central falls political strategy

Central Falls Political Power Strategic Plan 2005-2011 CONFIDENTIAL DRAFT

2005-2011Central Falls Political Power

Strategic Plan

CONFIDENTIAL

Tomas Alberto Avila 05/16/041


Executive Summary.........................................................................................................................2The Goal..........................................................................................................................................2The Registrate para Votar................................................................................................................2

The Program.................................................................................................................................2Candidate Recruitment Campaign...................................................................................................2

Finding the Perfect Candidate...................................................................................................2Minimal Requirements..............................................................................................................2Recruiting Candidates...............................................................................................................2Key Points for Recruiting Candidates.......................................................................................2

Sample Recruiting Letters and Scripts............................................................................................2Recruiting Letter 1........................................................................................................................2

Rhode Island Recruiting E-mail................................................................................................2North Carolina Recruiting Email..............................................................................................2Phone Script..............................................................................................................................2 CANDIDATE SCRIPT......................................................................................................2 LINE-HOLDER SCRIPT...................................................................................................2 VOLUNTEER SCRIPT.....................................................................................................2

The Art of Persuasion......................................................................................................................2Some Additional Recruitment Strategies..................................................................................2

Description & Analysis of central Falls...........................................................................................2Basic Information/History/Geoizraphy/Transportation............................................................2Form of Government, Voting Patterns, Representatives/Senators...........................................2

Centeral Falls Statisitics..................................................................................................................2



Executive Summary

With a city population that is nearly half Latino, I feel that we need to make it our business to plan a strategy of increasing Latinos elected to the Central Falls City Council for the next 10 years.

The Rhode Island Latino Political Action Committee will put its full support behind Ricardo Patino, who became the city’s first Latino elected to Central Falls’s City Council's 3rd Ward seat in 2001. But our political strategy will no stop win our support of Councilman Patino, but will be planning to recruit other candidates to run for the City Council during the 2005 elections.

Central Falls will hold election for mayor and City Council in November 2005. RILPAC will organize registration drives during the campaign season to increase the number of voters, during the elections. The committee also plans to recruit and run a slate of Latino candidates for City Council, with the objective of taking control of such entity. The Central Falls elections has been closely watched by politicians elsewhere in the state, where there are large concentrations of Hispanic voters, due to it’s large concentration of Latinos and it’s lack of political power.

Central Falls represents a great opportunity for the Latino community, according to the U.S. Census, 9,041 of the 18,928 people who live in Central Falls are Latinos. The city, has 6,545 residents are registered to vote, according to City Registrar public information and an estimated 20 percent to 25 percent are Latino.

Central Falls

HISPANIC OR LATINO AND RACE Population PercentTotal population 18,928 100Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 9,041 47.8 Mexican 677 3.6 Puerto Rican 2,249 11.9 Cuban 38 0.2 Other Hispanic or Latino 6,077 32.1Not Hispanic or Latino 9,887 52.2White alone 7,577 40Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000, Table DP-1. Profile of General Demographic

Characteristics for Rhode Island

Despite the population figures, only one Latino has ever been elected to the City Council. During the 2003 election season, RILPAC witnessed the continuation of a number of trends in Latino voting behavior. The first was the sustained upward trajectory of Latino registration and voting that was dramatically underlined by an increase of Latino votes cast. This fact about the Latino vote in 2001 has been widely reported, and is generally known. What is less well known, is that this increase in Latino votes has been accomplished through grass roots efforts that our organization developed in support of othe winning candidate Charles Mareu, and by so doing, helping Latinos achieve increased political power, as elected officials is a next logical step.



RILPAC's goal is to mobilize Latino voters for the 2005 general elections, raising the city’s total to three thousand registered Latino voters and 1,200 votes cast in the 2005 elections! This campaign will be the largest nonpartisan effort to increase Latino political participation ever undertaken in the city of Central Falls. The Latino community must have a greater say in what happens in city government and we need to encourage Latinos to get involved in the political process of the city and increase the number of elected officials.

RILPAC's efforts will be coupled with the efforts of local community organizations such as Progreso Latino, local Latino leaders, Hispanic radio stations, and newspapers. The stations will lead a get-out-the-vote drive during the elections, months prior to the election, Spanish-language radio stations and print media will inform the public about who the candidates are and continuously reminded listeners to vote. This activities will be coordinated with a ground network of volunteers registering new voters while educating register voters to exercise their vote.

With Census figures showing the city’s Hispanic population doubling in the past decade, we need to campaign for "a better reflection of the community" in city government. The city of Central Falls represent a great opportunity to justify the need for Latino representation. That long-standing absence from City Hall is more striking considering that 48 percent of the city’s population is Hispanic, according to 2000 Census figures. Statewide, the Hispanic population nearly doubled to 90,820 people, or 9 percent of the total population.

Hispanic-based businesses are booming as well, according to census statistics. Those numbers show that 100 businesses in the city garnered more than $6 million in revenue that year. And as businesses are growing, we need to increase representation in City Hall, looking to elect peers to the City Council to join Councilman the only Latino elected official Councilman Patino.

Central Falls is governed by a five-member City Council - Robert Weber, President; Jonathan Issa; Jason Leger; Gene Noury; and Ricardo Patino - headed by Mayor Charles Mareu. Decisions are made by majority vote of the council, or through a referendum. Political candidates run non-partisan, but the current Mayor and his predecessor are both Democrats. Elections are held bi-annually, in November of the odd years, and the city is represented at the State level by two Democratic politicians: Senator Daniel Issa, elected in November 1986, and Representative Joseph Faria, elected in November 1992. Currently, 5,686 residents, approximately 30 percent of the city's population, are registered to vote.

There’s a new generation in the Hispanic community of Central Falls. Immigrants from the 21 Latin American republics have adapted to life in America, having worked 40 years ago in textile mills, receiving poor wages and being a separate part of society because of a language barrier. But after two score years of immigration, Latinos are integrating into the American lifestyle, learning English and becoming citizens, working management jobs and owning businesses, living in single-family homes and now a political era is dawning.

As the political climate reshapes, the Latino population is showing a renewed commitment to demonstrating its political strength. The remarkable growth of the population and the



significance of the Latino electorate has undergone intense scrutiny and become the subject of fiery debate across the state. Policymakers and the public alike have voiced their need for a better understanding of the Latino community and the significance and actuality of the Latino vote.

As Central Falls 2005 elections loom in the horizon, Latinos are settling into a position where we have worked very, very hard to be. We want to be in a place where our vote is not taken for granted by Democrats or Republicans, where candidates consciously reach out to Latino voters and work hard to convince us that they offer the better alternative to advance our interests, and that political parties think twice about pursuing policies that will alienate Latinos.

RILPAC will mobilize to educate and register more Latino voters in Central Falls. Voter registration projects will be conducted all over the city. It is clear RILPAC will play a crucial role in Central Falls future political elections and will form coalitions with local community organizations and local leaders to increase the number of Latino elected officials in the city’s goverment.

The goal of RILPAC’s 2005 Latino Political Power strategy in the city of Central Falls is to gain control of the City Council by fielding and electing Latino candidates. It follows that the more candidates we have and the better those candidates are, the further we will move our community along the path towards municipal control. Debate has long raged in RILPAC as to whether we should recruit and run candidates or concentrate solely in the endorsement of candidates. The answer to both parts of the question is yes. The media and the public has paid attention when we endorse candidates, and we feel that by running a full slate of candidates for the City Council we would be making a political statement that we have arrived.

In order to eventually elect a lot of Latinos; we have to built on our success of electing the first Latino to the City Council. We have to demonstrate that it can be done, and we have to demonstrate that our ideas will work once put into practice. So RILPAC do need to concentrate our efforts on the 2005 elections and run a full slate of Latino candidates to the Central Falls City Council. The only thing that will ensure that our community doesn't win in the 2005 election and take control of the City Council is for Latinos not run in the race.

A full slate of coordinated municipal candidates provide us with the most bang for the buck in terms of free media, outreach, and short-term membership growth for the PAC. But winning local elections is crucial to our long-term success of taking control of the city’s elected offices. We must build a support base for our candidates by winning locally to set the stage for larger victories during the 2006 statewide elections. By having a strategy which encourages lots of candidates at all levels, our candidates will be able to run in the races which are important to the Latino community, setting the stage for them to do the best job possible.

In 1996, three Latinos ran for elected offices in Central Falls and none was elected to statewide offices. In 1999 candidate Ricardo Patino threw his candidacy for the city’s district 3 City Council seat and was defeated by the incumbent.



For the most part, Latino candidates are made, not born. Few of the candidates that have seeked elected office would have run at all if left to themselves, and many who were willing to have their names put on the ballot would never have run active campaigns.

But we feel that candidates are recruited, developed, and supported by RILPAC, this support can make the difference between mediocre and effective campaigns -- and can bring vast benefits to Latino candidates seeking elected office in Central Falls. Following are some of the benefits we foresee achieving:

Visibility: "Most newspapers run low-level coverage of all candidates. Active candidates get more column inches and appearances in forums. Each voter sees "Latino" on their ballot."

Credibility: "More candidates equals real growth. The media recognizes this and remembers it in future election cycles. Voters remember the names and impressions of active candidates and want to join or volunteer if they like what they saw."

Internal momentum: "We feel better about ourselves because we know we worked hard and succeeded on several levels. Members have proven to become more involved, donate more money, and be prouder of their PAC affiliation this year."

The Goal

According to an in depth study of the Latino vote by the United States Hispanic Leadership Institute, Rhode Island’s Latino Voter Age population is 72,400 which represent 8.9% of the state’s total population of which 38,300 or 5.1% are citizens within the Voter Age Population, but only10,100 of these are register to vote, with a unregistered voter potential of 28, 200 Latinos across the state. RILPAC will put into place a two prong approach to mobilize voters and elect Latino candidates consisting of the following two steps:

1. The Latino Voter Registration Project will be established to promote the political participation of Latinos in district 2 and surrounding neighborhoods. The program will be administered by the Latino Civic Fund in collaboration with the Latino Voting Rights Coalition of Rhode Island. This project will establish the framework and a comprehensive civic and voter education strategy to mobilize the Latino community for increased participation and turnout at elections.

2. Candidate Recruitment Project will responsible to teach potetial candidates that it's never too early to start planning! By exploring the benefits of early planning for the 2005 electoral cycle from both organizational and an individual perspectives, we will encourage potential candidates to get started right away. We'll provide them with creative ideas for volunteer recruitment and institutional election planning, and advise them about how groups such as RILPACcan be helpful in candidates' "deciding to run" process. We'll also discuss the first steps candidates should take in developing their campaigns, and provide helpful suggestions on how to pace themself through two years of preparation.



Democracy building can only be achieved through educating people not just about registration and voting, but also by impressing upon them the value of participating in the electoral process.



The Registrate para Votar CampaignThe “Registrate para Votar” campaign is a statewide non-partisan mobilization effort aimed at increasing voter participation in areas where Latinos and other ethnic minorities are concentrated. The Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund in partnership with the plaintiff coalition will focus on massive mobilization campaigns aimed at young, low-income, and recently registered voters.

For the next two years, the goals of the Voter Registration Project will be two folds: 1) To register residents of District 2 and surrounding neighborhoods.2) To educate Latinos about the political process of the state.3) To educate residents of their qualification for naturalization, and provide them with the information of places where they can complete this process.

These goals will be accomplished through a series of activities that have proven to be effective in previous efforts. Furthermore, we plan to recruit high school juniors to help us with the Door-to-door operation. We will provide them with supplies and pay them a stipend as an incentive.

The Program

The Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund's goal is to mobilize 3,000 new Latino voters for the 2004 general elections, raising the state total to twelve thousand registered voters and 10,000 votes cast in the 2006 elections! This campaign is the largest nonpartisan effort to increase Latino political participation ever undertaken in Rhode Island history.

The Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund (RILCF) will conduct nonpartisan voter registration and get out the vote (GOTV) campaigns during three windows of time: Winter-Spring 2004, Summer-Fall 2004, and Fall 2004 which correspond to the electoral cycles for state legislative elections in 2004, primary elections in 2004, and the general elections of 2004. RILCF will focus its efforts in the following areas:

The “Registrate para Votar” Campaign will register voters in centers of commerce, education, worship and entertainment in more than 50 projects covering over 50 districts followed by Get-Out-The-Vote efforts targeting newly Latino registered voter as well as occasional voters in several communities.

An innovative media and mail campaign will complement the aggressive ground operation conducted in all identified districts. Technology will play an unprecedented role in getting Latinos registered to vote, RILCF will finance this campaign through the $15,000 Legislative Grant received from the RI Senate as settlement to redistricting law suit brought by the Latino community.

During 2004 the Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund will organize workshops to strengthen its resource base and to widen collaboration with various stakeholders in elections with a view to getting them involved in the dissemination of civic and voter education to the Latino voting constituency.



I) Door-to-door Operation: We will recruit voting age students during the summer to work on the field, as well as members of our organization and our network of organization. Their responsibility will be the following:1) Register new voters2) Identify Eligible voters3) Identify Eligible immigrants for naturalization.

II) Distribution of Literature:We will develop a two-sides, bilingual, color brochure entitled: Register to vote/“Registrate Para Votar”. This brochure will be distributed to all Latino residents of District 2 and surrounding neighborhoods, to educate them about registering to vote. We will also have tables available at all Latino festivals during the 2004 summer to recruit new voters. These festivals have proven to be an effective venue through which information can be disseminated to Latino families.

A. III) Citizenship Outreach

We will develop partnerships with other organizations that provide citizenship services to facilitate citizenship process. Every month we will submit a list of residents, who we identify through our programs, that qualify for naturalization and citizenship. We will also provide assistance in completing the citizenship application with the hope of maximizing naturalization.

The Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund (RILCF) is a statewide 501-C4 nonpartisan organization committed to the political empowerment of Latino communities through voter registration, voter education and voter participation. RILCF was established in Providence, RI in 2001 by the board of directors of the Rhode Island Latino Civic Fund (RILPAC) to encourage civic and political participation in Latino and other urban communities.



Candidate Recruitment CampaignThe purpose of a political Action Committee is to advance its political agenda by running candidates for office. It takes courage for a person to understand that his or her effort may bring some immediate reward, but is instead a stepping stone toward long-term success. But, of course, it is a vitally important stepping stone. RILPAC needs credible, energetic, articulate candidates in 2005, both to spread our message in a political context, and to set the stage for future electoral victories by convincing voters that the Latino community belongs in the mainstream of political discussion.

Our past experience shows that our voter education and mobilization, has helped many candidates get elected in Providence and Central Fall. For example, in 2002 election, candidates endorsed by RILPAC won 7 of 8 primaries and 8 of 9 general elections. We believe these are significant accomplishments over a very short period of time.

By running Latino candidates we in the 2005, the media will take our political involvement more seriously. Even if not all of those candidates run active campaigns, Saul Alinsky's Rules for Radicals applies -- "Power is not only what you have, it's what our enemies think you have." And when they take us seriously, they have to respond to our plan.

Finding the Perfect CandidateBefore we get into the specifics of how to get candidates to agree to run, let's take a moment to discuss who should run. The ideal candidate would have some money, name recognition, and be able to campaign full time for a year and a half before the election.

It's best to avoid complex screening processes. In the previous examples, the individual judgment of those soliciting candidates determined whether prospective candidates were good spokespersons for the PAC. The attitude was that it was preferable to have many candidates, even if a few were bad, rather than have only one or two perfect candidates. That doesn't mean that all potential candidates are equal, however, or that all are equally suited to run for the same offices. A candidate who is well-known but doesn't plan to run an active campaign may be able to create a media buzz simply by running for a higher office. A candidate who doesn't have a huge name but is well known in their own community and plans an active campaign is better suited to a smaller race, where there is a chance of winning or bringing in a substantial percentage of votes.

Minimal Requirements

As for the candidates, here are some minimal requirements that should leave you with a wide field of potential candidates. Even strictly paper candidates should be willing to do all of the following:

Answer any media calls promptly. Fill out and return all candidate surveys. Get a good head shot photo taken. Fill out any required legal paperwork. Attend any candidate forums for which they receive invitations.



When you move from paper to informational level candidates, you may wish to add more minimums.

Most candidates should be able to raise at least some amount of money to finance their campaign.

Candidates should be mature, responsible members of the community. Ideally, they should have a history of community involvement. To whatever extent possible, local candidates should personify the demographic profile of the community.

Candidates should be generally articulate. They should have the ability to answer questions about the PAC's positions in a clear, knowledgeable fashion.

Candidates should not have embarrassing marks on their past. These would include actions involving fraud or force.

Recruiting CandidatesBefore we begin recruitingwe will do our homework to identify in which races our candidate can be the most effective. We will think about every elected position at every level of state and local government.

Focus on open seats. They offer the best opportunities for electoral victories. It can also be a good strategy to run Latino candidates in races left unchallenged by the non-incumbent PAC. If the Democrats won't bother to challenge the entrenched Republican candidate, the race needs a Latino. Two-way races against an entrenched incumbent, while they may be even more unwinnable for us than for the major PAC that has already given up on that seat, provide avenues for extra exposure, and increased vote totals over what we could expect for the same effort in a three-way race. They also get people in the habit of voting Latino.

Find out what's important to voters in the district. Research the area's demographics, including voting patterns, socioeconomic status, ethnic groups, etc. You may discover weaknesses of our opponents, or come across a race that would be perfect for a particular candidate.OK, you know which races to target. Here, then, is a suggested strategy for preparation, recruiting, and follow-up in putting Nonpartisan in the race for our country's future.

1. The state leadership must lead. It is much easier to recruit candidates if you are already a candidate ourself (assuming, of course, you meet whatever legal residence requirements prevail in our area).

2. The state leadership must prepare. The preparation process includes: a. Getting maps of all the appropriate electoral districts. b. Identifying which districts have possible candidates (subject to the guidelines

below). This is done by matching the addresses of our people with the appropriate spots on election maps. In Rhode Island, the PAC's database has five informational fields that relate to candidate recruiting purposes. Each member's information includes: district number, state senate district, state representative district, congressional district, and county. The membership list can be sorted by any of these items to facilitate candidate recruiting.

c. Selecting a first, second, and third choice (if possible) for each office.



d. Plenty of lead time is required. If the candidate filing period opens in March, potential candidates should get their first recruiting letters by January.

e. Putting together a candidate recruiting team. Depending on our circumstances, three or four people may be enough. If our state is large and spread out, you may want to assemble local or county level recruiting teams. The definition of an effective county PAC includes their ability to recruit their own candidates, apart from the state effort.

Any help you can get will allow you to concentrate on weak areas.3. Prepare a timetable and quantify our goals. For example: Preparation and homework will

be done by X, letter will be written by X and mailed by X. Second letter will be sent on X and a follow-up meeting or telephone call will be completed by X. The person(s) responsible are X, X, and X. A total of $X will be required to complete this process. This money is already (a) in the PAC treasury, or (b) must be raised by X date. A rough draft of a candidate recruiting timetable is outlined later.

4. Quantifying our goal is a most important part of the recruitment process. If people are going to put their names on the line for us, we have to prove to them that simply filing for an office will do something useful for the PAC. Thus, "Our commitment is important because we are trying to field candidates for 100% of the legislative seats up for election this year. This will bring the PAC credibility and help us become a threat to the special interest parties." Set this goal high -- low enough to be within reach (at least theoretically) but high enough to make you work. Publicize this goal and create a bandwagon effect.

5. Create an environment supportive of running a lot of candidates. The farmer plows before he plants. Every time you communicate with our PAC members, talk about this numerical goal and how important it is to run a lot of candidates. Run articles in our newsletter -- mention it in fundraising letters -- write about it in our "Chair's Column." Build the bandwagon effect -- and when you think everyone has heard enough about it, keep on truckin' and talk some more.

6. Make a full slate part of our PAC strategy. Filling ballots with Nonpartisan should be part of a larger plan for victory. In turn, more candidates will be attracted by an organized effort that supports their own efforts.

7. Once you have finished our preparation, completed our homework, agitated the pot, plowed the field, run it up the flagpole, and counted the number of salutes, implement the recruiting process. Get everyone out of the frying pan and into the fire and see how things hop. The implementation phase should look something like this:

f. Ninety days in advance of the candidate filing period opening, the first letter goes out from the state chairman, inviting the person to consider running for office. This letter will be two or three pages, to allow enough space to explain why the candidate is important to the campaign and may include a one page "recruiting flyer" prepared by either the national HQ or our state PAC. The one page flyer is to address general questions of strategy.

g. Follow-up letter encouraging the candidate to run for office. h. Personal follow-up. This phase is crucial. It's a good idea to telephone the

potential candidate to get a sense of his or her feelings. If they don't say yes right away:



Find out exactly what their objection is. Attached is a list of common objections and suggested responses.

Secure a commitment to "keep thinking about it." Above all, on this first telephone call, avoid an outright "No." As long as they are still on the hook, you have a chance to get them in the boat.

Set up a time to meet with them personally. If they are resistant to this, don't push it. Tell them you will call them back in "a few days." At all times and at all costs, don't let them say "No" to more follow up. Remember: As a major survival skill in 20th Century America, we all have strong and effective defenses against people who are trying to talk us into doing something new, strange, unusual, and possibly risky. Included with the objection list are a couple of ideas for breaking through those defenses.

Immediately, send them a letter (same day!) thanking them for the opportunity to speak with them and answer -- again! -- their main objections. Mention our progress to date ("of the 120 candidates we are trying to recruit, 35 have said yes"). Depending on the circumstances, you may want to contact someone else in our local PAC to follow up with another telephone call or another letter. If they are acquainted on a friendship or business basis with someone already committed to run, have the friend contact them. This can be very effective, as it is harder to say "No" to a friend than it is to some faceless PAC official on the telephone.

Follow up a second time with a telephone call. At this point, you'll find that about one-third sign up immediately, having thought about it a second time. For those still holding out, remember that "the third time is a charm." Send them another letter of thanks and explanation (these follow-up letters should never be more than one page) and a third call. If they are still sitting on the fence -- and assuming you have a backup -- ask if they mind if you fall back and talk with our "second choice" for the office. "Understand, Mr. Smith, we want you to run -- you are our first choice -- but we do have some deadlines that are fast approaching, and since running a full slate is so important for us this year, we have to talk with a couple of other people to see if they are interested."

Some will sign up at that point. Others will be relieved that they are "off the hook" for the moment. Complete the recruiting process with our second and third choices. If you still don't have success in filling that slot on the ballot, return to the original candidate and try again.Once the candidate filing period has opened, send another letter out to the "final holdouts" for races you still haven't filled and give them another phone call. If you have time, call them on the last day of the filing period -- give them the current statistics, and turn on the emotion -- "We really need you -- you can be more help to the cause of Latino Political power than ever before, and it's for doing nothing, really, just going down and putting our name on the ballot. You won't have to do anything else -- we'll handle it." You may get one or two more candidates that way. Never give up until the filing period is closed.



Frankly, the success rate after three follow-ups is not that great -- but it has occasionally proven useful, particularly when you are just short of a goal.

8. Once committed, send them a letter of thanks. Include with this letter any of the legal information (such as candidate reporting requirements) etc., and how the state organization is going to help the candidate handle this requirement. For line candidates, you should offer to file the required reports for them. You may want to offer a monthly class for active candidates.

9. All the preparation in the world does little good without follow up and follow through. Candidates have been lost simply because they didn't make it to the filing office by 5 PM on the final day the period was open.

i. The week before the candidate filing period is to start, send a letter to each confirmed candidate noting the beginning of the filing period. Give them the place and times that they can file. Schedule two or three "mass filings" where several candidates could get together and go down in a block to file. For many of our people, this will be the first time they have run for office -- and they may, understandably, be a little uncertain as to the actual mechanics of finding their way through a maze of bureaucrats in order to complete the required paperwork. You can also offer to find a volunteer to go with them, if such support is available. Make sure that each candidate has two phone numbers to call if he or she has problems with the filing bureaucrats.

j. On the first day of the candidate filing period, meet with our candidate recruiting team. If you have teams in several areas, try to bring them all in for a face-to-face meeting. If this isn't possible, call them on the telephone. Since all of you are running for office (remember?), one good choice for a meeting location is a coffee shop close by the candidate filing office. Every candidate recruiter should file for office on the very first day, unless strategic reasons dictate otherwise. Copies of the "Status Sheet" should be distributed to all concerned and assignments checked.

k. During the first week of the filing period, contact everyone by telephone to remind them of the deadline.

l. Someone should check with the appropriate clerks every day and the status sheet should be updated.

m. On the first day of the last week of the filing period, everyone who has not filed should be personally contacted -- with a sense of urgency -- about filing. Offer to get them a ride, etc., and make sure they haven't changed their mind and are trying to back out. Schedule another "mass filing" for this week.

n. For the final day, anyone who has not filed should be called the night before AND in the morning. Clerks should be checked at 1 PM, following the lunch hour, and more calls made to those who still have not filed. Offer to go and pick them up -- right then -- if possible.

o. Determine the required travel time for each holdout, and contact the clerks appropriately to find out if they have filed. If not, call them -- immediately -- and get them on the road.

It is disheartening to work hard to recruit candidates -- and then have people flake out on you at the last minute. Avoid this by getting everyone filed as early as possible. We do not have so many candidates that we can afford to lose even one.



10. Honor our candidates. Send them another "thanks" letter once they have filed. Print their names in our newsletter and tell everyone else to thank them. Don't recruit them, file them, and forget them. Keep in touch -- preferably, with a regular PAC candidate's newsletter of some sort.

11. Use candidates as a source for suggestions for other candidates. If they say yes, tell them what areas in which you are still looking for candidates and ask if they know anyone who might be interested in the area. If they say no; ask them if they can suggest someone. You may find a lot of apolitical nonpartisan that way -- principled people who simply are not PAC people.

Key Points for Recruiting CandidatesPutting Latino candidates before the voters is such an important step on the road to freedom that it's worth reiterating these central principles. Keep them in mind as you build a winning team of candidates.

12. Develop a consensus among PAC activists that running candidates is an important and integral part of PAC activities.

13. All potential candidates should be asked to run. Comparatively few will volunteer, but many will agree if approached.

14. Avoid complex screening procedures for candidates. It uses precious time and is usually unnecessary. It is better to have many candidates -- with a couple of bad candidates -- than to end up with only one or two good candidates.

15. Demonstrate to potential candidates that the PAC is willing to support their efforts with volunteers, money, materials, or advice. Prove your commitment -- in writing if necessary.

16. Hold training sessions for all of the candidates in the area. They'll hone their skills, and they'll feel like they're part of a dedicated team.

17. Don't reject "paper" candidates if a more serious candidate isn't available. Lineholders often evolve into active candidates.

18. Use every means possible to ask people to run -- newsletter, e-mail, meetings, and a personalized mailing to every member outlining the overall strategy and asking them to run. But recognize that almost all of your "closed sales" on candidates will come from one-on-one, personal requests.

19. Create a "Bandwagon Effect" by constant announcements of newly announced candidates. Create a website for PAC members and recruiters to track the recruitment campaign's progress.

20. Make sure every PAC member and every other prospect gets full information on running, including filing forms, petitions, and other qualifying information. Make the forms and information readily accessible on the Internet.

21. Start Early! A few candidates on board early will jumpstart the recruiting process.



Sample Recruiting Letters and Scripts

Recruiting Letter 1

December 13, 2004

"Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their PAC"

Dear Fellow Latino:

Remember this sentence from high school typing class? It seemed really stupid back then, but it sure makes sense to me right now! Now IS the time for all good men (and women, of course) to come to the aid of RILPAC.

RILPAC set a goal of 10 candidates in the year 2005. The Latino PAC set a goal of 10 candidates to do our part here in Central Falls. To do our part, we need your help now.

If we want Latino Political power, we'll have to win a lot of elections. To win elections, we have to run candidates. We need candidates for offices high and low, local and state, partisan and non-partisan. But we especially need non-partisan candidates. And in order to run for just about any non-partisan race in Central Falls, you are going to have to file before August 5.

Why am I writing to you? Because you can help RILPAC and the cause of Latino Political power by becoming a candidate. Because you might be the person whose candidacy will save RILPAC more than $100,000 (read on to find out how). Because no matter how little time, money or experience you have, your candidacy will help the cause of Latino Political power.

RILPAC has budgeted $10,000 for advertising in the year 2005. Who knows how much more we will raise in 2005. The Central Falls Committee already has $3,000 in the bank, and hopes to have $10,000 to $15,000 available for advertising by the fall. RILPAC message will be heard in 2005 like never before. And every Latino candidate in Central Falls will benefit from the coattails of our advertising.

But how will we benefit if we do not run candidates? The answer is -- we will not. Only if we run candidates at every level. Only if we run as many candidates as possible. Only if you help us out. Be a candidate. And we'll be there to help you every step of the way. We'll keep it as painless as possible.

Your candidacy could make the difference. Will you help us achieve this?

We need active candidates. Candidates with the time and initiative to get out there and spread RILPAC message. We will donate money to your campaign, provide support in the form of assistance with filings, PAC and issue specific literature, non-candidate media, web pages, software, training, advice, etc. We'll do everything we can to help you out.



We need placeholder candidates. These people need only file and hold a position on the ballot. Then, we can put in a replacement where the results will be most promising, such as in a race with only one Democrat or Republican.

We need paper candidates. Lots of them. Just seeing lots of names on the ballot with that "Lib" next to them helps the PAC out. Every election we receive feedback that people have not only voted for us, but investigated the PAC because of our ballot presence.

If every lawyer that meets the office requirements would sign on as a placeholder, we'd only need one or two serious judicial candidates to give us a really good shot at 2004 ballot access. Please call me if you meet these qualifications so we can talk it over.

If you can help, here's what to do:

22. If you will run for a State Senatorial or State Assembly position; or, if you will run for your own Congressional district; or, will run an active statewide race:

p. Decide which race you want to run for from the enclosed list. If Public Weigher is your choice, check with your County Clerk to make sure the position exists in your county.

q. Determine whether to file with your county chair or the state chair from the enclosed 2005 Public Office list. If you file with your county chair, call them first to let them know you are running. If for some reason you cannot contact them, call me immediately.

r. Fill out the enclosed Application for Nomination form. s. Have the Application for Nomination form notarized. t. Mail the form to the appropriate chair, making sure your full return address is on

the form (for proof of timely submission). If you are not sure, or your county is not listed, call me and we'll assist you.

23. If you will be a paper candidate or a placeholder in a Congressional or statewide race, please call me so we can discuss where your candidacy will best help the PAC. Remember: you do not have to live in a congressional district to run for the position.

Please think it over -- but not for too long. All applications for nomination must be received by January 3, 2005. That means the forms must be mailed in 1999. You can make a big difference by running.If you have questions, feel free to call me at 512-280-6540 (home) or 512-465-1875 (work).

Yours in Latino Political power,Tomas Alberto Avila, PresidentRILPAC

PS: We also need campaign managers and workers. Call me to volunteer, and we'll match you up with candidates in your area. Or e-mail me at [email protected]: Even if you can't run, you can still help. We need your emotional, inspirational, and financial support, now and throughout the coming election cycle. Your donations are always welcome, and will be put to good use. Just mail any contributions to RILPAC P.O. Box. 23020 Providence, RI 02903 You'll be helping the cause of Latino Political power.



Rhode Island Recruiting E-mail

Rhode Island Candidate Recruitment UpdateFrom Political Director Ron CrickenbergerReply to: [email protected]

Record slate already announced -- more candidates sought.

Filing Deadline: January 7

Dear Rhode Island Latino,Nationwide, more than 500 Latino candidates have already announced they will run for office in 2005, putting us on mark to run 2005 candidates across Central Falls next year.More than 90 Rhode Island Latinos have announced they will run -- already a record slate, and we expect to top 100 candidates before the deadline.

But the deadline for filing -- January 7 -- is fast approaching. And there are still more spots on the Rhode Island ballot without a Latino candidate than with one. Candidates are now being actively recruited for all offices from State Representative to statewide.

Wouldn't you like to see a Latino candidate in every spot on your ballot next November? Don't you want the chance to vote for a candidate:

Who truly understands the Constitution and the Bill of Rights? Who believes that freedom works and freedom is right? Whose stand on the issues matches your own -- pro-freedom -- every issue -- all the time.

That candidate could be you! Without your help, the LP's goal of running 2005 candidates for the 2005 elections is only a goal, not an achievement. Declaring your candidacy will turn the words into action.

Filling the Congressional slate is especially important in Rhode Island. RILPAC National Committee has adopted the goal of running at least 218 candidates for the US House of Representatives as one its most important goals for 2005 -- putting it on the same level of importance as 50 state ballot access. 218 US House candidates -- if all were elected -- would constitute a new majority in the House of Representatives. No third PAC has been able to challenge a majority of House seats in 80 years. Just their presence on the ballot will present a threat to the political establishment -- and is sure to draw the attention of the media.

Rhode Island is one of the easiest states in Central Falls for Latinos to get on the ballot. Some states require as much as 25,000 petitions and $4,000 in filing fees just to get one Latino Congressional candidate on the ballot. In Rhode Island all that is required are 25 valid signatures of registered voters, and an $85.00 filing fee. Every candidate opportunity not taken in Rhode Island will have to be made up elsewhere at a much higher cost.

While we would like to see active, competitive campaigns in every district, there is still great value in filling every possible slot. Fielding full slates brings more media, more manpower, more money, and more credibility for RILPAC. Time after time we see that the more candidates a state runs, the more media they get, the better the average vote for all their candidates, the better the



top of the ticket does, and, most importantly, the more Latinos they elect. You will greatly help our total effort even if your campaign activities are limited just to putting your name on the ballot.

A political PAC exists for the purpose of moving public policy by fielding and electing candidates to public office. The more candidates we have, and the better campaigns they run, the further we will move policy along the road to freedom.

Our campaigns are the first exposure to Latino ideas that most Americans get. Without candidates and campaigns, we are invisible. Running for office is the single most effective way to promote the freedom philosophy.

Don't stand by and let big government just keep getting bigger and bigger. Give your neighbors the chance to vote for a candidate they really want, instead of a choice between two evils.Make sure your ideal candidate is on the ballot. Join Team 2005 as a Latino candidate.But do it now. The opportunity for recruiting partisan candidates in Rhode Island ends January 6. For more information about running for office in Rhode Island, contact:

Dena Bruedigam Chair, Rhode Island Latino [email protected] or (614) 444-2493

Recruiting Email

Howdy Brian! I hope the summer is treating you well. I know that you're probably busier than ever, but this year, more than ever, we need you to put your name in for public office. Do you think I could interest you in a spot on the ballot for RI State House?

Brian, it really won't be that difficult to run. The requirements are minimal, and most of them would be more fun than work. The things you would need to do are:

File for office before February 7th at noon; Answer the questionnaires you receive from the media and various political groups

(wouldn't you enjoy the opportunity to tell everyone what you really think?); Return reporters' phone calls in a timely manner (just think, they may actually write news

articles on you and your Latino views); And of course, if you win, be willing to serve (but frankly that's not likely unless you try

really, really hard).

We are getting ready here at the state PAC level to give you the help you need. We can help you put together a press packet, fax your press releases, and otherwise give you the training and information you'll need to run as effective a campaign as you want.

I know I'm asking for a significant contribution of your time and effort (and a little money). But think of the payoff. Think of every voter in Central Falls having a Latino choice for City Council. Think of how your campaign can help bring more people into RILPAC. Think of the impact when voters across the state see Latinos running for every office across the city.



They'll know we are for real. By helping RILPAC establish a strong ballot presence, you will be hastening the day when voters see us as a legitimate choice on election day. And you know what the next step is after that -- elected Latinos all across Rhode Island!

Brian, please think it over and let me know if you are willing to make this commitment to building RILPAC in Rhode Island. Let me know if you have any questions or concerns, and I'll be happy to answer them. Thanks for your consideration, and for your support of RILPAC!

Yours in Latino Political power,Tomas Alberto Avila

Phone Script

Hello, this is ______________ with RILPAC. Hi! Is this an okay time to call you? Is it okay to ask you a few questions?

[If this is not a good time for the person to talk, find out when to call him or her back]I'm calling because we are looking for candidates for the ____ election. We have over 10 positions to fill just our local ballot -- everything from two Congressional races down to contests at the township level. Have you ever considered running for political office?[This is leading question intended to engage the callee. It is assumed that everybody has "considered" running for political office -- some more seriously than others. Responses will range from "yes" to "not really."]In your area of Central Falls there will be state and local elections for:[Read this information from computer printouts]Would you consider running for one of these offices?[This question could elicit a "yes" response, in which case you should continue with the CANDIDATE SCRIPT directly below; or it could elicit a negative response, in which case you should go to either the LINE-HOLDER SCRIPT or the VOLUNTEER SCRIPT, depending on the nature and brevity of the callee's negative response]

CANDIDATE SCRIPT

[At this point, your goal is to gauge the quality of this potential candidate in terms of such factors as enthusiasm, commitment, Latino understanding, personality, and respectability]

That's great news. It sounds as if you have already given the question some thought. Let me tell you about some of the qualities we are looking for in candidates, and then ask you about your particular interests and level of commitment.

First, understand that we are committed to recruiting the best and most active candidates for the most prominent and important races, such as for Indiana House and Senate seats. And we are committed to training these candidates to be the best they (or you) can be. Thus, to run for a rather prominent office, such as for State House or Senate, requires greater commitment than to run for a township or school board office. Now, with that said, tell me a little about yourself. (Don't grill them, but ask such questions as:) Where are you from? How long have you lived here? Where did you go to high school, college?



What class were you in? What degrees did you attain? What do you do professionally (or non-professionally)? Do you like what you're doing? How (and when) did you become a Latino? Are you fairly-well versed on RILPAC philosophy? Do you read Latino books and materials? What do you regularly read? What particular office appeals to you? State House? School Board? Why? Do you have much time to spare on behalf of your candidacy?

Would you be willing to: Attend and participate in bi-monthly (twice a month) candidate training sessions (tentatively scheduled for the first and third Wednesday evenings each month), Devote at least ten hours per week to your campaign (particularly in August, September, and October), Ask friends and relatives for contributions of time and money for your campaign, Work with others in coordinating volunteers and electors in your campaign?

I will share this information and your interests with the Candidate Committee at our next meeting. When is a good time to call you back? Please expect another call from the Candidate Committee during the next couple of weeks.

Thanks.

LINE-HOLDER SCRIPT

[Employ this script when the callee responds unfavorably to being an active candidate.]You understand that our PAC wants active candidates for the major offices, but for the smaller races, we'll settle for being represented on the ballot. Would you consider representing the PAC merely as a line-holder on the ballot, without commitment or obligation to actively campaign?

[If the answer is "no," go to the VOLUNTEER SCRIPT. If the answer is "yes," find out for which office(s)the person is most interested and appropriate, confirm the person's name and address, and try to get some volunteer commitment.]

That's great news. Do you have a preference of running for a particular office? What is your second preference? As well, may I put you down as a volunteer for the ____ election?

RILPAC is always looking for people to leaflet and canvass their neighborhoods, to help get out the vote, and to be our eyes and ears at the polls. Can I let our volunteer coordinator know you will help? Thanks. Please expect to hear from our volunteer coordinator soon.

VOLUNTEER SCRIPT

[Use this script when the callee refuses to be any kind of candidate. You may wish to substitute this final part with a request for funds to help your candidates.]

Yes, I certainly understand. Not everyone has the time, means, or desire to run for public office. Nonetheless, can I put you down as a volunteer for the ___ election? RILPAC is



always looking for people to leaflet and canvass their neighborhoods, to help get out the vote, and to be our eyes and ears at the polls. Can I let our volunteer coordinator know you will help?

YES ENDING: Thanks. May I confirm your name and address? Please expect to hear from our volunteer coordinator soon. Thanks.

NO ENDING: Well, I am grateful for your time. May I confirm your name and address? Don't forget to support RILPAC this year. Your contributions of time and money are always appreciated. Thanks again.

The Art of PersuasionYou've got the plan, now it's time to make the call. There is an art to persuading potential candidates to be committed candidates. When recruiting, keep in mind that most people will not respond to generic appeals to "run for office." The most productive appeal is directed to a specific person asking them to file for a specific office.This lets the potential candidate know that there is some strategy behind the request. It clearly defines the parameters of the request. Remember, most people are flattered when asked to run for office. The worst they will say is no. Here are some arguments you'll hear -- and suggested ways of turning a no into a yes.

24. I just don't have the time or money to run for office. "John, no one ever has enough time or money for running. But we aren't asking you to spend a lot of time or a lot of money -- the filing fee is only $50.00, and we'll guide you through everything else! We'll prepare a guide to filling out the questionnaires you'll get, as well as for the financial reporting requirements. It will probably take you an hour to go downtown to the County Clerk's office and file the papers. Painless and easy, John, there is nothing that you could do that would take so little time and as little money that would help us more than you filing for that office, and that's the truth."

25. I wouldn't feel right just filing for the office and then not running a real campaign. "Jane, I'm telling you right now that since we don't have an active candidate for your race, you can really help us out by putting your name on the ballot. Our top of the ticket candidates are running really active campaigns -- but if we only have two or three other candidates on the ballot, we're going to hand the media an issue to attack us on. No one is going to notice that you aren't running an active campaign. They will notice that we have packed the ballot with Latino choices -- making our top of ticket campaigns that much more effective. Besides, if you file and then want to do something -- but not everything -- we'll help you. You don't have to do anything, remember, but if you want to make yours a semi-active campaign, maybe go to a couple of candidate's nights or fill out your own questionnaires, that's fine. We're easy, we can work with you."

26. What if I get elected? I don't have time to go to the legislature. (This objection is heard more often than you may think.)"John, I promise you: You won't get elected unless you decide to run a very active campaign. Besides, I think you'd make a great legislator. If that miracle happens and you do get elected, it will probably be part of a Latino landslide! Then you get to be part of the new Latino majority in the state senate. Give us two weeks, and being a legislator will be something you do part time -- maybe one weekend a month -- sort of like being in the



National Guard. But really, you won't get elected without a heavy duty campaign and spending lots of money. I promise you. I'm the state chairman, I know these things."

27. I don't think it does us any good to run candidates who don't to do any campaigning. "Jane, I agree, it would be better for us to have active or at least semi-active candidates in every race. But look, we're just getting this started, we're still learning -- we're still looking for people. We just don't have the people to run for every race in the way that we should. Since we can't do everything, we have to do something."No one will notice if most of our candidates aren't active. They will notice that their election ballot is full of Latinos. Politics can be real funny sometimes -- things can add up in unexpected ways. No one takes a PAC seriously that runs only a few candidates -- even if those candidates are tremendous people spending a lot of money. People will take us seriously when they see us becoming a serious threat -- and a ballot packed with Latino choices is a serious threat."Besides, we can't leave our other candidates sitting out there on a limb by themselves, can we? If we can't pack the ballot behind them, we are letting them down. The media will pay more attention to our candidates when they can stand up and say they have 5,000 Latino candidates behind them. I'm running, everyone on the State Central Committee is running -- and we need you too. Political power isn't what you have, it's what our enemies think we have. And if we can field a full slate of candidates in 2004, we will have power with a capital "P.""And besides, do you think that every Republican or Democratic candidate on the ballot is an active candidate? They know the importance of running a full ballot and they recruit a lot of people who don't do much more than we're asking of you."(Point out that even if the candidate starts as a paper candidate, there is always the option of getting more involved later, should they decide to do so.)

28. I'm afraid my career might suffer. "Actually, your career may be enhanced. Most people admire those who dare to make a difference. And you'll likely meet plenty of people who turn out to be excellent business contacts. You'll certainly enhance your community visibility."

29. Do you really think that I'll do any good? "Absolutely. Without a doubt. Our top of ticket candidates will get more votes because we have a full ballot than they would if they are the only people on our ballot. We will get more, and better, media attention. This is part of our long-range strategy to bring about freedom in our time. It's not much that we're asking, John. And I know you're a Latino -- you've been supporting us faithfully for ten years. I think you're under-rating yourself here, telling yourself that you really can't do any good. You can -- and you are our choice. "I'm the state chairman -- I know these things. That's why I got elected, so I could make crazy phone calls like this and harass you about running for office (humorously). In 1776, they weren't sure of success either, but look what they started!"

Some Additional Recruitment Strategies

Humor is an excellent method for breaking through barriers. When people are laughing with you, it is harder for them to say "no" and keep their defenses up. As important as humor is the image: Projected confidence, positive expectation. You are, after all, the state chair. Presumably, you know something about politics, otherwise how did you get to be the "chief agitator" for your



state? Thus, when you, as the state chair, tell the potential candidates that what they are doing is important, it means something.If you don't know what you are doing, at least sound like you do -- which means doing your homework. Make sure they know that their race is part of a coherent national strategy for victory for RILPAC. Their choice has not only local consequences, it has national consequences.

Use emotion. Don't be afraid to wrap yourself in the flag and stand on the platform of the American Revolution ("We need to recruit Minutemen for the '90s"). It may sound hokey, but people expect politics to be hokey. Most do not do things for rational reasons -- they do them for emotional reasons. If they have children, appeal to their sense of duty as parents.

Consider using any argument or tactic, as long as it is not un-Latino. Appeal to emotion, reason, religious values, business hopes. Point out that there are advantages to being a candidate, such as name recognition, respect, media attention, and advancement within RILPAC movement. Study your people, figure out where the buttons are, and push them. If they have a favorite issue -- persuade them with the fact that they will be able to promote that issue in the press.

Persistence is a virtue. "Hi, it's me again, your friendly neighborhood Latino chairman, calling to pester you about running for the state legislature."

Look for objections within objections -- and beware of someone who tells you "Yes" to get you off his her back with no intentions of following through. When it's time to get to the filing office, you can't afford no-shows.

I will also admit to appealing to the vanity of the person recruited. "Jane, we simply don't have anyone else. You are our last and best hope. The ball is in your court and you have all the cards. You can really make a difference this year." Maybe you don't have anyone else because no one else was crazy enough to want the job, but don't tell them that.

Finally, don't hesitate to use bribes. If you must, offer to help the candidate move, clean out his garage, put up storm windows, or whatever it takes. If it will put another Latino on the ballot and move us one step closer to a Latino society, it's worth it!

Use every means possible to ask people to run -- newsletter, email, meetings, and a personalized mailing to every member outlining the overall strategy and asking them to run. But recognize that almost all of your "closed sales" on candidates will come from one-on-one, personal requests.

Create a "Bandwagon Effect" by constant announcements of newly announced candidates. Create a website for PAC members and recruiters to track the recruitment campaign's progress.

Make sure every PAC member and every other prospect gets full information on running, including filing forms, petitions, and other qualifying information. Make the forms and information readily accessible on the Internet.

Start Early! A few candidates on board early will jumpstart the recruiting process.



Description & Analysis of central Falls

"The City's current problems stem directly from its history, geography, & demography" (RI Dept. of Admin., 1991, 1) Overview: Observations & Impressions

The two main streets of the city are lined with small, mom-and-pop grocery stores with a wide variety of goods. People socialize by the counters, while Spanish-language radio or TV blares in the background. In the stores and on the streets, the language overheard is always Spanish, and white people in expensive clothing attract stares, but are treated courteously. There is at times the odor of garbage, and there is litter strewn at the edges of the streets. The restaurants are reasonably priced, noisy, and bustling. At the many money-service stores, signs display the prices to send money to Latin America. Between the main drags are blocks of densely packed tripledeckers, with Latin

American flags, laundry, bikes and couches on their porches. Children of all ages linger on the streets, and police officers are seen frequently passing by. A pair of sneakers hangs from a high metal arch announcing, "Jenks Park." On Sundays, it is impossible to find a parking spot for blocks nearby one of the two old cathedrals where mass is held, in three different languages.

Walking around, it's clear that Central Falls is both rich and challenged. Rich in diversity, sense of community and neighborhood unity, and religious commitment, challenged in terms of financial resources, physical space for recreation and industry, and opportunities for employment and citizenship. In one square mile, Central Falls is home to over 20,000 residents, over 50 service agencies, and numerous institutions. As City Councilman Ricardo Patino states, "immigrants came here because everything was within their reach, everything was at an equal distance" Central Falls has one "industrial plant, densely developed residential neighborhoods and two commercially developed strips (Dexter and Broad)" (RI Dept. of Administration [RIIDOA], 1991, 8).

Basic Information/History/Geoizraphy/TransportationWith only 1.21 square miles of land and .08 square miles of water, the city of Central Falls has a rich history. Situated by the Blackstone River and Valley Falls Pond on the north and the east, the town of Lincoln on the west and the city of Pawtucket on the south, the Nipmuc, Wampanoag, and Narragansett Indians originally inhabited the area, but were pushed out and massacred by the European settlers who arrived in the 1600s to lay claim on the land (RI Historical Preservation Commission [RIHPC], 1978, 3). After Stephen Jenks and his family opened a blacksmith shop and a textile mill in 1824, Central Falls expanded into an important textile and metals manufacturing center in the nineteenth century. To meet increasing labor demands, the city became home to immigrants from a variety of countries (RIHPC, 1978, 3; CF Comprehensive Strategy Task Force, 2001, 2).

"On election day, February 27, 1895, the voters of the town of Lincoln voted overwhelmingly to give Central Falls its independence and Central Falls was incorporated into a city" (R)DOA, 1991, 8). At that time, "nearly half the population was foreign born. The three early ethnic groups, the French Canadians, English, and Irish, retained their numerical superiority during the next twenty-five years ... By 1920, there were large Polish and Syrian communities



in the city, as well as smaller numbers of immigrants from Russia and Portugal" (RIHPC, 1978, 40). In the 1960s and 1970s, the city's industrial base declined, and a new wave of Spanish-speaking immigrants from South and Central America began to call Central Falls their home.

Although early settlers made use of the Blackstone River for mobility, current residents use cars or public busses as means of transportation. There are no local cab or rental companies, and the nearest train station is located in Providence. As Fire Chief Rene Coutu relates, "many people don't have cars ... We're doing a lot of transporting of young kids who don't have anyway to get their children to the hospitals in Pawtucket and Providence" (A1, d). In January 2002, Central Falls was awarded a $77,500 Recreational Trail Grant from the Department of Transportation Equity Act for the 215t Century to develop and maintain local nature trails and the Blackstone River Island .

Given the lack of expandable tax and industry base, and the high numbers of impoverished citizens, the city of Central Falls receives considerable financial and managerial assistance from the State. In 1991, the Central Falls School Department was taken over by the State of Rhode Island: "State assumption of the management and funding of education is the principal means of addressing immediate problems" (RIIDOA, 1991, 2). Central Falls is also an Enterprise Zone, offering municipal and manufacturing exemptions, Job Creation Incentive programs, Enterprise Zone Tax Incentives, and financial assistance programs (A7, s). In Fiscal Year 2005, Central Falls also received $1,113,825 in State Aid (A 4, v). Over the last ten years, the combination of these changes and additions in fiscal and administrative management has allowed the city to remain financially solvent.

FAMILY: Over one third of residents over the age of fifteen have never married, and almost one quarter are separated, widowed or divorced. Although Rhode Island ranked first in 1999 for adequacy of prenatal care, 20 percent of women living in Central Falls still had delayed or nonexistent prenatal care (A 4, f). Onequarter of the grandparents living in households with their grandchildren are the sole caregivers for those grandchildren, and approximately one-third of the 10,053 residents age 21 to 64 have a disability. Average household size is roughly the same for Central Falls (2.60) and Rhode Island (2.55). Approximately fifty percent of the children in Central Falls are living in single parent families (48%), receiving food stamps (51%), and are breast fed (49%) (A4, p).

ETHNICITY/CITIZENSHIP: Sixty percent of Central Falls residents, or 11,351 individuals, are classified as minorities. There is "now a significant Hispanic community - mostly from Colombia, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic" (RIHPC, 1978, 49). In the last ten years, the Hispanic population of Central Falls has increased by almost 20 percent, contrasted with only a 6 percent increase within Providence County as a whole (A4, r). Almost fifty percent of Central Falls residents are born outside the U.S., compared with thirteen percent at the State level; of those foreign born, almost three-quarters are from Latin America and one half immigrated in the last ten years. Sixty-five percent of the Central Falls population over the age of five speaks a language other than English at home, compared with only twenty-percent of the population of Rhode Island,. 76 percent of the city's children living in poverty have minority status.



EMPLOYMENT/EARNINGS: 6,182 city residents (44.2%) are not in the labor force at all. Of the 7000 employed residents, 6,017 work outside Central Falls, and 42.6 percent work in production, transportation, and material moving occupations. The city's median household and family incomes are the lowest in the State - $22,628 and $26,844, respectively - and are essentially one-half the State's household and family income averages of $42,090 and $52,781. The city's per capita income is only $10,825, less than half the per capita income totals for Providence County and for Rhode Island as a whole (A3, d, aa). While only nine percent of the State's and eleven percent of Providence County's families have income below the poverty line, in Central Falls that percentage jumps significantly to over twenty-five percent (25.9%).

INDUSTRY/BUSINESS: According to John Burns, "there's always been a lot of small businesses in the city, like mom and pops, restaurants, and they've been fairly successful. There are some new small businesses, but still almost no large businesses or factory industry" (A1, c). Accordingly, from 1990 to 2005, the number of residents employed by the manufacturing industry decreased by an incredible 98.14 percent, wholesale trade decreased by 90.36 percent, and gross retail sales declined 82.49 percent, from $174,670 in 1989 to only $27,096 in 1998 (A 4, o). The 1997 Economic Census revealed that 37 manufacturing establishments employed 2,163 employees, compared with 37 retail trade facilities, 44 accommodations & foodservice industries, and 18 wholesale trade operations, which only employed between 100-249 employees apiece (A 4, w).

HOUSING: "The city has only a few parcels of land, most are not suitable for new development ... the city is the most densely populated in the State and well within the top 10 across Central Falls" (RIDOA, 1991, 8). Well over three quarters of the housing units in the city are occupied by renters, and "there's a significant number of absentee landlords in the city", as "detachment in this community is an epidemic. Less than one half of the people who own property live here" (A3, qq, d, g). Of the 7,270 units in the city, nearly 75 percent house three or more apartments, compared with only 28.9 percent within the State (A3, d, e). Almost one-half (47.0%) of the housing units in Central Falls were built before 1939, and nearly ten percent (9.2%) are lacking plumbing, kitchen facilities or telephone service (A3, f). While the median value of a housing unit is $88,800 within the city, the median value of units in Providence County and the State are valued at $123,900 and $133,000, respectively (A 3, i, j). Even with the disparity in earnings between Central Falls, Providence County, and the State, the median gross rent in the city is $463, only $ 100 1ess than the median gross rent in Rhode Island (A3, gg).

EDUCATION: Of the 5,041 children enrolled in the Central Falls School District, approximately fifty-two percent are attending elementary school. One hundred percent of age appropriate children are enrolled in full-day kindergarten. 78.9 percent of the population over 25 years of age have a high school equivalency or less, compared with 49.8 percent of the Rhode Island population as a whole, and 24 percent have less than a 91h grade education. It also boasts the lowest percentages of 4"' grade students meeting the reading proficiency standard for basic understanding (44%) and analysis & interpretation (29%) There are a large number of kids who don't graduate and go on to college ... The special education costs in this city are phenomenal. We have the highest percentage". The city has the second lowest high school graduation and



school district attendance rates (67% and 86%, respectively), and the highest rate of mobility within a school district (44%), as "this is a community of nomads".

YOUTH: Central Falls has the highest teen pregnancy rate in the State (5.7%), the second highest levels of lead poisoning in children entering kindergarten (21.2%), and the third highest rate of children with incarcerated parents (2.3%) (A4, a, i, k, j, d). Currently, 4266 children are receiving medical assistance (64%), 31 percent of children in Central Falls are on public assistance, and 39 percent are on food stamps (A4, e; A7, i). Juvenile Detention Data Summaries from 2005 indicate that the Wyatt Detention Facility incarcerated 28 Black, 84 Hispanic, 1 Native American, and 93 White juveniles for a variety of different offenses, including assault, breaking and entering, drug and weapons possession, robbery, vandalism, false alarm, and wayward/disobedience (A4, n).

Form of Government, Voting Patterns, Representatives/SenatorsCentral Falls is governed by a five-member City Council - Robert Weber, President; Jonathan Issa; Jason Leger; Gene Noury; and Ricardo Patino - headed by Mayor Lee Matthews. Decisions are made by majority vote of the council, or through a referendum. City Council meetings are held the second Monday of the month, and also the last Friday, as the council felt "it wasn't right to have people have to wait so long just to speak. So we started having shorter meetings a few times a month so people don't have to wait as long" (A1, u). Political candidates run non-partisan, but the current Mayor and his predecessor are both Democrats. Elections are held bi-annually, in November of the odd years, and the city is represented at the State level by two Democratic politicians: Senator Daniel Issa, elected in November 1986, and Representative Joseph Faria, elected in November 1992. Currently, 5,686 residents, approximately 30 percent of the city's population, are registered to vote.

Institutions/ Institutional ActorsCentral Falls city government is comprised of many prominent offices and actors, most notably Mayor Lee Matthews, City Clerk Elizabeth Crowley, Planning Director Merrick Cook, Jr., Probate Judge Bruce Sawyer, Recreation Director Anthony Tager, Housing Authority Director Edward Roderick, and Librarian Thomas Shannahan. "Library and recreation programs are no more than those required by a low-income community that includes many recent immigrants ... The City's financial problems are extremely serious, and beyond the City's ability to cope with on its own." (RIIDOA, 1991, 1). From our interviews of these individuals, we were able to gain a lot of information about the history and demographics of the city. Central Falls residents, however, made it clear during their interviews that they would not recommend turning to the city for help or answers to their questions, and any further investigation of the city should entail an exploration of the city government's aura of inaccessibility.

The School District, while operated by the State, is a salient institution within the city, given its deep connections with community-based organizations and its recent initiatives to more formally involve teachers, parents and children in decision-making regarding in-school and out-of-school activities, and the allocation of funds. Superintendent Maureen Chevrette, Coordinator of Student Services Robert Wall and SCOPE Director Christine Gingerella have "done a fantastic job" leading the school department and negotiating endeavors that are funded with significant State monies, a US Department of Energy Partnership, a Child



Opportunity Zone, and the S.C.O.P.E. Initiative, Schools & Community Organized to Promote Excellence.

Central Falls StatisticsPopulation (year 2005): 18,928Males: 9,404 (49.7%), Females: 9,524 (50.3%)Elevation: 100 feetCounty: ProvidenceLand area: 1.2 square milesZip code: 02863Median resident age: 30.2 years Median household income: $22,628 (year 2005)Median house value: $88,800 (year 2005)

Races in Central Falls: Hispanic (47.8%) White Non-Hispanic (40.0%) Other race (28.4%) Two or more races (7.4%) Black (5.8%) American Indian (1.0%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races) Ancestries: Portuguese (8.6%), French (6.9%), French Canadian (6.9%), Subsaharan African (5.5%), Irish (5.2%), United States (4.7%).

For population 25 years and over in Central Falls High school or higher: 49.1% Bachelor's degree or higher: 5.7% Graduate or professional degree: 1.9% Unemployed: 8.2% Mean travel time to work: 20.9 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Central Falls city Never married: 34.3% Now married: 42.8% Separated: 4.9% Widowed: 7.7% Divorced: 10.2%

35.1% Foreign born (24.9% Latin America, 5.7% Europe, 3.5% Africa).

Industries providing employment: Manufacturing (38.8%), Educational,health and social services (12.4%), Retail trade (10.4%).Crime in Central Falls (2001):

1 murder (5.3 per 100,000) 7 rapes (37.0 per 100,000)



33 robberies (174.3 per 100,000) 72 assaults (380.4 per 100,000) 154 burglaries (813.6 per 100,000) 334 larceny counts (1764.6 per 100,000) 112 auto thefts (591.7 per 100,000) City-data.com crime index = 323.3 (higher means more crime, US average = 330.6)

Public high school in Central Falls: CENTRAL FALLS JR-SR HIGH (Students: 848; Location: 24 SUMMER STREET;

Grades: 09 - 12) Public primary/middle schools in Central Falls:

CALCUTT MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 930; Location: 112 WASHINGTON STREET; Grades: 06 - 08)

VETERANS MEMORIAL ELEMENTARY (Students: 522; Location: 150 FULLER AVENUE; Grades: 01 - 05)

ELLA RISK SCHOOL (Students: 486; Location: 949 DEXTER STREET; Grades: 01 - 05)

ROBERTSON SCHOOL (Students: 252; Location: 135 HUNT STREET; Grades: 01 - 05)

ALAN SHAWN FEINSTEIN SCHOOL (Students: 247; Location: 405 BROAD STREET; Grades: 01 - 05)

G. HAROLD HUNT SCHOOL (Students: 186; Location: 14 KENDALL STREET; Grades: PK - KG)

COWDEN STREET SCHOOL (Students: 167; Location: 325 COWDEN STREET; Grades: KG - 01)

Private primary/middle school in Central Falls: ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON ACADEM (Students: 261; Location: 909

LONSDALE AVENUE; Grades: PK - 8) Library in Central Falls:

CENTRAL FALLS FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY (Operating income: $289,262; Location: 205 CENTRAL STREET; 41,104 books; 358 audio materials; 1,174 video materials; 51 serial subscriptions)

Central Falls compared to Rhode Island state average: Median household income below state average. Median house value below state average. Black race population percentage significantly above state average. Hispanic race population percentage significantly above state average. Foreign-born population percentage significantly above state average. Renting percentage significantly above state average. Number of rooms per house below state average. House age significantly above state average. Institutionalized population percentage above state average. Number of college students below state average. Percentage of population with a bachelor's degree or higher significantly below state

average.



Population density above state average for cities.

City-data.com

Central Falls, RI Houses and Residents

Total population: 18928 (All urban)

Houses: 7270 (6696 occupied: 1459 owner occupied, 5237 renter occupied)Rooms in owner-occupied houses in Central Falls, Rhode Island:

1 room: 14 2 rooms: 22 3 rooms: 71 4 rooms: 146 5 rooms: 520 6 rooms: 372 7 rooms: 105 8 rooms: 120 9 or more rooms: 89

Rooms in renter-occupied housing units and apartments: 1 room: 142 2 rooms: 648 3 rooms: 940 4 rooms: 1006 5 rooms: 1589 6 rooms: 743 7 rooms: 113 8 rooms: 38 9 or more rooms: 18

Year house built: 1999 to March 2005: 52 1995 to 1998: 51 1990 to 1994: 164 1980 to 1989: 254 1970 to 1979: 548 1960 to 1969: 746 1950 to 1959: 846 1940 to 1949: 1193 1939 or earlier: 3416

Bedrooms in owner-occupied houses in Central Falls: no bedroom: 20 1 bedrooms: 134 2 bedrooms: 327



3 bedrooms: 780 4 bedrooms: 119 5 or more bedrooms: 79

Bedrooms in renter-occupied apartments and housing units: no bedroom: 165 1 bedrooms: 1537 2 bedrooms: 1697 3 bedrooms: 1708 4 bedrooms: 112 5 or more bedrooms: 18

Vehicles available in Central Falls in owner-occupied houses: no vehicle: 99 1 vehicle: 580 2 vehicles: 552 3 vehicles: 178 4 vehicles: 50 5 or more vehicles: 0

Vehicles available in renter-occupied housing units: no vehicle: 1582 1 vehicle: 2458 2 vehicles: 923 3 vehicles: 206 4 vehicles: 47 5 or more vehicles: 21

Estimate of home value of owner-occupied houses in 2005 in Central Falls, RI: Less than $10,000: 0 $10,000 to $14,999: 0 $15,000 to $19,999: 5 $20,000 to $24,999: 0 $25,000 to $29,999: 0 $30,000 to $34,999: 0 $35,000 to $39,999: 5 $40,000 to $49,999: 5 $50,000 to $59,999: 24 $60,000 to $69,999: 32 $70,000 to $79,999: 58 $80,000 to $89,999: 72 $90,000 to $99,999: 50 $100,000 to $124,999: 82 $125,000 to $149,999: 22 $150,000 to $174,999: 26 $175,000 to $199,999: 4



$200,000 to $249,999: 0 $250,000 to $299,999: 0 $300,000 to $399,999: 0 $400,000 to $499,999: 0 $500,000 to $749,999: 0 $750,000 to $999,999: 0 $1,000,000 or more: 0

Rent paid by renters in 2005 in Central Falls: Less than $100: 156 $100 to $149: 123 $150 to $199: 438 $200 to $249: 302 $250 to $299: 273 $300 to $349: 721 $350 to $399: 765 $400 to $449: 953 $450 to $499: 603 $500 to $549: 477 $550 to $599: 125 $600 to $649: 130 $650 to $699: 33 $700 to $749: 26 $750 to $799: 0 $800 to $899: 25 $900 to $999: 7 $1,000 to $1,249: 0 $1,250 to $1,499: 0 $1,500 to $1,999: 20 $2,000 or more: 0 No cash rent: 60

Household type by relationshipHouseholds: 18337

In family households: 15623 (2547 male householders, 1879 female householders)

2602 spouses, 6372 children (6030 natural, 130 adopted, 212 stepchildren), 199 grandchildren, 537 brothers or sisters, 264 parents, 477 other relatives, 746 non-relatives

In nonfamily households: 2714 (1028 male householders (852 living alone)), 1261 female householders (1106 living alone)), 425 nonrelatives

In group quarters: 591 (547 institutionalized population) Size of family households: 1215 2-persons, 1193 3-persons, 1002 4-persons, 598 5-persons, 274 6-persons, 144 7-or-more-personsSize of nonfamily households: 1958 1-person, 306 2-persons, 21 3-persons, 0 4-persons, 0 5-persons, 0 6-persons, 4 7-or-more-personsYear of entry for the foreign-born population (6645 people)



1995 to March 2005: 2025 1990 to 1994: 1224 1985 to 1989: 1103 1980 to 1984: 771 1975 to 1979: 614 1970 to 1974: 419 1965 to 1969: 262 Before 1965: 227

Time leaving for work for workers 16 years and over in Central Falls, RI (7000 people) 12:00 a.m. to 4:59 a.m.: 224 5:00 a.m. to 5:29 a.m.: 230 5:30 a.m. to 5:59 a.m.: 294 6:00 a.m. to 6:29 a.m.: 1018 6:30 a.m. to 6:59 a.m.: 1162 7:00 a.m. to 7:29 a.m.: 813 7:30 a.m. to 7:59 a.m.: 674 8:00 a.m. to 8:29 a.m.: 534 8:30 a.m. to 8:59 a.m.: 233 9:00 a.m. to 9:59 a.m.: 171 10:00 a.m. to 10:59 a.m.: 96 11:00 a.m. to 11:59 a.m.: 53 12:00 p.m. to 3:59 p.m.: 842 4:00 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.: 617 Worked at home: 39

Household income: Less than $10,000: 1529 $10,000 to $14,999: 777 $15,000 to $19,999: 637 $20,000 to $24,999: 647 $25,000 to $29,999: 554 $30,000 to $34,999: 365 $35,000 to $39,999: 435 $40,000 to $44,999: 336 $45,000 to $49,999: 317 $50,000 to $59,999: 428 $60,000 to $74,999: 298 $75,000 to $99,999: 216 $100,000 to $124,999: 126 $125,000 to $149,999: 32 $150,000 to $199,999: 12 $200,000 or more: 6

First ancestries reported: Other groups: 8303



Portuguese: 1543 French Canadian: 1188 French (except Basque): 1028 Subsaharan African:: 1012 Cape Verdean: 939 United States or American: 895 Irish: 649 Polish: 423 Italian: 323 English: 205 Arab:: 132 Syrian: 100 German: 58 Canadian: 52 African: 41 Scottish: 34 Lebanese: 26 Scotch-Irish: 26 West Indian (excluding Hispanic groups):: 22 Liberian: 19 Ukrainian: 18 Assyrian/Chaldean/Syriac: 16 Bulgarian: 12 Slovene: 12 Dutch: 11 Armenian: 10 Lithuanian: 9 West Indian: 8 Jamaican: 8 Russian: 7 Other Subsaharan African: 7 Ghanian: 6 Israeli: 6 Haitian: 6 Arab/Arabic: 6 Danish: 6 Carpatho Rusyn: 4 European: 3


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