To those in the community it may concern,
My(and your)neighbors and I are starkly aware of the several propositions put forth to incorporate Belvedere into the larger municipality of Los Angeles. Clearly, we are in a difficult and precarious situation, and the Mexican families here are at risk. I have seen this happen too many times before; As soon as we are incorporated, the city will hike taxes, thereby forcing our already struggling families to sell their homes to wealthier, white buyers. Because many in the community are not official citizens and do not possess legal papers, such individuals could not take up democratic arms if the issue came to a vote.
However, the suggestion that the Mexican community “naturalize” in the face of such odds is equally as preposterous. Perhaps we could gain citizenship and perhaps we could then be able to vote against our incorporation, but what then is the point? The reason we so vehemently oppose such a measure is precisely why we oppose naturalization as well: We want to preserve our way of life, our culture, our nationality. The revocation of our Mexican citizenship is, in the eyes of many here, just as unfortunate and counterintuitive as, if not more than, allowing Belvedere over to the city and the leagues of middle class whites that wish to force us out.
This is our final statement on the matter.
Sincerely,
Zeferino Ramírez