UPDATE: April 3rd, at the Farmers Market in Aptos, I met up with Ysenia (sp?) again… to follow up on whether or not she had given out my #, and requested that people in her area of Salinas contact me. Ysenia sells produce on Saturdays for Rocket Farms, and she had expressed sadness about the “situation” in Salinas. Nothing. Less than nothing. “No one called you?” [Pause.] “No, you passed my number around?” [A nod, a shrug.] “I’ve been very busy.”

The REAL Horror in Salinas (and Elsewhere) (Unedited first draft)
Dedicated to the belief that readers will understand that what’s delineated here is merely the tip of the iceberg that I’ve been encountering
by Oxz (Richard Martin Oxman)

“What are we doing here, that is the question. And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer.” — Vladimir in Beckett’s Waiting for Godot

“Anybody can make history. Only a great man can write it.” — from The Critic as Artist, Oscar Wilde

Salinas, California, I understand, has a higher homicide rate than L.A. An historian I know catalogues it as a homicide capital of sorts. I’m not sure, I’m not a librarian, not one of those researchers who documents himself and his readers to death. The point is that it’s really horrific in Salinas, homicide-wise. [Pause.] And in other ways too.

Every night on our local news — I live in safe, secure Aptos, California — we get the Salinas Horror Show on two channels. Really, just about every single night the news starts off with the latest murder (or some other abomination) in this county seat and largest municipality of Monterey County, historic agricultural community and home of noted writer John Steinbeck… eight lovely miles from the Pacific Ocean. It’s incessant, unremitting… the reports of unrelieved agony. The portrayal of a burgeoning Blood Meridian.

That’s the setting in which Salinas’ Mayor Donohue is attempting to increase tourism. That’s part of the package that he’s hawking as he makes his rounds trying to get green businesses to set up shop in his area.

Shortly after watching the mayor’s rap one night, I read a bit about how Salinas’ Alisal Union School District was about to be “taken over” by the California State Board of Education as per http://www.montereyherald.com/local/ci_14791282. Apparently, Salinas has a “problem” in the realm of education which rivals its troubles vis-a-vis gang violence.

Then, right around the same time, I tune into a news flash about Azahel Cruz being slain by a bullet from gang violence. Six-year-old Azahel Cruz.

[Pause.]

I have a few kids. My youngest, Marcello, is ten-years-old. And he will have no future, Aptos’ present serernity notwithstanding, if the crises in Salinas are not addressed… following a new paradigm. For as far as I can see, as per my contact with concerned citizens and professionals of various stripes in Salinas (touched upon below), NOTHING is being done that has a shot in hell of producing healthy change in that city. And it is quite clear that the cancer destroying Salinas is spreading all over the U.S. Left alone, or confronted only by obsolete models for making a difference, things are slated to get much worse. Not “much worse” before they get better, but “much worse” in the context of a momentum which will make life not worth living for anyone of us.

That goes for residents in the Vienna Woods of Aptos, California, AND for citizens with guns barricaded in gated communities. For every child walking the streets… anywhere.

Okay, now that you’re clear on my motivation, let’s delineate what my experience has been to date with the authority figures in Salinas.

Again, I’m not a librarian or historian… so bear with me on the chronology. It’s not important. Just get the thrust of the whole shebang, if you will.

Carla, working in Mayor Donohue’s office, was sweet as pie to me (in our first phone talk 3/23/10). Couldn’t ask for more respectful treatment in any quarter. And that dynamic kicked in without her knowing a thing about my top-of-the-line academic background and community organizing experience which goes back many decades. I had been plaguing her with phone calls in an effort to reach her boss because I wanted to serve as an asset for Salinas on a basis that would serve their purposes. She got the feel for that, and promised to do what she could to secure a response from the mayor. To date, no response, and it’s been quite awhile since I first heard that sweet hello from Carla.

From there I attempted to contact Commander Dan Perez, who I caught on tv speaking about the tragedy of Azahel Cruz. He serves on the Board of Advisers for Sun Street, a national organization devoted to addressing alcoholism and drug addiction in Salinas and elsewhere. Commander Perez directed me to Commander Bob Eggers, who deals with gang members on the street daily with relatively few resources. Commander Eggers was just about as sweet as Carla, which greatly surprised me considering that he’s stuck in the muck and mire from morning till night. And after a few (what seems in retrospect) unnecessary exchanges, he directed me to the Program Director for Operation Cease-Fire:

“I did receive your e-mail concerning possible employment opportunities for gang members. I apologize for the delayed response as I am rarely at my desk. Our unit operates on the streets as a front line suppression unit in the battle against criminal street gangs. In response to your idea I can only say it sounds much like a program currently in place by the Salinas Police Department. The program is called “Operation Cease-Fire” and offers gang members a wide variety of services as a possible way out of the gang life. Based on your e-mail I might suggest you contact our Program Director with your ideas to see if they could enhance or benefit the program. The director’s name is Sergeant Sheldon Bryan and he can be reached at 831-___ - ____ or by e-mail at ____________________.

I hope the information I have provided to you is helpful and should you need further assistance please do not hesitate to contact me.”

That was much appreciated. However, having said that, for the purposes of this article I’m obliged to underscore that Program Director Bryan did not respond to my initial missive, and I had to ask Commander Eggers to jump into the fray again… to see if he could get Sheldon Bryan to respond. Apparently he tried to help because Commander Bryan (Lots of Commanders, yes?) contacted me via email the same day. [Pause.] Turns out that I was asked to be patient… that he (Commander Bryan) would contact me soon or “next week.”

I had offered to delineate my plan to provide employment for gang members in the Salinas community, something that might have a shot at — at least — keeping potential gang members from joining hands with their local brothers and sisters in a life of homicidal crime. In short, I was asked to wait for the dialogue I requested. I point this out, not because I don’t appreciate how busy Commander Bryan and his colleagues are, not because I don’t appreciate their valuable heartbeats. I do. It’s just that I sense that there’s something wrong with moving at what I consider an arthritic snail’s pace respecting what I’m offering at no expense to the community.

I had asked Commander Bryan what Commander Eggers meant by “a wide variety of services as a possible way out of the gang life” in my very first email. For what I’m proposing follows a new paradigm for change, and — I’m sure — is not at all what they already have in place.

Following the above (or right around the same time), I contacted Brian Contreras who works with Salinas youth, Anna Foglia who is Executive Director for Sun Street in Salinas, a few educators at the local Hartnell College, and a number of other professionals (and other citizens) in the community, providing a sound bite of what I had in mind for Salinas. Again, clearly stressing that I wanted to do something that aligned with their personal agendas… sooner rather than later. Which to me means sooner rather than too late.

Not a word.

Then, at a birthday party for a youngster in Santa Cruz (3/27/10), I encountered a fellow who worked for the national office of the YMCA in Chicago, Illinois. To make a long story short, he also was very sweet — giving me his undivided attention, as I took up many of his heartbeats at the party — and promised to connect me with his colleagues on the Central Coast ASAP. I didn’t wait to hear from him — which I have NOT to date — because he made it clear that he didn’t have any clout, as he put it. I thought that I might be able to supply my own clout (considering my background and intentions), and so I sent emails to YMCA Corporate Headquarters and other YMCA personnel in the area… immediately upon returning home from the party. I was sky high because even though it was clear that the conservative YMCA would not be interested in my most radical thoughts, and was somewhat restricted — greatly restricted, actually — because their non-profit status precluded involvement in the electoral arena, their interest in nutrition for youngsters, after school activities and securing places for the public to convene aligned with my agenda.

But even though I made it clear that — contingent upon my family’s approval — I might be able to devote 24×7 time to mutual causes in Salinas… nothing. Zero. Zip. Not even a “Thank you, but no thanks.” That’s astounding considering my background, my references, my well-intentioned goals.

That did not deter me. I’m always guided by Beckett’s “Fail. Fail again. Fail again better.” I immediately went into high gear with communications to churches in the area, including the church connected with the funeral services for Azahel Cruz. Via phone and email. NOTHING!

Oh, there was one weak comment along the way about how COPA (a local group which formed to battle gang violence) had moved in solidarity with some church people to protest the intrusion of gang life into the community. They had marched through local streets with placards registering their ongoing frustration. That comment was thrown my way as a response to my saying that I thought that the community would benefit from moving in solidarity to protest the nightly characterization of Salinas as a hell hole. That I thought that by forcing the media outlets to change their tune… everyone would benefit (including Mayor Donohue with his attempts to draw in tourists), and that local citizens could then, maybe, be motivated to move on other fronts as well. I underscored how I didn’t think the mayor’s plans to bring in green business would benefit hardly any of those who participated in COPA’s march.

Still waiting to hear from Father Victor. It’s this “waiting time” which seems to be imposed in all quarters… which makes me feel my patience with Commander Bryan will not pay off. Something amiss. Something serious. Something doesn’t make sense. I simply can’t compute, cannot process in this weary brain of mind… WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON IN SALINAS?

The very next day — following contact with Alfredo, who had been involved in the funeral services for Azahel Cruz — I attempted contact with a number of educators and colleagues working under the umbrella of the Alisal Union School District. Five or six missives sent within the format provided by their online site. SILENCE. A wall made up of something inexplicable at this point.

Not very long ago, I was all pumped up to do something with the Brown Berets of Watsonville, a community that’s a bit closer to Aptos than Salinas. Also a community heavily populated by Latino people, legal and illegal residents, pretty much all under siege in some way. I had a similar experience in that realm. There was a very distinct sense of no one wanting to have anything to do with me. And, keep in mind, I wasn’t coming from a place which was saying, “Let this White Guy tell Latinos what to do” or “Permit Caucasian to rescue you, por favor” or anything of the sort. Also, please note that I was born in 1942, and I grew up learning how to be polite… after a fashion that’s not in fashion today. It is in my bones… not to address people presumptuously, too not take their heartbeats for granted. To be respectful in words and tone.

I do have a great sense of urgency, so perhaps that’s off-putting, but — certainly — that can’t account for all of the above, not even much of it*. [Aside: Just received an email from Commander Eggers. It was blank!]

*I will admit that my resume includes experiences that might appear to be too radical for some, but that shouldn’t preclude dialogue (in my book). Why would an outfit like YMCA forgo a chance to make use of my well-documented marketing skills on their terms? Particularly if I’m point out that I have every intention to honor their relatively conservative agenda in the name of helping the kids they love?

Prior to all of this stuff I had carved an inroad into the world of the United Farm Workers. Meaning, I contacted them. No one on their end responded either. Amazing. Not until I complained vociferously about their not responding. Then, someone from their political section telephoned me to explain why no one had gotten back to me. Very weak excuses, disingenuous my street sense tells me. Nevertheless, she told me that I was welcome to attend upcoming meetings and be a part of their agenda. When I explained (what had been in my emails) that I was first interested in meeting with people in a position of influence at UFW in person ASAP to get feedback on a new paradigm for action I had created for their purposes, the woman immediately pulled back and made it clear that the UFW was not interested in exploring new strategies/options in the electoral arena, that that door was closed. That the UFW was giving its full support to Jerry Brown! [As in Jerry ("Officer Mehserle Didn't Murder Oscar Grant") Brown. As in Jerry (I'm better than Meg Whitman, aren't I?) Brown.]

Well, my proposal to have UFW fully represented in a new party was chopped off at the knees without the possibility of any discussion. No opportunity for me to delineate WHY support for Jerry Brown was a bad idea in my view. [You'd think that, as per their own history with the Democratic Party, I wouldn't have to even broach the subject.] No willingness to let me even send an email to explain that (along with details about what alternatives I felt existed for the UFW). In other words, hard and fast top-down dealings with grassroots people like me. I could accept decisions that the powers that be had decided, or I could lump it. I could donate $ and attend meetings to see how I could contribute to carrying out their priorities, or I could totally remain outside of their precious loop.

What chance would a farm worker have for providing input? I also wondered if the UFW encouraged their followers to self-educate about the political scene, or whether they expected the fumigated immiserated to simply pick up the political torch that was handed to them. I could go elsewhere, most farm workers could not.

I also — prior to my deep attempts at penetrating the Latino community — tried to connect with loads of people in the Black/African-American community. All along the spectrum. On a basis, again, that would serve their purposes, as they saw fit.

But time after time, I ran up against resignation, apathy, ignorance, cynicism, self-defeating selfishness and/or atomization. Elements of all that seem to rule the roost ‘cross the board. Everywhere.

To give but one sad example (among hundreds), the top people associated with www.blackbarbershop.org gave me the Total Cold Shoulder. Even after provided them with what I thought were very intriguing opening quotes for an article I wrote specifically for them:

“I just discovered that the Health Outreach Program for The Black Barbershops site spotlights WebMD as a highly recommended source of information. The BB people do great work regarding diabetes and prostate cancer in the Black community, but — apparently — it wouldn’t hurt them to engage me in a little dialogue respecting Martha Rosenberg’s recent revelations. To say the least. I wonder why they totally ignore my missives.” — the author banging his head against the wall

“Why are the medical professionals at Black Barbershops recommending that people eat ordinary chicken and mercury-contaminated tuna? And why is there no mention of the importance of organic food for cancer prevention?” — The author’s ten-year-old son

Or, maybe, because of doing so. [Again, the above is one of a great many encounters.]

There’s no room on the road I’m traveling for pulling punches. If the UFW is not permitting significant down-up communication, that spade must be called a spade. And if Black Barbershops is making mistakes with their Health Outreach Program there’s no way to get around spotlighting the fact.

In short, this Salinas Syndrome is rampant ‘cross the country. And it’s contagious, I’d say.

That’s what our challenge is, not George W. Obama. Not Pelosi. Not the Tea Party people. Not how to recruit for permanently marginalized (current) third parties.

We are obliged to acknowledge this SICKNESS for which I have no name at present. We must see the implications of what it means for organizations and people in positions of influence (and others) to refuse to nurture enthusiasm and fresh thought. For them to remain in denial about resignation, apathy, ignorance, cynicism, self-defeating selfishness atomization.

We have a clear obligation — regardless of the odds, or the wisdom of knowing cynics — to give help and get healthy midst this HORROR.

Some political leaders talk about HOPE without seeming to have the slightest sense of what I’m talking about here. Ditto for a great many activists, alternative writers et al. [Pause.] If they haven’t given up. If they haven’t — on some level — opted for simply… documenting or venting.

I’ll repeat: We have a clear obligation to give help and get healthy midst this HORROR.

The author (Ricardo) would greatly appreciate your contacting Arnold Pepper at impelus@gmail.com to discuss WHAT can be done at present. Our TOSCA group (http://oxtogrind.org/archive/483) has suggestions, and wants feedback, involvement of new blood. We only see obsolete paradigms for action being employed by all the major organizations devoted to, say, immigration reform… the lack of which, among other things, positively correlates with gang violence and many other ills. There is a gestalt of issues which must be addressed together. At once.