Shani Aviram:
Every third wednesday of the month, a community meeting is held in the Fruitvale and San-Antonio Senior Center. It’s an opportunity for local merchants and residents to come together along with police and city officials to discuss how they can improve the working and living environment in the Fruitvale.
These meetings are a window into a community which is trying to work together and find solutions in times when resources are scarce.. Many of the people who spoke at this meeting emphasized the importance of ‘knowing your neighbor’.
There were many stories and voices shared in the meeting. People come to share their stories to try and solve the difficult issues that plague the neighborhood such as crime and lagging business. Some people come just to have their voices heard. In this clip above*, a merchant is talking about being undocumented and working in the area.
*Live translation provided by Eduardo De Loa.
