I have never before received such a condescending Violation Notice letter from the city regarding “inoperable vehicle” and “accumulation of Rubbish & Garbage, Rubbish & Garbage,” repeating the last stated violation, which I equate to a white person talking loudly and emphatically to a non-English-speaking individual: “Do you understand English!” And listing a fine of $499 or 180-day imprisonment!
When the first letter was delivered, I took the time to speak to the author but was not impressed by the way he spoke down at me like a law enforcer speaking to a Native. It might’ve been more effective if the city could create a Fact Sheet.
Unfortunately, there’s been a lot in the national news lately about persons calling 911 when one feels uncomfortable with minorities. A similar incident took place in Boulder involving two Native American students on a tour. Furthermore, these types of reaction are not shockingly new to my family.
About 10 years ago, my daughter, out of the kindness of her heart, invited a close friend who was being abused by her significant other to move in with us so that she might find employment to support herself. Luckily, she was able to find work for an auto sales business. Since she didn’t have transportation for work, she could bring any available vehicle of her choosing. Of course, we didn’t know what our neighbors were saying until a couple of neighbors told me that the people in our housing area (Knoll/Cottonwood) were talking about us as being drug dealers!
Kenneth Chester
Cortez
