroes and Mexican-Americans. More on that, 
too, later.

JF/ll



M E M O R A N D U M
P^ruary 21, 1968

TO! Jean Fairfax
FROM! Richard Alatorre
REi Trip to Phoenix, Arizona 

January 26-29, 1968

A. TODOS JUNTOS! ADEDANTE JUNTOS CONFERENCE 
January 26 and 27, 1968

The conference, held at Maricopa County Government Complex, 
January 26-27, 1968, was sponsored by the Arizona Coordinat­
ing Council on Political Education. ACCPE, functions to 
MAPA in California and PASO in Texas, and its aim is to bring 
political mobilization of Hexlean-Americans. The currant 
president of the organization is Tony Gabaldon, principal 
of Seehrlst Elementary School in Flagstaff.
The need for political education and the lack of participation 
and responsibility in government on the part of Mexican- 
toericans brought this group into being. The organization 
was officially started on January 20, 1968 when a group of 
civic, social and community organizations met to discuss 
and define the major issues confronting the Spanish-speak­
ing people of the state. From this meeting cane the formation 
of a political organization, in the nature of a coordinatli^ 
council, with special eitqphasis on political education.
The aims and purposes of ACCPE are broad and cover all fields 
of political education and action by the Spanish-speaking 
citizens of Arizona, Such areas include political unity, 
endorsement and support of candidates sympathetic to the 
Spanish-speaking, massive voter registration drives and, most 
important, the encouragement of political awareness and 
participation by Mexican-Americans in Arizona. The organiza­
tion has chapters in most of the counties and major cities 
in Arizona, Although each chapter is autonomous, all efforts 
are coordinated through the state Executive Board.
An evaluation of such a group, solely on the merits of a 
conference, is extremely difficult. The members Interviewed 
are well meaning but extremely ineffective middle-class 
people. Like MAPA, they try to be spokesmen for Mexican- 
/anericans in Arizona and are heavily criticized for assiiming 
this position. All Mexican-Americans who have made it and 
are now part of the establishment are members of this



Memo to Jean W&ixtsac 
February 21, 1 9 ^
Page 2
orgaalaatioa, according to Harold Milk», writer for the 
Arirona Eepff;d}lic.

1, axswz^imcm backgsdijkdi
The conferance resuled from the a^areat dissatisfaction 

of a group of Mexican-Msericans who coiaplaiaed about the 
progress of tlwi Cabinet level hearings in El Paso on the problems 
of the MeKican-Americans in tl^ Soatls^st. The invitation to 
Vicente Xi^nes, member of President Johnson's e abimt eoiwtittee 
on the Mexican-Americans, came from the president of ACCPB,
The delegation from Arizona at the El Paso hearix^s were dis- 
eiKThanted with the political flawr of tise hearii^s and the 
emphasis placed on the pm htim m of California and Ti^as.
"The overibelfflii^ strength in nuidaer# of Texas a M  California 
delegations resulted in scant attention to probl^s sxdxsitted 
by the Arizona group," said Cabaldon. The visit of Ximenes to 
Arizona, pressure for constructive follow through on recosm^nda- 
tions sul^tted in El Paso, and a call unity of Mexican- 
Americans, were the a i m  of the two day session, newspaper 
releases prior to the conference «*^hasized dissatisfaction, 
the growing militancy on the part of Mexican-i^ricans, and the 
failure of federal agez^ies to act on behalf of tdbe liexicaas.
The stage was set but dissatisfaction ax^ militancy failed 
to materialize at the confer@x»:e« Sve3n^>ody who atteMed 
the sessions was polite, honored by the attendance of Ximenes 
ais3 this caused the imommtum that had been generated prior 
to the conference to die.
2. OOHJTiRBHCB OVERVIEW ASB EVAbUAI^Cffli

The two d ^  conference on Mexican-Acmrican affairs was 
poorly attended with 150 people at different times throughout 
the sessions. Participation by the people was poor and the 
facilities were inadequate. The speakers and panelists of 
the various workshops were also poor, "restati^ issues that were 
discussed ten years ago," according to members of Mexicanos 
Americanos Onidos, a se^-ailltant organization in Phoenix.

On Friday, the conference convened at 1x30 p.a. with 
the opening session on Health, Welfare '8nd &3usixig and this 
was followed by sessions on Education and Employment. The 
time schedule for the entire conference was vexry unrealistic.
If maximum participation by interested Mexican-Aaerlcans 
was an objective, the sessions would not have begun at such 
a bad time (most Mexican-iteierlcans work during the day).
Although no criticism came fro® the floor during tlMi sessions, 
many people later made remarks on this issue to tlî  conference 
chairman, Adolf Echieveste, an O.E.O. field representative.
In the evening, workshop summaries were presented to Coimlssioner 
Ximeixes for action. The quality of t im  recommeiidatloas were 
extremely poor in all areas discussed. On Saturday, the



conference featured a presentation by Ximenea and he discussed 
the follow-up of the El Paso hearings and other related matters 
pertainii^ to the Mexican-i^rican in the Southwest.

Ximenes opened his remarks by stating that "Mexican-itoaricanB 
are on the move and will gain his objectives without having to 
riot in the streets since we believe in a more legal and more 
orderly approach to the solution of our problems." He also 
stated that he is asking Cor^ress for a law permitting Issuance 
of cease and desist orders against employers who discriminate 
in hiring Mexican-^mericans. He repeatedly mentioned and called 
for complete support of President Johnson saying the Chief 
Executive "who oiu;e taught a classroom of Mexican-Amaricans 
himself has done imsre for our minority than any other president." 
The political tinge to his entire Arizona trip was visible at 
many of the gatherings for Ximenes seemed to be conducting a 
grassroots tour for the adteiinistration. He was accompanied 
by former democratic governor, Sam Goddard, at all his 
appearances. What the delegation to El Paso had said about 
the hearings were also permitted to happen at this conference 
because of the political nature of the sessions. Nothing was 
said at the conference or even after. Ximenes spoke briefly 
on the results of the El Paso hearings stating that the Bilii^al 
Bill was passed and its significance to fiexican-Americans through­
out the Southwest. Ha complimented the ACCPE for the conference 
and called for \inity throughout the state working constructively 
toward ends meaningful to Mexican-Americans. He ended his 
presentation on a political note talking edxjut the importance 
of the 1968 elections. When Ximenes was finished, he allowed 
tw3 questions and upon answering, ha was quickly escorted out 
of the meeting. I was shocked at his rudeness. I did not know 
that a group of Mexicans were ready to fire sente controversial 
questions at him and W2CPE meuAters felt this woiild be out of 
place and had warned Ximenes ahead of time.

At the end of the conference, a resolutioiv appealing to 
President JoJmson to establish branch offices in Phoenix of two 
of his cabinet level agencies handling problems of Mexican- 
Araerlcans, was passed. The message was sent in an attempt to 
coordinate efforts in Arizona to help the giroup. The national 
presidents of JA3UPC and the GI Forum signed the telegram, as 
well as other state organizations. Another interesting note 
is the appearance of both of these gentlemen at the conference.
My hvinch is that they were there to avert any action that vrould 
be detrimental to Ximenes whcmi they have a stake in because of 
their work in getting him appointed.

The conference ended like it began, "on a happy note", with 
little productivity resultii^ frewa the two day session.

Maiao to Jean FairfaxFebruary 21, 1968Page 3



3. SOOUUtf EBCOeOimiATZCHSS OF SDOCATIOH CC»etXTT8E i
1. It i» r®cc®am«rid®d that an affectiv® ptdblic raiatioas 
affort be directed toward creating a public awareness of 
the special, tvrcsfoM contribution Which only the bilingual 
can mahe through his ability ts> ccmninicate in t ^  lai^ages.
2. It is recoaraended that pre-'School programs such as 
Headstart be greatly expanded so that a truly significant 
nuoiber of Mexican-Aaerican children can be helped.
3. It is rectxantend^ that bilii^al progress for ele^ntary 
schools now in operation in other sections of the Southwest 
be studied further and those best suited to the needs of 
the Hex lean-/*iaerican coceaunities of Arizona be instituted.
4. It is recesamended that secondary schools, with a high 
percentage of M^ican-Astericans, offer Spanish classes, 
designed to meet the needs of these children.
5. It is racomtended that classes be established for 
the training of bilingual secretaries.
6. Special training of ^^cperlenced teachers who will be 
instituting and develc^lng innovativ'e programs and new 
appro^hes for the bili^ual child.
7. Also recons»nded that a program be established for 
a Talent Search.
8. Better methods be established for the counseling 
and guidance of youaag Mexican-Amsrlcan students.

Meao to Joan Fairfax
Fal^ruary 21, 1968Pago 4

B . GBHEIUUti OVBRVIBM 

1 .  £3)UCA<riC»li

The prcd>l«aa of education of the mxican-itooricans in 
Arizona are vast and even the educators cannot see the complexi­
ties of these problems. With the median educational attaiment 
of Mexican-Asaericans in the state being 7th grade, you would 
imagine that steps would be ta^en to corrcict this diaBaal statistics, 
but 1 was able to notice very little being done. The general 
conservatism in education throughout the Southwest is probrfsly 
more noticeable in Arizona, The few Maxlcan-Americans who 
work for the state are so cai^ht playing politics that they, 
too, are doing nothing.

The big issue in the state of Arizona is the implementation 
of the bilingual concept in education. The state constitution



presently prohibits educational instruction in any other language 
but English. Measures are currently underway to get a ruling 
from the Attorney-General on the validity of this law. Although 
many Mexican-Araerican teachers profess stipport for bilingual 
instructions, the truth is they b&b very little utility in such 
instruction. There is a great deal of misunderstanding on this 
concept on the part of educators. It is opinion that a suit 
will have to be brough against the state to challenge the law 
since I don’t think the state will move to adopt such an amend­
ment to the Education Code and Constitution without pressure.

In the last tan years, the drop-out rate has continued to 
steadily increase. With this fact in mind plus the low achieve­
ment level of Mexican-Amerlcans, all resotirces and financial 
assistance should be sought but Arizona has a reputation of being 
anti-federal monies according to many people I interviewed. As 
an example, last year 25 schools in Phoenix Bistriet #1 Initiated 
Headstart programs which proved successful. This year the school 
system refused to apply for monies to continue the programs.
The justification used was that they had a good kindergarten 
program so it was not necessary to have Headstart. Another 
serious problem mentioned was the failure of the schools to 
prepare the youth, whether they were school dropouts or graduates, 
to join the l2d>or market. The system, according to several 
individuals interviewed, have failed to adopt meaningful programs 
in preparation for the employment market. The traditional 
vocational education programs offered to Mexican-Americans 
have not been able to meet the growii^ needs of the highly 
mechanized society that we live in. It was also stated that 
the trade schools in operation in Arizona are not being utilized 
by the economically disadvantaged Mexican-Americans.
2, BJ®I.OTMSHT

The en^loyment picture for Mexican-toarlcans in Arizona 
reads like the rest of the Southwest - discrimination, both 
svd>tle and overt at all levels. Few individuals interviewed 
were willing to discuss the true picture, for one reason or 
another. While everyone agrees that Mexican-Americans are 
discriminated against, people in positions to influence policy, 
refuse to do anything for reasons of self preservation.

An ex^!Q>le of the employment picture can be seen in the 
hirir^ practices of the state of Arizona. In a recent publica­
tion by the Arizona Civil Rights Commission, the survey showed 
a serious ii^alance between the percentage of minority group 
mendsers employed by state agencies compared with the percentage 
of minority population in the state. The study reflects en5>loy- 
ment as of July 1967 and includes full-time and part-time 
employees as well as board members who receive condensation. 
Mexican-American ei^loyraent (total state employment) rose from 
1,462 to 1,637 or 1,07%. The Mexican-Americans condrise 15%

Mamo to Jean FairfaxF^ruary 21, 1968Page S



Mcaso to iJeaa Faixfsx 
Fe^rmiry 21, 1968 
9»g« 6
of tho state's poptlstion accox-ding to the 1960 ceasus. Tim  
jtveevey showed that the MeKioaa-J^ricaa Is greatly msler- 
r ^ r e s s a t ^  ia whil«-*eollar and skilled eraftsmaa jobs. 3%M»y 
are comientratad is the Icaiest paying hlae-collar Jcdas to a 
niK;h g»ater extent than aosHMexicaso^taieriean ea^loyees.

, Large indnstxy is very sc.ajr«?« in Arlaosa accordiitgt to 
people IntervieMsd, Sg@» of the biggest employers in /orisoaa 
are Motorola, General Sleetrie ai^ Fhalps Dodge. M l  were 
said to discrimisate agaisust M»xicaa'>teerleans. Fhelps Do^e, 
a coK>er industry la Ariaoaa, was just found guilty of discrialaa- 
tion by EEOC. The follcsf-up to tdie fisdings of ESOC was m>t 
I m m m  by the pee^le I iatenriewed. Gaaieral Sleetrie and 
Motorola practice the traditiomai patters of refusiag to ^ p l o y  
Minorities and prcjssotioas are sot given to saasS^rs of minority 
groups.

Federal job training prograas for jdb bettermeat were 
cited as cruel to Mexican-hsaericKSS. The recroltmeat, screeni^, 
and the long wait dad tbe trainii^ for non-®tistent jobs have 
resulted in great disillusioiment on tiie pert of Mexicen-^»arleans. 
The esphasis has givim priority to Hegroes, placing the l^xicaa~ 
Aiaaricaas at a secondary level. X noticed a gareat deal of 
hostilities against tlue Kagroes when Intervletwlng many of the 
Mexicans. I find it to be a tradegy that two minorities 
exhaust their e^rgles fighting the wrong p6x»<m.

In my opinion, the Mtexicaa-hiaericaa «^rker needs the 
whole book alien we speak of benefits, i.e. better working 
conditions, better housing and sanitation facilities, aiwiploy- 
ment coapensation and Miforcesrant of child labor laww to keep 
the children in school.
3 . m m iilSTSATiai OF iDOeTlCE

A. The p robl^ »ost aumtioned in Arisona was jury 
discriaiinatioa where the key man 8yst«a, exists. You 
seldom find Mexican-'Aiaericans arepresented on juries.
B. Differential mentmoeing practices is a very 
serious problem in the state. The attitude of judges 
is to try the miiK>rity hard. They are not coiuseraed 
with the iMividual. After a second offense, you will 
seldom find a Mexican-J^rican get off on probation.
The parole system practices a more sidbtle form of 
discrimination by refusing to parole Mexicans or 
Negroes because nobody is around to help, or eisploy 
him so he never gets parole.



C. Police brutality openly exists in small Arizona
towns. Ibe sheriff and other law enforcement officers
determine what civil rights are and because of the
intimidation people will rarely complain.

Miscellaneous problems in Arizona
Mo leadership is emerging from Mexican-Amaricans in Arizona. 

People who are a position to exert the needed leadership are 
bought off by the establishment. Therefore, what you have in 
Arizona is a lot of Mexican front office boys.

The problem of unity is still a tremendous issue in Arizona. 
People are waiting for a leader to emerge on the scene. Factionalism 
is high and this is caused by the unclarity of objectives and 
methodology of people working in the various communities. Another 
reason for the factionalism is the identity crisis which most 
Mexican-Americans are facing today. The so-called leadership 
group is the most confused about this issue.

The over representation of Mexican-Americans being drafted 
in parts of Arizona. Very little representation exists on 
the draft boards. In some areas. Mormons are given religious 
dispensation for two years so the Mexican-Americans are the 
only people left to draft.

The lack of legal resources in Arizona afforded to Mexican- 
Americans. Most attorneys (Mexican-Americans) refuse to get 
involved in cases dealing with civil rights.

The discrimination in the hiring and promotion of Mexican- 
Americans was also of great concern. Recent studies show that 
780 of the 16,000 teachers in the state are Mexican-Americans.
Few, if any, administrative and counseling positions are held 
by Mexican-Americans. The teachers who work in Arizona suffer 
from segregated working conditions as well as intimidation and 
threat of job loss. The result is complacency and loss of 
motivation on the part of teachers, especially if they are 
Mexican-Americans.

The most overlooked and least talked about problem, yet 
probably the most serious, is the effects created by de-facto 
segregation. The educators interviewed say, "segregation stopped 
being a problem in Arizona in 1954". The fact remains that 
almost every school in Phoenix, Mesa, Tempe, Quadalupe, and 
Glendale are segregated with Mexican-Americans and Negroes in 
one school and the Anglos in another. A typical example exists 
in Glendale, a small town outside of Phoenix. The population 
of Glendale is 35,000 with one-third composed of Mexican-Americans.
A recent incident at Glendale High School highlights the effects 
that segregation can have. A series of disturbances over a

Memo to Jean Fairfax
February 21, 1968
Page 7



two day period between Mexiean-.Americans and Anglos erupted 
last month and it involved over 300 youths. The recent increase 
in Mexican-American-Anglo youth group fights in various parts 
of the city created concern on the part of many citizens.
One of these individuals is Joe Silva the vice mayor of Glendale. 
Silva seems to feel "the segregation at the elementary school 
level creates misunderstanding and hatred on the part of both 
groups." He cited Issac Pines Elementary School as an example.
Of the 694 students attending, all are Mexican-Americans. The 
boundary lines are so arranged that only Mexican-Americans live 
in the area. The Anglos, living on the edge of the boundary 
lines, attend an all-white school, and even if they lived in 
the area they are given a choice of schools to attend. There 
are 6 elementary schools in Glendale and all are overpopulated 
with the exception of Issac Pines. Principals refuse to transfer 
Anglos to Issac Pines. When the students go to high school, 
they attend Glendale High School, an integrated school. The 
results of segregation are evident by the hostilities of both 
Mexican-Americans and Anglos towards each other which has re­
sulted in increased physical incidents over the past five years. 
The situtation is still serious and could erupt in violence at 
any time. The poor quality of instruction and the low standards 
at Issac Pines have resulted in the highest dropout rate coining 
from this school. Equal educational opportunites will never 
be a reality in Glendale unless something is done to correct 
the segregated conditions of the schools.

Phoenix Elementary Schools*

Memo to Jean Fairfax
February 21, 1968
Page 8

Total nuiriber pupils 11,313 
Mexican-Americans 4,635 
Negro 2,653 
Chinese 43 
Japanese 2 
Other 3,765 
Indian 279



PEOPl^ lOTBRVIEMED

VidBl Rivera, Jr,, Mrector, Migrant Child Education, State
0epart^«t of Macation

M o l f  Icli^veste, Field Coordinator, Office of Kcoa«aic O^ortaaity, 
State of Arisona

Eugene Maria, State Mrector, Office of Econ<»ic Oji^rtunity 
Harold Milka, Latin Affair* Editor, Arizona Rejwiblic 
Edward Saaora, Skills B a ^  Director, Operation SER 
Richard Trtdtillo, State Mrector, Operation SER 
Anaamdo DeLeon, Attoxney at Law 
C. Lawre:^e ajerta, J h ^ e  of Superior Court 
Polo Rivera, CEP Mrector, Phoenin, Arizona 
Tony Gabaldon, President, A<XPB



PHOENIX ELaiEKTAHr SCHOOLS 
1963-196it

School Population Comparisons

School
Total

Enrollment
Spanish-
Speaking % Negro %

Percent
Other

Bethune 5iii 59 11 1*76 88 1

Capitol 2 9 h 68 23 33 11 66

Court $ 1 6 139 27 60 12 61
Dunbar $ 9 h 55 9 536 90 1
Edison 2 9 9 12h i4l 17 6 53
Emerson 610 59 10 3 0 90

Franklin 298 63 21 ii 1 . 78
Garfield 533 171 32 6 1 67
Grand Avenue 2 $ h 13 5 0 0 95
Grant $ k o 367 68 159 29 3
Gray ' $ 0 0 296 59 : 150 30 11
Heard 503 23 ii , 2 0 96
Herrera 30ii 2 $ h 8ii 31 10 6
Jackson ii5o 128 28 21*7 55 17
Kenilworth ,662 22 3 1 0 97
Lincoln 528 h $ l 87 1*5 9 It
Longfellow 630 230 37 308 1*9 ll*
Lowell I h l 575 77 11*9 20 3
Monroe 610 ii70 77 lOli 17 6
Monterrey 196 2 1 0 0 99
Ott ' 873 689 ' 79 9 1 20
B. T. Washington hh9 87 19 31*7 77 1*
Wliittier $13 h i '9 • 29 6 85

jK. l / j 3 l 3

-

|U '̂<5
a w j

d f - l-
■TvG
<  J /

( f r a
V3.

c , & '



HOUSING AND THE MEXICAN-AMERICAN IN TUCSON, ARIZONA

INTRODUCTION

It was 1912 when the State of Arizona achieved statehood. At 
that time the population of the State was approximately 205,000.
In the sleepy town knotra as the Old Pueblo the population was 15,000. 
More than half of the population in the Old Pueblo was of Mexican- 
American decent. With few exceptions most of the Mexican-Americans 
lived in adobe and mesquite huts, built by them from the clay soil 
found in their own backyards and from the desert growth surrounding 
them.

Today 56 years later, Mexican:;:iAmericans_£omprise 177, of the 
population or 44,480 individuals. Today you will still find large 
numbers of Mexican-Americans living in the same old adobe structures 
of yesteryear.

In fact finding the Mexican-American barrios in Tucson is not 
too difficult. All one needs to do is drive down the multi-million 
dollar freeway on the west side of town, and from the ele,vated 
freeway you can see the hundreds of dilapidated houses nestled 
among junk yards which abound along the scenic route. Drive off 
any of the exit ramps and follow the clouds of dust thrown up by 
cars as they drive through the dirt streets and you will shortly 
enter 'El Hoyo”, Hollywood, El Rio, Pascua, Kroger Lane. These 
are some of the better known Mexican barrios. This is also where 
one vjill find the majority or the poor Mexican-Americans.

STATISTICS

For those unable to take a drive down the freexjay or drive 
through some of the barrios there are some outdated statistics 
which indicate the living conditions of the majority of the Mexican- 
Americans. The following statistics are based on United States 
Census figures for 1960,

In 18 census tracts with 400 or more persons with Spanish 
surnames, there are a total of 30,239 housing units. Of these,
19.77,, or 5,968 are classified as deteriorated or dilapidated. In 
simpler terms one out of every five housing units is substandard . 
(See Attachment "A")

In comparison a sample of 18 other census tracts, selected at 
random, we find the percentage of substandard homes is 8.5%, almost 
2.5 times less than the rate given above. If we consider only 
those census tracts where household heads have Spanish surnames and 
which have over 400 housing units, the figures are even more 
damaging. The percentage of dilapidated and deteriorated housing 
units increases to 31.6%. It is almost impossible to believe that 
approximately 1 of every 3 housing units in the predominantly Mexican- 
American neighborhoods is substandard as defined by the census bureau.



The following are census bureau definitions for words used in 
this report: (a) Deteriorating - housing needing more repair than
would normally be provided in the course of regualr maintenance.
(b) Dilapidated - housing which does not provide safe and adequate 
shelter and which requires extensive repair or rebuilding, or is 
of inadequate original construction.

Study of additional.census data reveals the lack of adequate 
housing in the barrios. Data compiled from other sources supports 
those findings. According to Pima County Health Department records 
an environmental health survey in 1964 revealed the existence of 
almost 1,000 privies on the west and south side of Tucson. (See 
Attachment ‘'B"). Aside from the physical condition of the housing, 
an additional criterion used to determine if housing is substandard, 
is adequate space. A recent sample survey conducted in the summer 
of 1967 under the auspices of the University of Arizona Research 
Department indicated that 60% of the Mexican-Americans interviewed 
were not satisfied with their housing with 47% giving over-crowding 
as the main factor.

Even though the above given statistics are based on outdated 
census information and sample surveys, the percentages Indicate the 
existence of a problem area in the living conditions of the masses 
of the Mexican-Americans. A United States census report based on 
surveys made three months after the eruptions in Watts and other 
sections of South Los Angeles and a follow-up analysis by .the 
California Division of Fair Employment Practices privides evidence 
that ghettoization and housing was a root cause of the 1965 Watts 
conflict.

A major finding of the surveys was that 33 per cent of the 
dwelling units occupied by Negroes in South Los Angeles were 
dilapidated or deteriorating, l !

As Indicated earlier in this report, the condition of housing 
in__the_,pr.e.dqminant Mexican-itosrTc^n;;netghljo¥hoo3.s . was as _%d in 
196^ as those wh~£ch~existed in Watts in 1965. Is it possible then 
that"Tuc'sohnmay'T¥”inquTHng'those ingredients or conditions which 
force people to react violently? Graphs are provided to show a 
comparison of conditions in Los Angeles and Tucson, (See Attach­
ments "C" and "d”).

FEDERAL PROGRAMS

.Recognizing that.a problem exists in Tucson, local government 
officials have undertaken several programs designed to alleviate 
the conditions under which people exist. Among these are the 
following:

PAGE 2

a.) Urban renewal
b.) Concentrated Code Enforcement
c.) Public Housing
d.) Community Renewal Program

1/ Trends in Housing. National Committee Against Discrimination 
in Housing 'Volume X, No. 8, Page 8, November 1966.



PAGE 3

It must be pointed out that even with the inception of the 
above programs the problem of housing will continue and it will 
take a much greater concentrated effort by the local community 
and the Federal Government to solve the problem of providing 
adequate housing.

Rempving_^portion of the slums that exist in Tucson through 
urbanjLenewai„accpmpJA-SbftsJpnIxIa_sman fraction of what is needed. 
In attempting to solve part of the problem by this proces'sj other 
problems arise which directly affect the well-being of many 
Mexican-American families residing in the urban renewal area. The 
principal problem is that of_rglona-ting-.families-i-ntQ_.ad.equate 
housing which they- can afford. Under present regualtions financial 
and relocation support is grossly_inadequate to provide _for proper 
relocation of famy-ies_fxom_rte area to standard housing.

In the great majority of cases the monetary amount being 
offered to families as compensation for acquisition of their 
property is not sufficient to enable them to acquire adequate 
housing.

Under currently existing Federal program the precedent exists 
whereby low-income families may receive direct grants to rehabilitate 
their homes. Both "Urban Renewal" and "Concentrated Code Enforce­
ment" programs provide grants of up to $1,500 to certain low-income 
families and individuals for repairs or improvements required to 
make property conform to applicable housing code requirements.

It is therefore inconsistent that the_Fej3eraL-Government 
should_,_jin_the_on.e_hand,_ptQvL4e.-grants_for„hpmegvmers ^o rebab- 
ilij;ate~their_Jipmes_lJ-Jihey_are to remain_in the proj^ct^areas 
whiJe.,_on_tJie_oth^r hand, families which,must., relocate are not 
pr,Qa.ided_ the same grants to help t h ^  in the_rehabilitation of 
housing which_tt^ey must _locate outside ojE the project boundaries. 
Families having to relocate~are punished severely by the loss of 
their homes and through lack of financial assistance.

Efforts by the relocation office to relocate_Mexican-American 
families in public housing is having little success. Mexican- 
Americans as a~^dup .are not accustomed to the_type„of, public 
housing available in Tucson, that is the institutional housing as 
provided by La Reforma and newly constructed Connie Chambers homes.
The University of Arizona survey referred to earlier in this 
report indicates that 60%_of__the. Mexican-AiMrlean families residing 
in the urban_renewad. area_and j3the^poor_areas_jTOuWjnot move into 
p^lic housing of this type.

The Tucson Housing Authority is in the process of acquiring 
. additional public housing. Under current plans this will mean the 
decentralization of housing from_the_pr^ent area. Whether this 

^type of housing~wTll”Ue Inofe acceptable to Mexican-Americans is 
debatable. Even -if—this-new_type_ of housing is more acce to
the Mexican-^merlean, the sjjpply_..wi.lI be inadgquate_for^resent needs.



PAGE 4

î Conceiitrated Code Enforcement; is another Federal program 
currently underway in Tucson. This program is designed to_ prevent 
neighborhoMs^AQCL-bec_Qming slums by arresting the deterioration 
of housing, through_loans__and_g^nts for rehabilitajtion and provid­
ing necessary surface,facilities ̂ uch"as sidev7alks, curbs,.,s,treets, 
etc*. As a preventative measure this program is of great importance 
and definitely needed. The intent of Congress in enacting this 
type of program was to assist deteriorated areas as well as those 
in the process of deterioration. By administrative decision, in 
the.JDepartment of Housing and Urban Development, the program is 
currently_limited J;̂  areas fn jjhic5~deterioration has not y e i ^  

passed the point where such a plan can reasonabTy~^iiteiipTate 
reest^lishirig^ cbmple^ cod'e”cbmpliance and malntaining~llt.

This type of program as presently administered, is circumvent” 
ing the intent of Congress and is not meeting the immediate need of 
providing better housing lor poor liexican-Americans living in 
already dilapidated neighborhoods.

It is apparent then that the programs which the community is 
currently undertaking are not meeting the housing needs of the 
Mexican-American community.

Even though the Federal Government through the Department 
of Housing and Urban Development is expected to be the major 
force in thf; development of housing it is also necessary for 
the private sector to do its share in order to meet the challenge 
before us. Government should xwrk tojestablish an environment in 
which pxiyate.,.invei^tmeht: will Tbe^ehcnuraged to. cohstrud.t or,re- 
habj-litate a .l.arge_number,of.^low“xncoina dwelling units more 
ecojiomicaiiy, with_ reasonable expectation of a fair profit.

One area where the private^ s_ector__^ failing ^o ^ssist_is 
in providing loans for those individj^als who ~arĵ  prepared to_re- 
habllitate. their^oiTn-homes. By this we mean the practice of so 
mahyTreMirrg-effist'OnrtTbn^ which refuse rehabilitation loans to 
individuals who happen to reside in rundown neighborhoods. This 
blanket reins.-̂ l of such loans to people because they happen or

to area~ts an TnaiscreeF’ldriTof discrimr .•
inaticn again^rt the poor, and in bur case the poor jlexican- 
AmaricFr* ^

The Federal Government condones this by_ allowing the practice 
to exist and even by~pracFicing~it''to'"some extent within its own 
departnnnt.e through Veterans' Admihistration and FederajL,Housing 
Admin. 1 trr.titn.■ FederalFitbuiing Administration and similar 
lending~frbj.vrams might be greatly simplified and liberalized, 
including the acceptance of a reasonable percentage of losses on 
loans.



PAGE 5

EMPLOYMENT
According to figures presented at the Mexican-American 

Conference in El Paso on October 26-27, 1967, there are_lê ss 
than̂ O__Jjadiyiduals with'Mexican-American surnames employed'by the 
DepartjmanJc-of--Housxngi:an'd-:UrbaiO§YeXopmeirt3w^^5f^
12,000 employees at all levels. This represents less than k 
of 1% of the total.”.

In the City of Tucson, employment of Mexican-Americans in 
the Department of Community Development is almost as bad. Out 
of a total of approximately 50 employees_j.nvolved wiJth Federal 
prpgr.e3SS_Sucb._asJrhan_Renewal ,__Concentrated_Code enjorcement, 
■Relocation. CRP, Planning etc.. otilv 6 .employees_are pfMexican- 
Amerlcan background. Five__pf__tte_six sr^ employed in clerical 
pagitions and one in .planning. The^ are no Mexican-Americans 
employed in the administration level oF”any~o'f~the~~~pfogfams.

It is essential that HUD inaugurate special efforts in the 
recruitment and placement of qualified Mexican-Americans in all 
phases of programs which directly affect the well-being of the 
Mexican-American. Under Title VIII of the Housing Act of 1964, 
Congress has provided authority whereby training programs can 
be established to train personnel to fill certain positions with 
Federal Housing programs specifically in the field of code enforce­
ment. This type of program should be expanded to cover all HUD 
programs and the Congress should be encouraged to appropriate 
funds for this purpose.
CONCLUSION

Inadequate housing is a major reason for discontentment 
among poor Mexican Americans as well as Negroes. It is vitally 
important then that Federal, State, and local governments move 
quickly and effectively in correcting the existing conditions.

Our Negro citizens are criticized and castigated by many of 
our fellow citizens including Mexican-.Americans for many of the 
actions wlil.-h they have taken as a direct result of their deplorable 
conditions. It is recognized, willingly or unwillingly, that 
Congress has reacted by attempting to provide programs to alleviate 
the contributing conditions.

In the Southwest the Mexican-American is often referred to 
as the ‘'sleeping giant." Unless the same conditions vihich affect 
the Negro in other parts of the country are corrected in the 
Southwest for the Mexican-American it is probable, not only 
possible, that the giant will av?aken with a mighty roar which will 
be heard in the halls of Congress. The masses V7ill not be denied.
In this great country of ourswe m.ust rise to the challenge before 
ys and provide a decent living standard for all people.



PAGE 6

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.

2.

3.

5.

6.

7.

Need to recruit and place more individuals of Mexican-toerican 
descent in the Department of Housing and Urban Development 
both at the Administrative level as well as in the field.

Need for special grants provided by the Federal Government 
through the Department of Housing and Urban Development to 
train minority groups, especially Mexican-Americans in this 
area, to assume positions within local governments in the 
fields of planning, housing, inspections, etc.

Revision of Urban Renewal Regulations to permit financial 
assistance adequate to relocate families into standard 
housing. Provision of direct grants or low interest loans 
to assist relocatees in acquiring or rehabilitating property.

A complete survey of the housing needs of the Mexican-Amerlcan 
should be carried out in order to provide information as 
to the extent of the problem.

Development of a federally sponsored program to rehabilitate 
the thousands of substandard houses.

Need to recind administrative policies of HUD to provide 
concentrated code enforcement programs applicable to more 
seriously deteriorated areas.

Federal Housing Administration and similar lending programs 
for low-rent housing should be greatly simplified and 
liberalised. Current paperxTOrk requirements of FHA discourage 
the use of its loan programs in poor areas by rendering the 
act Pf borrowing too lengthy and complex for the average 
low-income housing owner.

10.

Department of Health, Education and Welfare should provide 
adequate financial support to enable the needy to acquire 
decent and standard housing.

Existing Federal rent supplement programs should be greatly 
expanded. They offer the double advantage of subsidising 
better housing and giving the Federal Government excellent 
leverage to force compliance with housing codes.

That the City of Tucson be designated under the "Model Cities 
Program." .



Census tracts with 400 or more 
persons with Spanish - Surname 1 /

Census
Tract

Families With Income'

No. Dilapidated Deteriorated

2 606 . 22 . 88.... . 98

3 1,051 190 269 334

4 1,606 29 119 241

7 2,021 28 122 263

8 765 52 134 139

9 1,740 236 662 411

10 939 412 411 254

11 1,054 137 335 237

12 555 96 144 146

13 2,417 38 253 499

20 1,564 2 28 103

22 1,137 91 196 270

23 2,149 200 508 504

25 1,226' 166 204 135

35 4,461 9 70 391

38 1,938 56 418 320

39 1,233 17 11 117

45 3,777 87 128 557

TOTAL 30.239 1,868 4 ,100 5,014

County
TOTAL 85,216 3,865 7 .973 12.072

Per-cent 
of TOTAL 35.5% 48.3% 51.4% 41.5%,

1 /  Based on U. S, Bureau of Census figures for 1960.

Attachment "A"



School District

P I M  COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT 

aWIRONMENTAL HEALTH SURVEY - 1964

Carillo 4,083 907 148

Borton 2,449 816 32

Davis 2,877 903 38

Drachman 2,717 541 116

Government Heights 4,649 1,431 4

Holladay 2,375 647 55

Liberty 3,405 813 17

Lynn 2,643 751 108

Menlo Park 3,488 1,017 13

Mission View 3,840' 1,279 124

Ochoa 3,840 634 61

Richey 1,323 237 121

Rose 6,034 1,629 23

Safford 3,075 1,438 23

Van Buskirk 3,562 866 4

Tully 2,384 488 61

Manzo 3,116 497 25

TOTALS 55,815 14,894 973

ATTACHMENT "B"



90 1

80

70

60

50

a 40

20

10

iI I
I

i I

I
I

I
I
I

I

I

;
1 1 1:i:-S
I ' I I

Jl

I1

I
I
I
I

1.

l i  I N

l§ I
WATTS CENTRAL AVALON FLORENCE GREEN EXPOSITION WILLOW-

MEADOWS BROOK

Two factors are compared with the per cent of Negro population 
(striped bars) in the seven South Los Angeles census tracts. 
Unsound housing - dilapidated and deteriorating structures 
(unshaded bars) and crowding more than 1.01 persons per room 
(shaded bars).

Attacnment **C**.



Pj

Two factors are compared with the per cent of Mexican-American 
population (striped bars) in the seven Tucson census tracts. 
Unsound housing - dilapidated and deteriorating structures 
(unshaded bars), and crowding - more than 1.01 persons per room 
(shaded bars). •

A tta cn ii.e n t '*D*' .



BIBLIOGRAPHY - SOURCES OF INFORMATION

1, Division of Economic and Business Research
University of Arizona

2, Research and Development Center
University of Arizona

3, Tenants' Rights: Report on a National Conference
on Legal Rights of Tenants. United States 
General Printing Office - 1967.

4, Trends in Housing - Volume X, No. 8, November, 1966

5, U. S, Census of Population and Housing: 1960



M E M O R A N D U M

January 31, 1968

TOI Richard Alatorre
FROM* Jean Fairfax
REj vis it to WASHINGTON AND NEW YORK

I would like to suggest the following schedule for your 
visit to Washington and New York in February:
February 15 and 16 -■ Washington
Visit persons with responsibilities for Mexican-American 
programs. Phil Montez has a list which was prepared by 
Federal Programs Division of the Coimaission on Civil Rights. 
Ask Sam Simmons to make the appointments for you through 
his office. I would be glad to do so but I do not have 
the list. Appointments should be made ahead of time because 
there are a lot of people to see. You may know many of 
these people already. Purpose of these visits will be to 
find out the nature of their programs, scope of the 
responsibility of this particular person, information 
about projects he may be developing, ideas he may have 
about a role we might play.
February 19 and 20 and maybe February 21 - New York
This will be an opportunity for you to talk with individual 
attorneys about various phases of our legal programs. We 
will have a meeting to discuss ideas for a Mexican-American 
Program. 1 have invited Allen Black, the regional director 
of our Memphis office, to come to New York while you are 
here. He is doing some things Which will interest you.
Also, we'll try to schedule a meeting with Bill Pincus at 
the Ford Foundation,
February 22 is a holiday. February 23 should be kept open 
for further meetings in Washington unless you can wind 
thirds up there on the 21st.
Please discuss these suggestions with Phil and let me 
have your ideas.

JF/11