El Hoyo area had Anglo legal zoning, but was owned and occupied by Hispanic families, and it had withheld displacement. While my first few years were concentrated in Barrio Libre, I finally found out that the stability of El Hoyo made it a much stronger part of the overall Neighborhood, even if Barrio Libre had a stronger architectural presence. Awareness of reality can emerge very slowly even if the clues are always there. Interesting and what else could I be missing.
It seemed to me that the ten houses that collapsed in Barrio Libre and melted away were isolated cases and did not do so by the owner’s intent. Demolition by neglect was not a factor in this Neighborhood at that time. Kelly Rolling, wanted to preserve, not demolish, old adobe homes, he understood the value of the totality. No other developer to my knowledge was economically interested in this Neighborhood for more than one house at a time.
Kelly would have fought against any widespread adobe destruction. By the way, we had just saved his emotional investment in his long-range goal for this Barrio from destruction for Community Center expansion. Economically, he would have fought legally for hefty compensation from any eminent domain, but his dream would have been shattered. Now it was safe for him, and as it became federally protected after we entered the whole neighborhood into the National Register of Historic Places, I do think that in an indirect manner he said, ‘Thanks.’ However, in retrospect, I realized that in the future, I would personally cause him some harm as well, as it would become more difficult for him to purchase property.
So, the Indians lost? So, the Mexicans got gentrified? So, Kelly Rolling made a few dollars less instead of lots more? Should Kelly be evaluated with the same concern with which he evaluated what his actions would have caused others? Karma? At least, he bought empty buildings, and he bought them fair and square. To all this, I say to both, so what? That’s in the past. Your fight starts today, and it is based on building up, not on badmouthing. Rolling was not the real culprit and maybe he was not a culprit at all, as some people portrayed him to be, myself included.
From an intellectual point of view, what Kelly Rolling was doing by turning his dream world into a wonderful reality, was praiseworthy. It was, against all odds, a physical, intellectual, artistic accomplishment of significant value. My hat is off to him for that. However, let’s not let that prevent us from leveling the playing field. This can be a win-win, for everyone
That kid that drew that mural on the wall of the Carrillo Swimming Pool bathhouse also had his dream and talent, sometimes shattered. It happens to all.
Life goes on and we all have abilities and a future to fight for. As did Charlene and her friend Isabel. As did Jose and his filming capabilities. Same for Carmen Valenzuela and her children’s desire to own a home. Carmen’s oldest son developed his skills and strength and has made a family for himself working in construction across the United States and then back to Tucson. Carmen was economically poor but humanly wealthy, and her son is doing very well today. Carmen’s second son made a lasting impression on me, memories of his inquisitiveness and love for life, that got him in and out of trouble, is the one image that I treasure above all others. Let’s give people some equity and equality and the tools that will help them fight to keep their dreams and their adobe homes, if they want to, as they grow their family. That sounds to me like a fair goal. Economically strong. Let’s make it a fair fight for all.
Ups and downs are present in everyone’s life. Nonetheless, we must nourish our strengths, and to do so, we need to find them and accept them. This great Barrio has strength, to be found and nourished. The same can be said for our country.