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By Hugo Mojica
According to most indications, Houston’s population has steadily increased during the last decade, particularly in minority communities. In 2007, the Census Bureau estimated the City of Houston’s population at 2.2 million with about 41.7% Latino, 28% White, 24% Black, and 5.3% Asian. With those numbers, you can argue that we are becoming a more diverse community and seeing firsthand the future of America here in Houston. Also, these numbers have started discussions about having more Latino representation on City Council given our percentage of the population. Currently, City Council consists of seven Whites, four African Americans, one Asian, and one Latino. However, the discussion now is to be focused on Houston’s violation of the 30-year-old settlement between the Department of Justice and the City, since the charter required two additional Council seats once our population reached 2.1 million.
So why are we in this predicament? We find ourselves in this position because we have not come together as a community to seek equal representation. Where have our Latino leaders been on the issue? We reached the 2.1 million threshold in 2007, yet no one seemed to care enough to bring the issue of redistricting until now—an election year. Given the proximity of next year’s 2010 Census, we should wait for more precise numbers in order to divide the Council Districts more accurately.
However, that does not guaranteed we will have more representation on City Council. According to a presentation given during the recently held Houston Area Latino Summit, in 2008 only two districts, H & I, 22% and 21% respectively, have a significant percentage of Hispanic surnamed registered voters. In terms of Hispanic surnamed registered voters for the other districts, it was much lower, including District A at 11%, District B at 3%, District C at 6%, District D at 6%, District E at 13%, District F at 8%, and District G at 5%. While I believe we have increased in numbers, it is not clear to what extent it will change some districts. Increases in number do not necessarily translate into a more representative government, only voter participation does.
If we really want to work on equal representation, we should focus on nurturing the future leaders of this community. We should encourage more Latino candidates to run for office and provide them the financial backing that is needed to run in a city as large as Houston. Our issues are not Latino issues but, rather, Houstonian issues. We all want the same things, like comprehensive mobility, affordable housing, economic development, and quality of life. However, in order to get us there, we need to build coalitions in order to solve our problems.
I am proud of my Latino culture and heritage, and our community is richer for it. However, we need to start taking responsibility for our lack of representation and our failure to promote Latino issues in a more organized manner. To quote Abraham Lincoln, “The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds.”
According to most indications, Houston’s population has steadily increased during the last decade, particularly in minority communities. In 2007, the Census Bureau estimated the City of Houston’s population at 2.2 million with about 41.7% Latino, 28% White, 24% Black, and 5.3% Asian. With those numbers, you can argue that we are becoming a more diverse community and seeing firsthand the future of America here in Houston. Also, these numbers have started discussions about having more Latino representation on City Council given our percentage of the population. Currently, City Council consists of seven Whites, four African Americans, one Asian, and one Latino. However, the discussion now is to be focused on Houston’s violation of the 30-year-old settlement between the Department of Justice and the City, since the charter required two additional Council seats once our population reached 2.1 million.
So why are we in this predicament? We find ourselves in this position because we have not come together as a community to seek equal representation. Where have our Latino leaders been on the issue? We reached the 2.1 million threshold in 2007, yet no one seemed to care enough to bring the issue of redistricting until now—an election year. Given the proximity of next year’s 2010 Census, we should wait for more precise numbers in order to divide the Council Districts more accurately.
However, that does not guaranteed we will have more representation on City Council. According to a presentation given during the recently held Houston Area Latino Summit, in 2008 only two districts, H & I, 22% and 21% respectively, have a significant percentage of Hispanic surnamed registered voters. In terms of Hispanic surnamed registered voters for the other districts, it was much lower, including District A at 11%, District B at 3%, District C at 6%, District D at 6%, District E at 13%, District F at 8%, and District G at 5%. While I believe we have increased in numbers, it is not clear to what extent it will change some districts. Increases in number do not necessarily translate into a more representative government, only voter participation does.
If we really want to work on equal representation, we should focus on nurturing the future leaders of this community. We should encourage more Latino candidates to run for office and provide them the financial backing that is needed to run in a city as large as Houston. Our issues are not Latino issues but, rather, Houstonian issues. We all want the same things, like comprehensive mobility, affordable housing, economic development, and quality of life. However, in order to get us there, we need to build coalitions in order to solve our problems.
I am proud of my Latino culture and heritage, and our community is richer for it. However, we need to start taking responsibility for our lack of representation and our failure to promote Latino issues in a more organized manner. To quote Abraham Lincoln, “The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds.”
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