Mexican Consulate Opens In Downtown Indianapolis. (Shop after shop, sign after sign in Spanish)

WISHTV 8 ^ | 11-2-02

[Joe Hadenuf]

The Mexican Consulate in Indianapolis will be open for business Monday. It's an office that will serve a group of people that's growing rapidly in our city and state. Mayor Bart Peterson's office has worked for about two years with the Mexican government and the state of Indiana to get this consulate opened.

You don't have to look hard to see why the consulate is needed. Drive down Washington Street a few miles west of downtown, and you'll see the fruits of our Hispanic and Latino community's labor. Shop after shop, sign after sign in Spanish. There are now some 34,000 Latinos and Hispanics in Indianapolis, and 60% of them are Mexican.

"We have an education system that welcomes the immigrants and we like the way we are treated because we find that the American community is welcoming in general," said Roberto Curci, La Guia Magazine.

The city even has two publications geared toward this growing community. "The Voice of Indiana," a bilingual newspaper and "The Guide of Indianapolis," a magazine for Hispanics and Latinos. There's even a new Hispanic and Latino yellow pages.

Local businesses are forging ties with that community. Kroger just donated a van to the Hispanic Center of Indianapolis to thank them for translation help that the center has provided for the grocery chain.

"As we change and we are changing as a city, I think it was important for business to recognize that and we have recognized it," said Jeff Golc, Kroger.

The change will continue. Just ask the woman who helps run the grocery store on West Washington Street. New Hispanic and Latino customers come in for her authentic products all the time.

"Like once in a while there will be somebody new that comes. You know, like, "Oh, we just moved here and we came to see how it is." So yeah, we always get new people that come here," said Irasema Delgado, store manager.

The Mexican Consulate will serve three states: Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. It will serve as the Mexican government's primary link with those states on issues such as immigration, trade and economic development.

[sarcasm]

Sure there will still be people here - it will be a third-world bankrupt nation.

[CWOJackson]

Maybe, maybe not.

Oh I'm sure it will be third world in your eyes but who really cares about that. We've gone third world so many times before: the Irish were considered third world, the Chinese less then that. Then there were other backward nationalities, Poles, Italians, Jews, Spaniards (although in all fairness, St. Augustine was a thriving community with schools and a university while Jamestown was struggling to make it through the winter...but of course we don't want to remark on Hispanic successes). Oh, and let's not forget the Vietnamese...coming over here ruining the fishing for decent American fishermen, starting up farms and business...definately third world there. And we got the Somalians and Ethiopians now...not exactly English stock there.

Yep, probably will be third world but not bankrupt...they're taking over our universities and technologies don't forget.

[sarcasm]

Yep, Mexico and Latin America are success stories - it will be just wonderful when those societies are replicated here.

[CWOJackson]

Of course. Look at Boston today and what those damned Irish did to it.

And what the Poles, Italians and Jews, aided by those damned Irish again did to New York really fries my butt. And I don't even want to get into the Russians...what they are doing to this area...believe me, the Mexicans won't want this area when the Russians are done.

But that's okay with me...we have this little Russian Deli near here and man and I starting to like some of their food. They don't speak much English in there but we're really starting to communicate pretty well.

[Sabertooth]

I am a strong believer in requiring all imigrants to learn English

I am a strong believer in requiring all imigrants to know English before they get here.

[sarcasm]

I take my experiences of Mexico City and the rest of Mexico for my predictions of the future.

[CWOJackson]

That's good for you. I lived in Europe for four years, Japan for three, Vietnam for a short period and in Singapore 18 months and none of my experiences in those places even comes close to giving me insights into how those people blend into America other then we do have a lot of Japanese around here who sound American; one we know even wears cowboy boots and a hat with one of those silly littl feathers in it.

Come to think of it, the Vietnames are a whole lot friendly here then they were back in the old country.

I've been in a few Mexican ports and a lot of central/south American ports on the way to Antarctica and I can't really say I've notice much similarity between them there and those who have become American citizens. Beyond appearance, accent and culture that is.

I'm glad you can be so positive based on your experience...it's apparent you refuse to disappoint your own expectations.

[CWOJackson]

Well you have a nice night whatever is left of it for you. Lots to do tomorrow. We had planned on getting some Pansit for lunch but I've developed a craving for some good beans and rice now.

[sarcasm]

Yep, the barrios that have been created all over the United States are wonderful places.

[Miss Marple]

Joe Rangel died in 1989, but his cook and a retired policeman now run the place, which is still there.

For those who don't know, Acapulco Joe's is Indianapolis oldest Mexican restaurant, founded by Mr. Rangel, who got deported several times and eventually legally entered the US, and became a citizen. The day he got citizenship he had a big celebration at his restaurant, which often played "God Bless America" on the jukebox and had an American flag permanently painted on the window of the restaurant.

The cook who took over the restaurant at his death was an Anglo high school dropout whom Joe Rangel took under his wing.

[sarcasm]

U.S. funds to help IPS break language barrier Program teaches non-natives English

Indiana facing language debate in education.

City says -- bienvenido -- to new Mexican Consulate.

[glory]

Legal? You sure? I live 3 hours to the east of you and I happen to know that there are a number of immigrants who have forged paperwork to work. I'm sorry, but forged documents are such a problem, I question the status of any non citizen of Mexican origin. I moved from Arizona just over a year ago and previous to that spent my youth in south Florida so in case you think I carry some homogenous midwestern bias, thought I should point that out.

[Miss Marple]

If you KNOW they have forged paperwork, could you please explain how? Did they tell you? Do you know the forger? Do you recognize forged paperwork when you see it?

If you definitely know that the paperwork is forged, I suggest you contact INS and report both the workers and the employers.

Here in Indianapolis we have had a few raids on illegals, like the company that was making racing helmets a few years ago. They are sent home, you know. Please make that call, if you know this for a fact.

[glory]

That's wonderful that your hispanic population are revitalizing your area, you are very lucky. The west side of Phoenix has become a slum from the incoming hispanic population. It's not that these folks don't work hard either it's just that they keep their homes and live as though they still live in a one room hut back in Mexico. Homes are improved with whatever can be found for scrap. Things are built against city codes, farm animals kept in 1/3 acre back yards, you get the picture. It's almost like 18th century American meeting 21st century American. I think the point is that all the coddling of Mexicans, something I think you'd be hard pressed to find for any other immigrant to this country, is going to make it very hard to ever move Mexicans from 18th century backwoods to 21st century AMERICANS. I'd feel much more comfortable with the influx if for one we did not have to pay to support them through welfare programs and secondly if they were not coddled and encouraged against assimilation.

[glory]

WE made that move a year ago friend to Ohio, but they are coming here too. And before anyone tries to call me biased against Mexicans--talk to me after you've heard some of their slams on their host "Americanos". Many have disdain for this country and it's people. Sad, but true.
I know what you mean though about the housing situation. In Phoenix, the west side resembles a Mexican bordertown. Homes that were once nice ranches built in the 50's, now look like shanties. These folks live as if you can't walk a block and buy your chicken out of the case, they have them squalking in the backyard of a 1/4 acre lot. Aah, well, I don't know there is much else we can do. All most Americans are asking for is a slow down of this influx, to not pay via welfare programs for the new immigrants upkeep, and that they be encouraged to assimilate, not discouraged.

[glory]

Forget about legalities, as long as you are comfortable, the other guy gets his tasty chips, and another one gets his rocks off with his Mexican honey...that's all that matters after all; that people's comfort levels, tastes, and sexual appetites are satisfied.(shaking head)

[glory]

And that guarantees that those they hire in that store are legal? Would you even care if they were?

[glory]

Agreed...

[glory]

Trashing, crime ridden slums are so much more "American" I guess...

Odd, this describes the Mexican community on the west side of Phoenix...hmmm?

[glory]

Is there a possibility of fraud? Oh, probably. Is it wide-scale here? I doubt it.



I'm sorry, but you are deluding yourself. Like I said, I live 3 hours east of you and a big corporation with many stores here has a problem with it's employees submitting fraudulant paperwork, more often than not, these are Mexicans. I have a crappy ass sil who knows this and allows it to happen because she loves those hot Mexican guys(sound familiar?). SHe's had a couple for boyfriends and numerous times they have been DEPORTED!!!! From talking to her over the year I can comfortably say that probably 20 out of 100 of her Mexican workers are here legally and probably half of that only gain legality AFTER having been here already--most submit fake SS cards to work and they need labor so bad, no change that..they want CHEAP labor so bad, that they look the other way. And don't tell me about reporting it, our government could give a squat!

I think you are fooling yourself if you think in your whole community of "upstanding" Mexicans that the majority are legal. I know what's going on here through business people here and I doubt our midwestern community is much different than yours. But it's not reached crisis level for you yet. You know what, you were so keen about telling the person in Atlanta off about "not knowing about your state", well guess what, how about you have a little respect for people who know about this situation by virture of living closer to the border? We lived in Arizona and you will not like what is coming if you could see where this will lead to as your hispanic population grows.