RIGHT TO THE SUBURB? RETHINKING LEFEBVRE AND IMMIGRANT ACTIVISM

ABSTRACT: In the face of increasing migration by Latinos to suburbs and multi‐scalar policies criminalizing immigrants, municipalities are increasingly confronting the question, Who has the Right to the Suburb? We seek to better understand how the tensions between suburbanites and Latino immigrants are addressed by municipal governments as immigration enforcement is increasingly rescaled to the local level. Case studies of Maywood and Costa Mesa in Southern California suggest responses are by no means similar and can actually be contrasting, given the city's historical trajectories, socio‐economic status, political leadership, and networks of activists. Suburban struggles are often assumed to be conservative and as a result are undertheorized as sites of liberatory struggle. While the urban realm remains the most visible stage of social movements, this paper suggests immigrant activism is increasingly being generated in suburbs, election‐based organizing can be an effective gateway to municipal level change, and seeking to expand or constrict the Right to the City necessarily entails multi‐scalar efforts.     

Nutrient Composition, Protein Quality, and Sensory Properties of Thirty-Six Cultivars of Dry Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

Thirty-six cultivars representing eight types of dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L) were analyzed chemically for content of moisture, fat, ash, total nitrogen, iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, thiamin, riboflavin, and amino acids. Protein quality was evaluated using Tetrahymena pyriformis W. Cooked beans were subjected to sensory evaluation and shear-force measurement. Nutrient concentrations were similar to values reported by earlier investigators. Protein quality ranged from 60% (Red Kidneys) to 90% (Pintos) that of casein. Pintos Nodak and Fiesta and Hyden Navy beans were most acceptable in flavor and texture; Bonus Small White was least acceptable. Cooperation between bean breeders and nutritionists will enable early screening of segregating hybrid populations for desirable nutritional and sensory qualities.     

A METHOD TO QUANTIFY BUTTEROIL ADDED TO BUTTER-MARGARINE BLENDS

Table spreads containing various amounts of butteroil blended with vegetable oils are now commercially available. The butter fat percentages in these blends range from 2–40% according to the label information. This research was designed to determine the efficacy of a gas chromatographic procedure for monitoring the quantity of butteroil in the blend. Methyl esters were formed using potassium methoxylate as a catalyst and a heating interval of 2 min at 65°C in a closed vial under a nitrogen atmosphere. Carbon disulfide was used to extract the fatty acid methyl esters which were then separated by capillary gas chromatography. Retention times, peak areas and relative concentrations were determined by an integrator connected to the chromatograph. Changes in chromatographic patterns were monitored as known weights of butteroil were added to melted margarine. Dodecanoic, tetradecanoic, and pentadecanoic acids increased proportionately as butteroil was added to margarine. Commercial butter-margarine blends were prepared using the same procedure and the quantity of butteroil present was predicted by regression analysis.     

CONSUMER FOOD SAFETY CONCERNS AND INTEREST IN PESTICIDE-RELATED INFORMATION

Consumer food safety concerns and interest in pesticide related information was measured by personal interviews with 479 consumers in 14 counties in California. Although concern about pesticide safety was noted by almost half of the respondents, nutritional considerations had the greatest impact on food selection criteria. Of those who volunteered pesticide safety concerns, 15% indicated they sought organic produce and 13% said they avoided or reduced produce purchases. In addition to information about the human health effects of pesticide use, consumers expressed high interest in the environmental effects of pesticide use. Consumers currently use television and newspapers as information sources and prefer these to other sources.