I have read with interest all of the hoopla surrounding neighborhood councils. Some write things that make absolute sense and others ramble on and on about nothing.
But one thing that DID catch my eye was how an alleged felon wanted to run for the Cypress Park NC. However, quickly booted off from running by people who felt scared by his ability to mobilize and make a real difference. Since that time, I took it upon myself to hunt this person down and talk to him. What I came away with was that this person is indeed Cypress Park's Best hope ...
I met Fred Brito over coffee at SWORKS in Eagle Rock last week. (His real name by the way). He told me his story which was an amazing one to say the least. But what I learned most about this person is that he is truly a man with great passion, energy and comittment to serving the people. As we were talking a few of his friends happend by and spoke to him. Antonio Villaraigoza was one of them. My first question in my mind was, "Does Antonio know who this man really is?" So I asked him, "How do you know Fred?" He simply responded, "I know him to be a real asset to our community...." As they hugged, the man who will be Mayor walked off to meet other friends and to order his coffee. The alarming part is how engaged this guy was to Antonio and they spoke as if they were old friends. So I asked him, how do you know Antonio? He said, "I don't really, he just knows me from what I have done secretly to help a lot of people. I have known him for a long time since he was in Sacramento."
I then asked him about all of the negative publicity surrounding him. And this is when it get interesting. He said, "The people who are writing about me don't know me. They are only focusing on what I have or have not done in my past. What they fail to want to hear is what I am doing to be of service to my community. Which by the way has been a lot. Far more that those who attack me have even dreamed of doing. Many who write about me, have never taken the time to meet me face to face as you have. I think once we are done here, I am sure that you will come away possibly thinking a little different about me. Yes, I have made mistakes in the past. I made some wrong decisions, but if you look back... haven't we all made some mistakes alpng the way that we are not entirely proud of? Well, I am no different. For me it is not so important to talk about what I have done, but what I plan to do in the future. God put our eyes in front of out heads for a reason. To look forward. The past is the past. I chose to live for today. What I do today, will determine the future. So for me, there will always be those that will find it easy to attack others, yet I have learned a lont time ago, that those that atack the hardest usually have a lot more to hide than I do. It is just that no one is delving into their lives as they are mine today. Am I worried? Not in the least. I know where I have been, I know the mistakes that I have made and all I can do is try my best to do right by and for the people."
So what are your plans for the future? "I will continue to work hard in making a differene in my community. I know that your readers will not like hearing this but, I have just as much right to live in my community as the next person. It is funny, the ignorrant people that are atacking me had the gaul to come to my house and demand that I move because I am an ex-felon. Can you imagine the hypocracy in that? I own homes in 90065, I have lived here all my life and I pay taxes. No one can force me to move. Heck, they don't even demand that the child molesters that live in 90065 move, and to date, there are 46 of them. Yet, to top it off, these are the same peole that are so called candidate for Neighborhood Council. Wow.... Here they want to represent the people (stakeholders) of our community, yet they don't want to live with ex-cons. They need to wake up. In 90065 alone there are 721 ex-cons in the area of all ages. 272 are currently on parole. It appears to me that that the correct thing to do is to work with these people (which is a huge voice by the way) instead of working against them. The people elected to NC's are representative of the people, (ALL people, ex-cons, parolees alike). They can not pick and chose who they represent. NC's only want to represent the goodie two shoes, which I call the "pefect people." Of course you and I know that there is no such human being alive unless you are Mother Teresa. That is the mistake that Councilman Reyes and Garcetti are making. They only work hard for the "perfect people." Yet they rant and rave about the rising crime rate. It makes perfect sense to me that we should be working just as hard to help these people (es-cons)who are denied work, denied services and judged unfairly so that they become successful contributing citizens of our community. By slamming the dor on these people, what do you think will happen? If no one helps them, they revert right back to old way, stealing, robbing, violance and other major crimes. People o these councils just don't think. They have their meetings, they say a lot of stuff than rarely turns into reality, they "pretend" to be doing the right thing for the people... but if you look back at many of the NC's nearly 60% are ineffective, and it is a waste of $50,000. that each get per year to spend as they will.
The best thing the Cypress Park NC could have done was to have a someone who is an ex-felon on the the Board. Sure it is a scary thing to do since we don't know what he/she will do, but one thing for sure, If I were elected to the Board... I would speak the truth, and I would represent (all) people andt not just the goodie two shoes. People say that I would have gotten my hands on the $50,000. and stolen it. That makes me laugh. No one has that kind of access nor does the system work that way. Besides it is not like I would be the only member of the Board. There are usually 15 members minimum. So there assumption that I would be a rip off artist only proves their ignorance."
So what is in the future for Fred Brito? "I will continue to be an active part of my community as I have always been. But most importantly, I will be advocating in behalf of those that are being released from prison or jails each and every day into our communities. I will be advocating directly to all levels of government about the need for IN Community programs to assist these people once relased. I have already spoken with a nuber of elected officials in California about these needs and how important they are in an effort to bring down the crime rate. As I said earlier.... working with these people instead of against them will have a significant impact on the crime rate. When we push them aside and slam the door on their faces when they are out looking for a ob, only drives them to revert to old familiar ground. Crime. Many of these people have the same dream as all of us have. They need to provide for their families and children. They have responsibilities just like the next person. They deserve a chance. The only saying, "I have paid my debt to society only works when society is willing to give these guys a chance. And when they do, they also give me a chance. These only reason why I have had to fabricate my story and become someone that I am not is that soecity would NOT have given me a chance had I been honest. So I fabricated my resume in order to get a job and earn a dollar the right way, verses resorting back to crime as I did before. I think that once people really do hear my story they will understand that I do have a legitimate concern. The only problem is that no one has done what you are doing right now. Talking to me. Am I some sub human, low life person to you? I don't think so. I have done what I have done in order to survive in this world. I have two infirmed parents that I live with and I financially support. I am not about to let them down in their final days becasue society won't give me a chance. I am just one of thousands across California who are facing what I have. They leave prison full of hope for the future, only to quickly find that their hopes are shattered when they look for jobs and have the door slammed in their face. After looking for a while, and finding no hope... they revert back to common ground. Crime. I think the time is ripe to have discussion across California and across America. Enough is enough.... The time is now for me to be more of an advocate now than ever before. My time is now. In the next few days the Los Angeles Times will come out with a full story about my life. Am I scared of what it will say? Not in the least. One thing it will do is to set me free from hiding who I am. That will allow me to do what I must to reach out even more in making a vital difference in the lives of others. This ha alwasy been my life's work. Only now, I can do it, as Fred Brito."
Wow... I have come away from this coffee break learning more and more about this man, and I am glad that I did take the time. Listening to him speak is unbelievably amazing. I can feel his passion for others, and I also can feel his remorse in living a life so full of adventure. I am glad that I took this time to get to know him. I invite others to do the same. I assure you that once you do... you will come away knowing two things. (1) He is one very smark person. (2) He has a wonderful heart and unrestricted energy.
If you are a Cypress Park resident... you really do need to hear this man. You have no idea what you have lost in the form of resources.
Roberto Medina
Common Citizen
Posted by: RobertoMedina on Tuesday, June 28, 2005 - 01:34 PM
