2022-08-03 ICGC LULAC Barles - Laserfiche WebLink

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make changes to the ward districts to keep the community of Arlanza together. Community characteristics change by the La Sierra and Magnolia avenue crossing - which could be in a different ward. Redistricting decision making should consider keeping the Arlanza community together by including the neighborhood crossing Arlington which surrounds Norte Vista High School up to La Sierra Avenue. Casa Blanca Communities of Interest The 144 year-old Casa Blanca neighborhood has over 7,000 residents in an area close to one square mile. The population is predominantly Latino/x at 82%, then White at almost 10%, with Asian at 3% and African American at 2.3%. Casa Blanca has family ties, community organizations and traditions that can be traced back decades and across generations. The history of Casa Blanca is intertwined with the Citrus Industry and the history of segregation and discrimination. That history has implications in the present day. Casa Blanca does not have a neighborhood elementary school, which means many Casa Blanca children take the bus to a school outside of their neighborhood. The current ward district includes Casa Blanca with other communities with significantly different social, economic and historical trajectories. Casa Blanca includes mainly working class families with modest income. Whereas Hawarden Hills is predominantly Caucasian with incomes that are almost triple than the median income of families in Casa Blanca - and house values that are double that of Casa Blanca. Casa Blanca is more relatable to Ramona than to Hawarden Hills or Victoria. Ramona's residents have closer demographics to those of Casa Blanca. Redistricting decision making should consider the common interests Casa Blanca has with its surrounding communities and place Casa Blanca in a ward together with the Ramona Neighborhood. Eastside Communities of Interest The Eastside's community is East of 91 freeway below 3rd street, West of Chicago Avenue and goes down to the Tequesquite Arroyo. Eastside residents have a trajectory of working together (across socio -cultural lines) to improve conditions in their neighborhood. Residents believe they have more in common with downtown Riverside based on common cultural landmarks, social and economic characteristics. The African American community visits churches that reside in the downtown and Eastside like Allen Chapel and Park Avenue Missionary Baptist Church. Right next to that church, the majority of Latino community go to Our Lady of Guadalupe. Riverside's Eastside neighborhood has been working for many years to improve the Eastside neighborhood. The Riverside County NAACP and Eastside Think Tank has been working for many years on social, cultural, and physical environmental changes in the City of Riverside. Over the years, they have trained many residents in community advocacy. They have facilitated the conversion of four corner stores into healthy food markets, helped improve four local parks and initiated two community gardens. They have been working for many years to build a school in our community so that Eastside children are not bussed to other schools. The historical resources of Downtown, the Eastside and the Northside are similar - large areas of small single-family homes dating from the late 1800s to the 193os. The problems and opportunities in such areas are different from those in newer areas of the city. The Eastside community does not have similar experiences with the University Neighborhood community who has different communities of interest. Downtown Riverside Communities of Interest Downtown Neighborhood mainly consist of working class residents, including Latino and African American households. Residents have worked together on affordable housing and North Side Specific Plan for community driven housing projects and against the development of more warehouses. Residents worked to support mixed-use housing and commercial for more locally owned small businesses. The majority of Downtown residents are primarily English -speakers and many are also fluent in Spanish. Many of the long-time working class residents are being priced out of housing options. Page 12