JOSE GASPAR: Delano weathers storm of high unemployment
| Sunday, Oct 18 2009 08:48 PM
Last Updated Sunday, Oct 18 2009 08:54 PM
When a business opens ups in Delano, Mayor Sam Ramirez makes it a point to shake the owner's hand and thank them. With latest state figures showing Delano's unemployment rate at 34 percent, Ramirez values each and every business owner that opens a new door of economic opportunity in this northern county town.
Take Quiznos, for example. The shop recently opened in Delano, providing seven new jobs.
"That's seven jobs we didn't have before," said Ramirez.
It may not sound like much, but hey, Ramirez -- and other mayors, I'm sure -- they'll take just about any new job they can get these days.
The economic downturn has been especially hard on cities, like Delano, whose high unemployment rate means that about one out of every three of their residents are out of work. Not something that earns bragging rights for a mayor.
Especially when you are twice the county average of nearly 14 percent.
Delano city leaders say most of the higher unemployment rate comes from jobs lost in the service sector, particularly in small businesses and government jobs and to a lesser extent, in the agriculture industry, which is, by far, Delano's No. 1 employer.
All this sounds like doom and gloom for Kern County's second-largest city. It has a population of nearly 54,000 -- if you count the 11,000 prison inmates.
You would think high unemployment would be driving up the crime rate and forcing students to drop out of school to help support their family.
But Delano can be a paradox.
"The crime rate is holding steady. We haven't really seen a spike in crime this year," said Delano Police Commander Raul Arvizu.
The contradiction continues.
Despite the bad news with the latest unemployment rates, Delano high school students continue to make significant strides in education.
The latest state test scores from the Academic Performance Index reveals Cesar Chavez High School in Delano made the most dramatic gains in student achievement.
The school leaped by 46 points, more than any other high school in Kern County.
And when compared to other schools with similar demographics, Cesar Chavez High School ranks high, 9 out of a 10, which means it is right at the top.
Other bright spots: Cesar Chavez High School and Delano High School have a dropout rate in the single digits! And the dropout rate as a whole in the Delano Joint Union High School District is 11 percent, which is among the lowest in the Central Valley.
How's that for something to brag about?
"We have a conviction that all kids can learn and achieve given the right strategies," said Cesar Chavez High School Principal Saul Gonzalez with a hint of pride in his voice.
No. 1 in that strategy at Cesar Chavez High School is targeting students who are learning English.
That would make sense, given 45 percent, nearly half of the students at Cesar Chavez High School, are English learners. In other words, they may know some English to muy poquito. That translates into potential setbacks.
Gonzalez credits faculty and staff at Cesar Chavez High School for the boost in student performance.
But the principal admits high unemployment does take a direct hit on students, and some drop out to help support the family.
"Sooner or later, it will impact learning, but we don't use it as an excuse for a student to fail," said the principal.
Just as Delano schools once had a horrendous dropout rate -- beyond 40 percent in the late '80s) and they have turned things around, city leaders are not giving up in turning things around, either.
Rail Ex, an agricultural distribution center, recently opened in Delano, adding close to 250 jobs.
If the MarketPlace project with a Walmart Supercenter ever gets out of court proceedings, that is expected to add around 400 jobs for area residents.
But Mayor Ramirez is a realist. He admits most new jobs come from small business.
A Fresh & Easy created 25 jobs. A Sonic drive-in is in the works.
"We're taking baby steps, but every little bit helps," said the mayor.
The mayor even went to China in 2007, making a pitch to Chinese leaders to come and invest in his town.
He found himself competing with other California delegations making the same pitch.
Though nothing has yet materialized from that trip, the mayor remains optimistic.
"We will weather the storm," said Ramirez. "I believe in Delano."
These are Jose Gaspar's opinions and not necessarily those of The Californian.
