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FREE MIGHTY wash Census 2020 Reveals Latinos Weren't Properly Counted
The first batch of once-everydecade data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows a United States that is growing less quickly and but still seeing its population shift to the South and West. The data released at the end of April was relatively basic — containing national and state-level population figures and details of how they affect states' representation in Congress. Still, it contained some surprises and pointed to some consequential trends. The U.S. population grew to 331 million, a 7.4% growth rate from the last time the Census Bureau counted every person in the country, in 2010. Those may sound like big numbers, but it's actually the second slowest rate of population growth the census has ever recorded, just behind the 7.3% growth in the 1930s. That decade's slowed growth was rooted in the Great Depression. Our past decade's sluggish rate had similar beginnings in the long shadow of the Great Recession. The drawn-out recovery saw many young adults struggling to enter the job market, delaying marriage and starting a family. That dealt a blow to the nation's birthrate. Then the pandemic hit last year and made matters worse. But while U.S. population growth recovered after the Great Depression, Arturo Vargas demographers are not optimistic it will pick up anytime soon. Most forecast even slower population growth in the decades to come. Americans are getting older — the median age in the U.S. is 38, up one year from 37 in 2010. Immigration had been dropping even before the pandemic effectively shut it down. And many Republicans have largely turned against the idea of immigration, legal or illegal, a new political barrier to the country adding more population quickly. “Unlike the Great Depression, it’s part of a process where we’re likely to keep having slow growth,” said William Frey, a demographer at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. That has potentially grim consequences for the nation's future. “The big demographic advantage the U.S. once enjoyed over other rich nations has evaporated,” John Lettieri, president of the Economic Innovation Group, tweeted after the census data release. “Now there are more Americans 80 and older than 2 or younger.” The U.S. population may be growing more slowly, but it continued its 80-year-long trend of shifting to the South and the West. Florida, Montana and North Carolina each saw enough growth to add a congressional seat, while booming Texas gained two. Colorado and Oregon also gained new seats, while Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania lost seats. The snapshot tells a familiar story: Americans have moved out of the industrial Midwest and Northeast, chasing jobs, more affordable housing, growing new suburbs and vibrant cities. But, strikingly, the longtime symbol of Americans' search for the new and the next wasn't part of that story. California's growth rate wasn't enough to retain its 53-seat delegation in the House. The nation's most populous state lost a congressional seat for the first time in its history, a fact that is already forcing debate over whether Democrats' control of state government is to blame.
TROUBLE COUNTING
LATINOS? In fact, the process was expected to go even better for the GOP. Texas and Florida were each expected to gain a seat, as was Arizona. Those shortfalls were a shocker for demographers, and there were so few details in the data it was hard to understand what happened. One possibility is that Latinos weren't properly counted. Latinos make up a large segment of the population in the three states that didn't gain expected seats. Trump unsuccessfully pushed to add a citizenship question to the census, sparking allegations that he hoped to intimidate Latinos from participating in the process. The actual count started during the coronavirus pandemic when it was especially hard to reach certain populations. It may be that the gap between expected gains and actual ones is the first sign of a Hispanic undercount. But it's too soon to tell without the more detailed data due out in the fall. “The initial results are surprising enough that once more details are released, we will be able to better determine to what extent the Latino population was fairly and accu- Thomas Saenz rately counted,” said Arturo Vargas, president of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials. Thomas Saenz, president of the Mexican-American Legal Defense and Education Fund, said he wasn't ready to “sound the alarm” about an undercount yet, noting that growth among Latinos may have helped New York avoid losing a second House seat.
Important Numbers
Police (Non-Emergency) call 763-5333
Fire (Non-Emergency) call 765-5757
Emergencies call 9-1-1 Program/Service info, call 2-1-1
City services, call 3-1-1 City - call 775-3000. www.ci.lubbock.tx.us
County - call 775-1000 www.co.lubbock.tx.us LISD - call 766-1000 www.lubbockisd.org
Latino Lubbock Magazine 792-1212
news@latinolubbock.net www.latinolubbock.net LATINO LUBBOCK DEADLINE NEWS & INFO, 18TH ADVERTISING THE 23rd
Community & Event Brieflies
SOUTH PLAINS
FOOD BANK To receive a food box from SPFB, you still need to qualify through one of our partnering agencies and receive a voucher. You can call 2-1-1 or visit www.211texas.org to find a local agency that is giving our vouchers. Citizens are still required to bring all documentation needed to see if you qualify. TAMALE WORKSHOP Pt. 1 & 2 Learn to make delicious tamales in this two-day workshop! Pre-register by noon on 4/7. 4/9- 6:00 pm and 4/10- 10:00 am at the Rawlings Community Center. Register at (806) 767-2704. For ages 15+, Cost is $20.
COVID-19 OTHER RESOURCES
• Call 2-1-1 for Health, food, housing, and other assistance • Call 7-1-1 for Relay Service • To report price gouging, call the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General: 1-800-621-0508. • En espanol - www.unidosus.org/issues/ health/articles/coronavirus-span
VIRTUAL CIVIL LEGAL CLINIC
Get legal help from our location to yours! Lubbock Branch Office Service Area of the Legal Aid of Northwest Texas, Call Christina Richey at 806 763-4557, ext. 6010. Leave a message with your name, phone number, the best time to call you, and a brief description of your legal issue. Someone from Legal Aid will follow up with you and give you an appointment time. Space for this clinic is limited for Tuesday, April 13, 2021; and Tuesday, April 27, 2021, from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M.. Please contact us no later than 5 p.m., the day before clinic date to reserve your spot.
2-1-1 NON-EMERGENCY QUES-
TIONS 2-1-1 is a free help line answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, which will link you to health and community services. Visit Latino Lubbock Magazine online at www.latinolubbock.net to read a copy of the monthly issue, or to submit news and info, view our events calendar and more!
Wear Your Mask! ¡Usa tu máscara! Texas Bill Could Stop Kids From Being Shamed Over School Lunch Debt
Anewly filed bill in the Texas State House would ban debt accrued from school lunches for students in Texas. On Wednesday, Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D-Round Rock), filed House Bill 4112, which would allow students to receive regular lunches despite what their meal card balance may be. “In the richest country in the world, children are accumulating debt. We are shaming kids because they can’t afford their school lunch and conditioning them for a lifetime of indebtedness,” said Talarico. “School meals are essential to a student’s physical health and academic success. I filed HB 4112 to ban school lunch debt in Texas because no one should be in debt before first grade.” Currently, children from families with incomes at or below 130% of the poverty level are eligible for free meals, according to the School Nutrition Association. Meanwhile, those with incomes between 130% and 185% can receive reduced-price meals. SNA indicates that 130% of the poverty level is a household income of $34,060 for a family of four and 185% is $48,470 for a family of four. The association’s most recent meal price averages show elementaryhigh school lunches range around $2.60 and breakfasts range around $1.50. Nevertheless, thousands still struggle. Nationally, there has been a rise in advocacy for the issue in recent years — prompting many across the country to pay off outstanding debts, including an Austin eighth-grader who paid $9,000 from a GoFundMe campaign toward the Austin ISD’s nearly $19,000 in school lunch debt. But experts say this isn’t a permanent solution to the problem for thousands of families. Currently, USDA regulations allow school districts to decide how to manage unpaid meal balances: alternatives have included limiting numbers of charges allowed and providing lower-cost, typically cold, alternative meals. ‘Lunch shaming’ The concept of giving students with unpaid balances alternative, cheaper meals has been widely criticized, with detractors claiming it encourages “lunch shaming,” or identifying students who have unpaid balances and aren’t able to get regular meals. Ways of identification used in the past include wristbands, differentcolored lunch cards, and the previous mentioned alternate meals. In 2019, U.S. Senator Tina Smith and Rep. Ilhan Omar introduced the No Shame at School Act, which would prohibit shaming practices. It would also require schools to certify unpaid meal balances and forbid them from using debt collectors to receive payment. Several states have laws in place against shaming practices, including New Mexico, California, Oregon and Iowa. In Texas, Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill in 2017 creating a grace period for students with unpaid balances.
Carta Abierta
¿Que Piensas?
We know our readers have a lot to say! Mail letters to Latino Lubbock “Letters to the Editor,” Box 6473 Lubbock, TX 79493, o r email them to news@latinolubbock.net.
Please include your name, address, and contact phone number. Mailed letters must be signed. Please note that unsigned letters will not be published.
Letters are limited to 100 words, depending on space availability, some longer will be included. Writers are limited to one letter per month. Submissions may be edited for clarity or space consideration. Letters are not acknowledged. Opinions
expressed in letters and Op-Ed articles do not necessarily represent the views of Latino Lubbock Magazine.
SCHOOL NEEDED
The building is almost complete. I congratulate Anita Harrison for getting the honor of a building in her name. While there are some folks that seem upset at LISD and their process, we are happy to have the school in a neighborhood that has been ignored. I think for me that's my issue the need for the school. Roberto L.
COMMUNICATIONS
I've recently learned that Hispanics are often the victims of the increasing Lubbock crime wave and yet police face great challenges in helping them. Fear seems to be the obstacle to better communications. I suspect that many of us are fearful for our family members and friends who are living here without authorization. Police have assured me that they are not substitutes for the Border Patrol. They are only tasked with preventing and solving local criminal action. Residents and police need all of us to become activists against the crime wave. If you observe a crime in process or know someone who is committing illegal actions, you need to report the details to the police. If you are fearful of direct or indirect ramifications, you can report anonymously to the Crime Line: 806-7411000. Help all of us. If you see something, say something. L. Bryant
INFO
I noticed there was no info about the Elections in the April issue of Latino Lubbock Magazine. Fortunately, I did see your post on Facebook. Thanks for what you do. Alice Garcia
2021 Commencement
Lubbock Area High Schools
•May 21 Frenship HS Graduation, People’sa Bank Stadium, 7:30 pm •May 25 Monterey HS Graduation Lowrey Field, 8 pm •May 26 Estacado HS Graduation Lowrey Field, 8 pm •May 27 Talkington School for Young Women Leaders HS Graduation, Buddy Holly Hall, 6:30 pm •May 27 Lbk Cooper HS Graduation First United Park, 8:30 pm •May 28 Coronado HS Graduation Lowrey Field, 8 pm •May 29 Lubbock HS Graduation, United Supermarkets Arena Lowrey Field, 8 pm
Congratulations Class of 2021!
Biden Pushes New CDC Mask Guidance to Get Vaccinated
President Joe Biden urged all eligible Americans to get vaccinated against the coronavirus, saying that new guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention easing certain restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals is a great incentive for Americans to roll up their sleeves. "The bottom line is clear: If you're vaccinated, you can do more things, more safely, both outdoors as well as indoors," Biden said during remarks outside the White House last month. "So for those who haven't gotten their vaccination yet, especially if you're younger, or thinking you don't need it -- this is another great reason to go get vaccinated. Now." Earlier the CDC issued new guidelines that say fully vaccinated people don't need to wear masks at small outdoor gatherings or when dining outside with friends from multiple households. The CDC says unvaccinated people should still wear a mask at such gatherings. The federal health agency stills says that even if you've been vaccinated, you should avoid large indoor gatherings. And for the fully vaccinated who do choose to attend a crowded outdoor event, such as a live performance, parade, or sporting event, wearing a mask is recommended. The CDC's announcement came a day before the President's first joint address to Congress since taking office -- a speech that typically highlights the victories of the administration and strikes a hopeful tone about the future of the country. During his remarks on Tuesday, the President added that with vaccines, American can return to a more normal lifestyle.
TX Immigration Director Statement on President Biden’s Joint Address
Texas State Immigration Director Zaira Garcia issued the following statement today following President Biden’s Joint Address to Congress: “Providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented individuals, including Dreamers, TPS holders, farmworkers, and other essential workers, is one of the most popular bipartisan issues amongst voters. This is because voters understand the integral role and importance immigrants play in our communities and economy. And I thank President Joe Biden for addressing and prioritizing the need for this reform during his Joint Address. First Lady Jill Biden also recognized the importance of reform, Dreamers, and undocumented essential workers by inviting nurse, DACA recipient, and father Javier R. Quiroz Castro, who has been sacrificing his safety as he fights on the front lines of the pandemic, as her guest to the address. Today, Javier and about 30,600 other essential DACA workers in Texas live in a constant state of limbo with no certainty or permanent pathway to citizenship, despite filling critical roles in their communities and - for individuals like Javier - caring directly for COVID-19 patients. As a lifelong Texan with deep ties to the immigrant community, I’ve seen firsthand how they have stepped up to the frontlines for the state and communities they love. President Biden must continue to work with Congress on this paramount issue. Continued failure to act puts families at threat of separation and jeopardizes the Lone Star State’s health and economic well-being. “There are 930,000 undocumented immigrant essential workers who have been contributing to our COVID-19 response and recovery in Texas as teachers, nurses, sanitation workers, and more, just like Javier. Further, Texas immigrants have long been contributing to our economy as business owners, economic invigorators, integral workforce members, and taxpayers, and to our communities as friends, family members, and neighbors. They are valuable to our state for many reasons and should be afforded the opportunity to earn a pathway to citizenship to match their contributions and importance to our state. A reformed, humane, and fair immigration system that keeps families safe and together and encourages economic growth is long overdue. This would benefit everyone in the Lone Star State, and I urge Congress to heed the call of President Biden and most Americans to finally pass much-needed immigration reform legislation.”
TTU Research Scientist
Lubbock, TX. Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University
Duties: Conduct research on the development of novel vaccination systems, recombinant molecular biology, monoclonal antibody production, physicochemical characterization of nanoformulations, and in vivo animal work for vaccine efficacy assessment. Perform serological tests such as ELISAs, virus neutralization titers, hemagglutination titers, hemagglutination inhibition titers, FACS analysis, and plaque assays. Publish papers in peer-reviewed journals to disseminate research to the scientific community. Assist with writing grant proposals and mentor graduate/undergraduate students in a laboratory setting. Qualifications: PhD in Biological Science or related field. At least 4 years of research lab experience post PhD. Experience in antiviral research. Expertise in influenza viruses and vaccines. Ability to propagate influenza viruses in chicken eggs and to perform in vivo lethal dose studies. Experience working in BSL-3 environment. Strong knowledge of bioinformatics tools and public databases for biological sequence analysis, e.g. blast, NCBI. Experience in protein structure prediction and modeling tools.
Apply online req#23472 at www.workattexastech.com EEO/AA/Vet/Disability.
President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate key administration positions for national security.Among the list nominees, is Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez for director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Department of Homeland Security. Gonzalez was elected sheriff in 2016 and was reelected in 2020. Gonzalez holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Houston Downtown, and a master’s degree from the University of St. Thomas. The Sheriff has previously spoken out on immigration reform. In 2019, he tweeted that the U.S. needed “common-sense immigration reform.”
LHF Announces Events
Los Hermanos Familia announces inperson events in 2021. The Inaugural Charity Golf Tournament will be held May 7, 2021. The 12th Annual "Vamos a Pescar, Let's Go Fishing" Event will be held Saturday, August 7, 2021. The 6th Annual Veteran's Parade will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2021. Online registration and applications for these events can be found online at www.loshermanosfamilia.org. LHF urges the public to join these events, as well as encourages to wear masks, physical distance and practice healthy handwashing if attending. For additional information call (806)792-1212.
