Pluto wrote on Oct 26, 2006 6:00 AM:Where was Sarah Wilkins? Several Latino activists, including City Council candidate Tina Jillings, were outside and not allowed to attend this meeting. Sarah makes it sound like a great cross section of people were at the meeting. Maybe so, but another group was excluded. She quotes Bobby Rivera as saying the community was “appreciative of us taking the time to meet with them”. How dishonest not to mention the people standing out front who weren’t allowed to even enter and listen. What an incredibly dishonest fluff-piece for page one, section one. Was Sarah Wilkins even there? Why didn’t she come out and talk to us? Shame on the North County Times.

esteban wrote on Oct 26, 2006 7:03 AM:Why is the burden to build bridges lie soley with law enforcement? Doesn't the latino community have any responsibility?

David wrote on Oct 26, 2006 7:35 AM:Hopefully the Captain got it through their heads that the law applies to everyone,,even Latinos.

Anna- wrote on Oct 26, 2006 7:36 AM:Thank you City Leaders! We need change! Change needs to include the entire community and it sounds like you are working hard to change our city! Our kids need strong leaders! Our kids need the men in our families wtih higher self esteem! Our kids need to believe that they are worth change!

Earl wrote on Oct 26, 2006 7:44 AM:..."Suggestions included going into schools to build relationships with students, meeting with Townsite residents in the neighborhood and hosting a community forum". This is absurd. The only people being shot are hard core criminals with no respect for life or property. I seriously doubt career criminals and parolees are going to benefit from "building relationships". Their only goal in life is self gratification through preying on others. Being shot to death by law enforcement is their choice. Good riddance!

dennis wrote on Oct 26, 2006 9:11 AM:This is unfortunately probably a good and necessary thing to do. However, we have come to a segmented society situation. What if the headlines read "Sheriff's Dept. meets with white folks to discuss illegal imigration." 'Racism' would be the cry of the day. All this is the result of too many illegals too fast coming here and settling in neighhoods that reflect the culture of where they came from rather than where they are. If it is required that the Sheriff has to meet separately with this particular segment of the population, perhaps that indicates other social problems associated with immigration overflow. We are supposed to be all citizens of the United States wherein special consideration is not given to one group over another. Bad enough that we are becoming a bilinqual nation; let's not become bilawful also. You know....special laws which refer to only one segment of the population. To you Mexicans here....ASSIMULATE! Drop your Third World cultural habits and respect the laws and law officers of this country....not your previous one.

to pluto wrote on Oct 26, 2006 9:40 AM:I for one am glad that politicians, candidates like Tina Jillings, and other instigators from both sides were not in the meeting. These folks are screamers and aren't very good at getting things resolved. If everyone in Vista did this -- said forget the hype, lets sit down in a small forum and figure out how to fix this -- the city would not be such a divided, angry joke of a place.

Take Responsibilty for yourself! wrote on Oct 26, 2006 10:35 AM:My parent's parents were immigrants from Mexico. My parents and siblings did not need to build bridges. My grandparents taught us morals and respect. That if you work hard and follow rules there shouldn't be any problems. We have not had any problems with the law. It is common sense. Let's make parents take responsibility and quit blaming society. Maybe Tina and her followers can have classes at their houses on taking responsibility and teaching English.

american values wrote on Oct 26, 2006 11:54 AM:Specifically we need to take note that most of these shootings involving police and mexicans involves someone being on drugs or drunk. I lack sympathy for those persons. You latinos need to obey the laws that are for everyone to obey. If you want favoritism, you are in the wrong place. Criminals come in all colors and the laws apply equally. They weren't in trouble with the police because of their race, but because they were stupid and broke a law or tried to assault a policeman and not do as they were told.Act like an american if you want to be one.!!

Why is it wrote on Oct 26, 2006 12:09 PM:that other people surrender to the police and nobody is shot? When the Police say don't move do they now have to say it in spanish to the latinos?

Communit Forum? wrote on Oct 26, 2006 12:14 PM:This forum was a FARCE. A selected group of Latino Puppets were the only ones allowed to participate. This proves the insecurity of the City of Vista and is a hint of guilt, not to mention their fear of hearing the real opinions of the community. This is only a step backward.

Latino puppets here wrote on Oct 26, 2006 1:26 PM:Something is fundamentally wrong with this picture and most people are way to ignorant to know what is going on. It is called suppression and assumption of rights without due process of the laws.....

Quit whining wrote on Oct 26, 2006 1:34 PM:I believe the best way to break down barriers is to start in the family. Keep teaching your kids that the cops and our laws are the enemy and you will continue to have your family members killed. Quit playing the victim and take some responsibility.

This argument is becoming tiring wrote on Oct 26, 2006 1:49 PM:... Why is it that if you belong to certain ethnic groups, you deserve extra media attention that somehow changes the focus of your own poor behavior? People get robbed, raped and killed everyday by predators and it's getting to the point that they (the media) won't reveal their (the predators) legal status or ethnicity as frequently as before. It's just data, and if it's not false, why hide it? It's too bad that somebody had to die. It's also too bad that the individual made a series of bad choices that led to his own demise. It's worthy of one short blurb in the news, it's certainly not worthy of trying to appease an entire ethnic group due to the worst behavior among them. There is definitely a trend here, and it has nothing to do with the police. Welcome to the bizarro world, where being correct and being politically correct have two different meanings

Roberto wrote on Oct 26, 2006 1:53 PM: Response to american values wrote on October 26, 2006 11:54 AM:" "You latinos need to obey the laws that are for everyone to obey. If you want favoritism, you are in the wrong place" REPLY: As a Mexican_American I wanted to thank you for enlightening us. I know I don't speak for all of us but what you said is so profound. You sound like you are full of wisdom and knowledge. Please feel free to tutor us as we are quick learners and try really hard. And like you said, we are in the wrong place and should be aware of it. Again, Thank you

DAE wrote on Oct 26, 2006 3:39 PM:I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE LOCAL ENFORCEMENT FOR DOING A EXCELLENT JOB IN TODAYS WORLD OF TURMOIL. MOST PEOPLE DO NOT REALIZE WHAT THIS JOB ENTAILS! SO MUCH IS EXSPECTED WITH LITTLE THANKS. GOD BLESS AND GODSPEED TO ALL OF OUR PEOPLE THAT PROTECT US LAW ABIDING CITIZENS! SINCERELY DAVE E

very interesting wrote on Oct 26, 2006 4:34 PM:How interesting the North County censures any blogs that are NOT anti-Mexican full of venon and hate. Any logicaL blogs get censured. What up Dick, Rusty and Erin???

RUTH wrote on Oct 26, 2006 4:38 PM:You mexicans assimUlate is what Dennis said shame on you You White People came from Other countries did you assimulate to the Indian Native Americans that includes some of the Mexican Native Americans that where here first. This a melting pot and we should not see the the heritage of others is bad We are all of the HUMAN RACE. in all cultures there are bad and uneducated people. Unfortunatly we are not all color blind

No Ruth... wrote on Oct 26, 2006 6:02 PM:... I don't want them to assimulate, I want them to go home. They are human? Well then they need to act like it.

To Roberto wrote on Oct 26, 2006 8:15 PM:No problem, you're welcome. We know if we keep at it that sooner or later you'll be able to become good citizen's of the United States.

Roberto wrote on Oct 26, 2006 8:46 PM:very interesting wrote on October 26, 2006 4:34 PM:"How interesting the North County censures any blogs that are NOT anti-Mexican full of venon and hate. Any logicaL blogs get censured. What up Dick, Rusty and Erin???" REPLY: The need to censored to a point is valid. How would anyone know how racist and XENOPHOBIC many people really are? All you have to do is read some of this trailer textbook stuff...(did I just write that?) it's unbelievable but reality. What's really strange is they don't even understand it themselves. I wonder if they would attack the ....no, I won't say it....I'm sure I would get censored.

David wrote on Oct 26, 2006 9:32 PM:Roberto, are that many people really racist and xenophobic? And if that many people are racist and xenophobic then are they really being racist and xenophobic or is that they are just representative of the majority whose opinion, ideals, and culture differ from yours? Does that make their ideals wrong for differing from you or does that make yours wrong and if that is the case then wouldn’t you be the racist and xenophobic?

Chuck wrote on Oct 26, 2006 9:50 PM:Good points David! I've often wondered who the REAL racists are here. Who are the ones to play "the race card" first?

Roberto wrote on Oct 26, 2006 10:02 PM:Many are not racist or xenophobic. How can anyone be in favour of illegal immigration? We may differ on how to deal with the issue. The problem with for example the racist Minute Men...is they attract racist who are enbedded into the group. Being anti-illegal immigration doesn't make anyone a racist. But if you tolerate their presense....as the ole saying goes. If you lay down with dogs your going to get fleas.

To Chuck wrote on Oct 26, 2006 10:11 PM:The race card is always played by those with the weakest arguement or in this case no arguement.

David wrote on Oct 26, 2006 10:23 PM:I agree that that it is reasonable to assume that there are racists within the Minutemen. But I have to wonder why it is that you would only point a finger to that particular group. Does your evaluation of the Minutemen being racists also apply to groups such as La Raza and MeChA? Don’t you think that they also attract racists who are embedded into their groups? Would they not also be infested with fleas? A true “non-racist” would point out that your evaluation could be applied to groups on both sides of the issue. Could it mean that the opinion, ideals, and culture of this group differ from yours? So does your evaluation of the Minutemen now mean that you are being the racist and xenophobic?"

sounds like nothing but white folks wrote on Oct 27, 2006 1:37 AM:yea you can say that but lets say that some one real important to you was shot by a latino cop you would think another way right. I think alot of white people who put down and want illegals out are threatend because your jobs are being taken. I dont think latinos are the problem because latinos are just doing what every single living human does "trying to earn a dollar" so in reality who sounds rediculas, nothing but selfish people who dont even know what it feals to struggle because if you did you would cross a border in search of a better life. GOD bless if you beleive

trashy blogs wrote on Oct 27, 2006 7:27 AM:Roberto you are right a lot of trailer trash happens to blog.

Randall wrote on Nov 28, 2006 12:34 PM:Does Dennis want Mexicans to "assimulate" or "assimilate"? There is a difference.