The Sad Degeneration of the
Mexican-American Political Association(MAPA)

by
Hector Carreon
La Voz de Aztlan

Los Angeles, Alta California - August 27, 2002 - (ACN) The 43 year old Mexican-American Political Association (MAPA) was at one time often referred to as "the oldest and most respected Latino political organization" in the U.S. In recent years, however, MAPA has rapidly degenerated into various factions involved in such vicious internal power struggles that their "43rd California General Endorsement Convention" held on Saturday August 17th, 2002 at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles had to be cancelled for fear of an actual "shoot out" by Mapistas packing guns.

The MAPA endorsement convention was cancelled by Biltmore Hotel management after being informed that some conventioneers had guns. MAPA was asked to leave the hotel and the Los Angeles Police Department was called. Democratic Governor Gray Davis cancelled his scheduled appearance after learning of the potential violence.

The next morning, the Republican candidate for governor Bill Simon issued a press release that he had been endorsed by MAPA. Not so, says Ben Benavidez and Steven Figueroa, who both claim to be the legitimate president of MAPA. Steven Figueroa says that his MAPA endorsed Gray Davis whereas Ben Benavidez says that his MAPA endorsed neither.

Well how did Bill Simon get the idea that he had been endorsed by MAPA? It turns out that when the MAPA conventioneers where kicked out of the downtown Biltmore Hotel, some of them re-gathered across the street at Pershing Square and held their own mini-convention. It was here that supposedly Bill Simon was endorsed by MAPA, the once "oldest and most respected Latino political organization" in the U.S.

MAPA was organized in Fresno, California in 1960 by Mexican-American leaders like the late Bert Corona who also founded Hermandad Mexicana Nacional and the late U.S. Congressman from East Los Angeles Ed Roybal. MAPA was a response to the lack of proportional political representation for Mexican-Americans and other Latinos in California. At first, MAPA was focused on electing Mexican-Americans to political offices through voter registration and bringing out the vote campaigns. Gradually, however, it started being merely an "endorsing political organization". It's leadership started realizing that MAPA's illustrious history and respect had monetary value to Jewish and Anglo politicians who desire the vote of Mexican-Americans. Today, it seems that all MAPA does is sell its endorsements to the highest bidders. MAPA's present internal squabbles, divisions, backbiting, lawsuits and name-calling are merely manifestations of the "free-for-all" fistfights over the little crumbs thrown at the organization by the political forces that presently rule Alta California. This is "The Sad Degeneration of the Mexican-American Political Association (MAPA)".