Latinos sue city for basic services in Modesto

Latinos sued the city and Stanislaus County on Wednesday, claiming they are discriminated against because their southwest Modesto neighborhoods lack basic services. The lawsuit was filed in federal district court in Fresno by two community groups and 16 Latino residents from southwest Modesto. It contends city and county annexation "policies, practices and procedures ... have a discrimina-tory effect and violate state law and regulations, federal law and regulations and the Constitution of the United States." Those procedures have created islands of despair, the lawsuit contends -- long-neglected neighborhoods outside Modesto's city limits in which residents are left to fend for themselves. The lawsuit, if successful, could put in jeopardy millions of dollars in state and federal funding received by the city and county until the public service issue is resolved. The lawsuit describes the southwest Modesto neighborhoods as "slumlike," and lacking the most basic of public services -- adequate street lighting, sidewalks, parks and storm drainage. They also lack adequate police and fire protection. [more ]