Most popular radio station in Portland is now Spanish (school, to live)

[Oregon Transplant]

'El Rey' reigns in Portland radio scene - OregonLive.com

I was shocked by this story. I always thought that the struggling economy in Portland and the large number of young people who come to Portland to live would limit the need for Hispanic Immigrants. But I understand that the Hispanic Population of Portland and the rest of Oregon is booming. Some people think that it could be another Los Angeles in a few years.

Have you noticed a huge influx of Hispanics into Portland? What impact will it have on our culture.

(For the sake of discussion I have no opinion about the issue other than shock)

[whynot?]

Okay, I'll take the bait, but only momentarily. The article's fifth paragraph says:

"The station took the top place while drawing an average of just 6.4 percent of the Portland audience listening to radio at any one time, a statistic that reveals the fragmented nature of Portland's radio market. No other privately owned station -- country, rock, top 40, news/talk -- got more than a 5 percent share."

So the research doesn't really prove much except that Portlanders have diverse tastes in radio. It doesn't discuss the methodology of achieving the "No. 1" spot -- whether it's a listener survey (notoriously biased by who chooses to -- and not to respond) or by some other criteria. It also doesn't account for declining radio audiences due to satellite radio and MP3/4 listening.

It's more of a "newsy" item (a la Stephen Colbert's "truthiness"), than a news story. It's interesting, but not analytical enough to really "say" anything. Catchy, though.

[GB1]

Originally Posted by Oregon Transplant

Have you noticed a huge influx of Hispanics into Portland? What impact will it have on our culture.

Improve it?

[PSP2PDX]

I believe that the more diversified that Portland becomes the more it will add in a positive manner to the City. I think that a growing number of peoples of different backgrounds, from different cultures bring with them a multitude of good to a community. Hispanics are now the largest minority in the US and make up nearly 40% of the population of California. It is only natural that Oregon and more specifically Portland has seen and will see a continued increase in the Latino populaton. Therefore it is not surprising that a Spanish language radio station has the highest ratings in the Portland area. The Max gives all of their recorded announcements in both English and Spanish and everyone will see this more and more in the future.

I believe that Hispanics and other minorities will continue to add to what makes Portland a great place to call home.

[suncat]

[quote=Oregon
I always thought that the struggling economy in Portland and the large number of young people who come to Portland to live would limit the need for Hispanic Immigrants.[/QUOTE]

By your logic, it seems as if:

1. You think a struggling economy is a good thing if it keeps the Hispanics away.

2. There's no such thing as a young Hispanic immigrant.

Am I correct?

[Redrover]

This may be a bit off topic but what I find most disturbing is that in years (generations) past, when a large immigrant population began to make its presence known in this country, one of its primary goals was assimilation. All those Poles, Italians, Greeks, etc. came to this country and began learning English almost immediately. Few if any accomodations were made to make anything accessible in their native languages. That doesn't seem to be the case with this new tidal wave of Spanish-speaking immigrants. It's getting harder and harder to find anything that doesn't include a Spanish translation. Where's the incentive to assimilate now?

[karlsch]

Originally Posted by Oregon Transplant

Have you noticed a huge influx of Hispanics into Portland? What impact will it have on our culture.

I don't know how it would impact Portland, but here are some of the things that have occurred in other cities that have had a huge influx of Hispanics:

An increase in competition for scarce entry level jobs.

An increase in crime.

An increase in gang activity.

An increase in welfare use.

An increase in the use of social service programs.

An increase in out of wedlock births.

An increase in school dropout rates.

A decrease in school standardized test scores.

[whynot?]

Originally Posted by karlsch

I don't know how it would impact Portland, but here are some of the things that have occurred in other cities that have had a huge influx of Hispanics:

An increase in competition for scarce entry level jobs.

An increase in crime.

An increase in gang activity.

An increase in welfare use.

An increase in the use of social service programs.

An increase in out of wedlock births.

An increase in school dropout rates.

A decrease in school standardized test scores.

You may be correct, but I would prefer that a post that seems so negative about one rather amorphous group be sourced to the specific research that you refer to.

[Oregon Transplant]

The Hispanic Population of Los Angeles has boomed and they now dominate the City. What impact has this had on the social indicators mentioned above by another poster?

Would Portland be a better City if it were similar to LA demographically?

[oldtintype]

Um...wasn't LA once part of Mexico's land anyway? It's not like Mexican influence hasn't always been part of Southern California and California in general.

And as for LA, demographics of LA are complicated and exist for many reasons. Of course Portland as LA (a carbon copy) would not make it a better city. Would Portland as a more diverse city make it a better place? That's the question you should be asking, not if one race or another dominates.