Woodburn city staff will be filing a lawsuit against the Woodburn Latin American Club this week.
The club organizes the Fiesta Mexicana each year and owes the city of Woodburn over $9,000 in fees, which it knew about before last year’s event. Club president Margarita Garcia has not responded to letters and phone calls from representatives of the city, as well as the Woodburn Independent.
It’s sad this situation has deteriorated this far. Communication from Garcia could have alleviated so many of the issues, which have resulted in several members of the club resigning from the board.
However, good can come about from this. Some of the former board members have expressed interest in forming a new organization and working with, or partnering with, the city of Woodburn.
There’s a new concept: working together.
The Fiesta Mexicana is important to Woodburn. Not just for the added revenue the event brings in each year, but to the culture of this community. Woodburn is unique and with a population hovering close to 60 percent Hispanic, and over 70 percent in the schools, this kind of event not only should happen, but needs to happen each year.
But it takes two. The city cannot run this event — volunteers from within the Hispanic community need to step up and help organize the event. They are the ones who know about the traditions, values and authenticity of the event.
A partnership between the Hispanic community and the city of Woodburn is something that has been needed in this town for decades. There has seemingly always been tension, especially with the Latin American Club and city officials.
Now the slate can be wiped clean and fresh, new ideas that may have been previously squashed can move the celebration forward.
A lawsuit is never a good solution. The club has forced the city’s hand, however. But good can come from this. We just need to see people step up to the challenge.
