Social Commentary
by Steve Galindo III

Extra! Extra! have you heard the news? The air in Barrio Logan is TOXIC!- TOXIC I tell ya!

Despite the fact that the air quality has been piss-poor in Barrio Logan for nearly 50 years, the topic has once again become front page fodder in both the Union Tribune and the San Diego Reader. These stories come up more often than

Bob Filner sexual harassment allegations and yet things just keep getting worse.

As a resident of Barrio Logan for over 26 years I can tell you that I’ve somehow managed to avoid becoming the Mexican boy in the bubble.

How you ask? Good genes I guess. Both of my grandparents called Barrio Logan home for over 80 years and neither had ever felt the side effects from breathing in the “toxic air.”

In spite of the bad air, Barrio Logan has managed to become a prime destination for businesses, hipsters, and penny-pinching artists.

The piece in the SD Reader introduced us to a few of these folk. One gentleman in particular is quick to point out that the people of the Barrio are “great down here.” The same guy goes on to mention that his female tenants work late hours in Barrio Logan “without any problems” (that is of course unless Mayor Filner is around). Gee, by the sound of it, you’d think that Barrio Logan is akin to Ciudad Juarez or something. Say what you want about the Barrio: we may not have any gated communities but one thing for certain is that you can walk down the street here with a hoodie on and not worry about being murdered for no good reason.

I hate to say it, but if there was one person who could have possibly played a key role with the rezoning and air issues in the old Barrio it is one Robert Earl Filner. Sadly, now he has become less popular than the very air that I breathe down here.

My Affinity for Filner began some 16 years ago when I first met him at an event at Chicano Park. I can’t recall the event but I remember that it took place in the evening and that I was accompanied by my Father.

Shortly after we arrived, then Congressman Filner came and introduced himself. He asked me if I knew what a Congressman did. I think the answer he was looking for was “whatever you want.” I responded with “they help pass laws.” When he flashed his famous Cesar Romero Joker-type grin I knew I had the right answer which made me feel like the smartest boy in the Barrio.

Although the meeting was brief it left a lasting impression on me. For one, it was the first time that I had ever met a Politician. But what was even cooler for me at the time was the sight of a White Politician in Chicano Park at NIGHT. I had never seen anything like that before (and have not seen anything like that since).

I figured that this Gringo was surely lost or something. But he wasn’t, he knew exactly what he was doing there. To this very day I respect Filner for that because throughout the years I never once saw the likes of Juan Vargas, Ralph Inzunza or Ben Hueso campaign in Chicano Park.

From that day forth, I always made it a point to get out and cast my vote for Filner when his name appeared on a ballot.I stuck with him through thick and thin and kept my fingers crossed when he went up against tough opposition like Nick Popaditch and last year against Carl Demaio.

But his recent transgressions have stunned everybody including myself like a Canelo Alvarez left hook to the body. I can’t say that I am disappointed. No, the 30 year-old me realizes that it’s just politics as usual, I’ve come to expect this behavior from our so-called leaders but the same cannot be said for the 14 year-old me. That kid feels had, hoodwinked, bamboozled.

Will Filner throw in the towel?

Probably not, but he should know that one of his accusers have hired the services of legal bulldog Gloria Allred to sue the pants off of him (no pun intended). Right now Filner is hiding his face under that very towel that he refuses to throw. A few weeks ago, he skipped out of a few scheduled appearances including the Annual Pride Parade. Come to think of it, I think I spotted him at Comic-Con last week, but he wasn’t dressed as himself. He was the guy in the Bill Clinton mask circa 1998. Let’s see if he can dig himself out of this hole as Clinton did. If he can’t, well hey, he can always blame it on that toxic Barrio Logan air.

A resident of Barrio Logan for over 26 years, Steve Galindo III has read his Social Commentaries locally at Voz Alta,

Chicano Perk and at the University of California San Diego. He can be reached at stevegalindo3@gmail.com.

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