If there is something that characterizes Latinos, it is to always maintain optimism in the face of adversity, and the managers and owners of small businesses, formal and informal, have no doubt that the economic situation will improve once the threats of covid disappear – 19.
After two full years of suffering the ravages of complete closures and then partial closures, and despite the fact that there were vaccines to protect themselves for more than a year, the Latinos interviewed by Real America News express their challenges and the plans they have to get ahead.
“Since the omicron variant of the coronavirus was released, sales have collapsed again,” said Javier Chubac, from Suchitepéquez, Guatemala, owner of a candy store located in the district of the piñatas, in downtown Los Angeles.
“Everything had stabilized a bit after people started getting vaccinated.”
However, Chubac indicated that retail sales have decreased by 50%.
“Our sales were $ 2, 000 to $ 3, 000 daily, but now we don’t even get to $ 1, 500 ”, said the businessman.
The omicron variant is not only wreaking havoc on the economy of small business owners, but also on health.
On Tuesday, authorities from the Angeles County Department of Public Health released 3, 150 new infections by covid.
The county reported 3. 258 new covid infections on Monday, the fourth consecutive day that the number has exceeded 3, 000. Since the pandemic began, a total of 1, 567, 100 cases throughout the county, while that the number of deaths has reached 27, 448 people.
They resent the attack of the pandemic
“Sales are very low,” also complained Mr. Rigoberto Morales, owner of a carnitas and chicharrones stall, located in the 833 south of Central Street. “For two years, it is no longer the same and what one earns, barely enough to survive.”
Mario Muñoz, an expert in cooking chicharrones, works together with Mr. Morales. in a huge saucepan and the Michoacan Susana García, who makes tortillas by hand for the diners.
They also feel the impact of the pandemic.
“I used to work in sewing, but the job is over, and, well, we had to learn how to cook pork rinds and carnitas,” said Mario. “I have to do this job because they charge me $ 1, 000 for a small room. ”
According to a report by the Latino Economic Institute of California, before the pandemic, approximately the 38% of the state’s Latino population belonged to a middle-class income group, slightly less than the percentage of white people.
But more than half of Latinos were in the lowest income bracket and many in the middle class were at risk of falling, said Mindy Romero, author of the report.
And, according to the Pew Research Center, around 60% of Latinos said they or someone in your household -such as Mario Muñoz-, had lost a job or experienced salary cuts in the months after the start of the pandemic, compared to the 44% of the general population of the United States.
Few sales and eager to get ahead
“We were five employees; now there are only three of us left, ”said Faustino Cruz, a man from Veracruz who runs a confectionery store in DTLA Sweets. “Sales are quiet, despite many people coming.”
Cruz pointed out that the business where they sell the brand of sweets that their Mexican compatriots like has decreased to 20%.
The dependent of the business stressed that, to reach the monthly sales goal, a minimum business of $ 2 is required, 000 at $ 3, 500, since only the rent of the premises is around $ 19, 000.
“There is not much fluidity to get the product that we already have in stock,” he said. “And a part of these low sales is the fault of the omicron variant of the coronavirus because people are again afraid to go out.”
Those who were not afraid were the husbands Salvador and Marisol García, who They and their six children took their six-year-old Angel to buy lots of sweets for the posadas at home and for the piñata that they are going to break at Christmas.
“You have to support to the businesses where Latinos work, ”Salvador said.
Other Latino businessmen who work in the informal economy are Elvira Rodríguez, originally from Mexico City, who is dedicated to the sale of typical costumes, Mexican sarapes and aprons made in Korea, Vietnam or China and that hang on weekends in a fence on Olympic Street.
“I hope in God to improve myself and move on; I hope my plans to continue working are fulfilled ”, said the woman, who should be retired at her age.
However, economic necessity forced her to look for herself the daily bread , since her husband Gerardo passed away at 75 years, in 2019, before the global coronavirus pandemic was declared.
“I never knew what he really died of –my husband-, but when he started to get sick from a strong temperature, the doctors thought he had dengue. I think maybe he died from covid 19 ”, said the woman.
Not far from her was the casual business of Miguel and María Rojas, a couple who are married They emigrated from Guerrero, Mexico.
They sell all kinds of Christmas decorations, candles, sparklers, birth figures, tablecloths, toys and dolls.
“Sales have dropped a lot this season; Maybe at the end of the year they’ll get better, ”said Miguel, who works sewing from Monday to Friday, and on weekends he helps his wife because four children await them at home to support.