SANTA CRUZ SENTINELDecember 17, 2005
94-year-old bracero featured in Sentinel receives $250 from anonymous donor
Francisco Rodriguez, a 94-year-old Mexican immigrant and former farmworker who's living hand to mouth, got an early Christmas present Friday. A local man, who wants to remain anonymous, gave Rodriguez $250 in cash Friday, then opened a special account at a local bank so others could donate. The life of Rodriguez was featured in Sunday's Sentinel two weeks ago. He's a farmworker who came to the United States when he was 15 and has been living in the Pajaro Valley for the past 20 years — most recently in a barn in Las Lomas, where he pays $100 in monthly rent. The Mexican government owes Rodriguez at least a decade's worth of 10 percent deductions from his monthly checks when he was a "bracero," or farmworker, under the Bracero Program forged between the U.S. and Mexican governments in the 1940s. He's one of thousands of braceros who've been short-changed by the Mexican government as a result of the work program, which ended in 1964 and now serves as a cautionary tale, critics say, to what can go wrong with work programs forged between two countries. Although it was never proven, the U.S. government may have played a role because it knew the Mexican government was corrupt at the time, according to court documents filed in San Francisco County Superior Court as recently as two years ago. "I can't believe this is happening to me," said a bewildered, Spanish-speaking Rodriguez, a bit overwhelmed by the anonymous donor's generosity and the formality of the atmosphere at Comerica Bank on Main Street. "I didn't even have to work for this," he said. "I can't believe I'm getting it free." The anonymous donor, a local real estate developer who was born and raised in Watsonville and was merely trying to help Rodriguez's cause, said, "It just seemed like the right time of year to do it, and I felt sorry for him when I read about him. A guy shouldn't have to work when he's Francisco's age, and I can't believe he's still getting up and doing it, day in and day out." At a time when most elderly men are either comfortably retired, living in a retirement home or long dead, Rodriguez rises every morning and works at a local produce store in town — eight to 10 hours a day, seven days a week, where he cuts vegetables and stocks produce. He earns $150 a week. He loves the job. By no means does he feel exploited. He says the daily duties help keep him alive and it staves off the boredom that comes with being old and not having any family or friends around to keep him company. He's grateful to the owners of the store for allowing him to work, and they say they are lucky to have him. Some of the bank clerks were fascinated with Rodriguez's health, and asked him how he has managed to live so long and stay healthy. His answer was that he never ate meat, never drank and never smoked. Plus, he occasionally is forced to walk to work, which is nearly 6 miles from where he lives. Sometimes he takes the bus. Sometimes people who see him walking along the side of the road give him rides. Rodriguez isn't destitute. But his finances are limited, and even though the Mexican government a few months ago announced it would pay back every bracero $3,800, Rodriguez said he's not up to traveling to Mexico and digging around for the old documents to prove to the Mexican government that he worked in the program. The United States has done its part through its Social Security program, he said. He receives $600 from the U.S. government for the years he worked as a legally employed farmworker, but he sends a good chunk of that back to Mexico to his twin sisters, who are a couple of years older than he is but aren't nearly as healthy. The rest of the money he keeps for food and clothes. Now, he's got an extra $250 in his pocket because of all the attention. "I'm going to buy a new jacket," said Rodriguez as he fingered the cash just shortly before returning to work, where he sat down in the back room and began to cut cactus. "Every little bit of money helps me. I've gone so many years without having it, I'm kind of used to it, though." If you'd like to contribute to the "Help Francisco Rodriguez" fund, you may call Sylvia Alanis, the bank's financial services representative, at 768-1383. Rodriguez's account number, set up by the anonymous donor, is 8000843543. The bank's address is 1998 Main St., Watsonville, CA 95076. The money isn't the only donation Rodriguez has received. Someone also donated new carpet for his small apartment.
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