Fort Collins – A group aiming to smooth the road for Latinos in Larimer County got backing from officials this week, despite concerns the venture will lead to cultural divisions.
County Commissioner Glenn Gibson said the Latino Issues Task Force may discourage Latinos – who make up 9 percent of the county’s population – from learning to integrate into the majority Anglo population.
“I have a big concern that we are developing two cultures,” Gibson said.
Still, Gibson voted to approve the formation of the task force because the other two commissioners backed the idea.
But Gibson will closely review the work of the advisory group when it comes up for renewal in a year. “If it’s creating disharmony in the community, then we’ll have a problem,” he said.
Those who lobbied for the task force say it’s not intended to cause unrest. Rather, it will help Latinos confused by local judicial and government systems.
“There are pockets and communities of people not communicating with each other about the needs and how things operate in the county,” said Alicia Martinez, an advocate for battered women in Larimer County.
She has seen how women of all races face difficulties dealing with the complexity of criminal and civil courts. But many Latino women become especially confused because of language barriers, Martinez said.
“There are translators for hearings, but to request one and find one on time involves a process that not many people know about,” Martinez said.
Task force members also will gauge problems and study changes in Latino neighborhoods.
“We need to get out there and look at the diversity of Latinos,” added Rich Salas, assistant director of El Centro Student Services at Colorado State University. “The life of a Latino who has lived here for 30 to 40 years is different than someone who has just immigrated.”
The 15-member task force will form this summer and begin advising the commissioners.
Some Latinos say it is not necessary for a specific group to be set up just to represent them, Gibson said.
“As a commissioner, I want to address everybody’s needs,” he said.
He said his Dutch immigrant grandfather emphasized to his family how important it is to learn the language and customs of their adopted culture. “I’ve always thought, ‘When in Rome do as the Romans do,”‘ Gibson said.
But both Salas and Martinez said the task force will help Anglos and a growing Latino population understand each other. Causing friction is not part of the task force’s mission, they assured.
“I don’t want it to be divisive,” Martinez said.
Staff writer Monte Whaley can be reached at 720-929-0907 or mwhaley@denverpost.com.