Additional Community Feedback
Demographics
“ Regarding the Hispanic population , let ’ s not sugarcoat that we ’ re dying like dogs from diabetes and from healthcare insufficiency and unnecessarily the health care system . It ’ s such a complex answer but I ’ d say healthcare is the major problem among the middle to older age population . And it ’ s an access issue because if you ’ re an undocumented individual , there are some charity clinics and community clinics that exist out there .
“ But it ’ s also a cultural issue because oftentimes we wait until something bad happens to go to take care of our health . So it ’ s multifaceted . I don ’ t think the city can necessarily solve all the problems through policy . We ’ ve got to have boots on the ground , boots on the TV , people in the community and among our own family . And that also stems from lower socioeconomic status . Are you going to focus on your health when you ’ re sending money to your country of origin and maintaining your family here and your kids are going to school ?”
“ In the last few months , I ’ ve curtailed my walking and jogging activity . After walking not far from my residence , I was spit on by people driving by in a truck for no apparent reason except for my race and ethnicity . We are in a highly-politically charged environment where you have people driving pickup trucks , waving flags , and calling you obscene names for no apparent reason other than race or ethnicity . This is not being addressed . To be out on the sidewalk walking , exercising my rights in a City where I ’ ve paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes over the years and then to be spit on for no apparent reason … It is not a good feeling . And so , I think other people who have experiences like me probably view the quality of life in this city as having declined .”
“ Our community still experiences all levels of racial discrimination , especially the non-English-speakers . But rarely will our community report the incidents or fight back .”
I ’ m Asian American , and when you look at Arlington , it encompasses several ethnicities . You ’ re talking about Chinese , Filipinos , Vietnamese , and Koreans . And , in the city of Arlington , the growing Asian ethnicity is Vietnamese . But , I don ’ t realize or think that a lot of the city or council realizes that there is a big difference . However , as far as ethnicity and race in Arlington , I ’ ve seen how much we ’ ve grown since I moved to Arlington back in 1995 .
– an Arlington resident
Unity Council Report 33