Do you know what Latinos like? Who the fuck cares! One mayor in California has had enough of mini-malls full of check cashing stores and botanicas because he’s no fun at all:

Baldwin Park Mayor Manuel Lozano and other city officials listened as the developers said they had studied the demographics of the city and could bring in a retailer known for offering credit to undocumented immigrants and a shopping center with a “Latino feel.”

To Lozano, it was another case of developers typecasting his suburb, which is about 15 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. He didn’t want to see more of what he calls “amigo stores.”

The meeting ended like a bad date, with handshakes and excessive courtesy. But afterward, Lozano made it clear he was not happy.

“We want what Middle America has as well,” said the second-generation Mexican American, recounting the meeting. “We like to go to nice places like Claim Jumpers, Chili’s and Applebee’s… . We don’t want the fly-by-night business, the ‘amigo store,’ which they use to attract Latinos like myself.”

Its so weird that people would want to eat food from countries other than “Foodcourtlandia.” Those people can go stuff a Taco Bell chalupa in their mouths, sideways.

Some opponents say that one councilwoman had told critics to “go back to [Tijuana].”

“I don’t know where they got that,” said Councilwoman Marlen Garcia. “What I said was ‘We’re striving to insure Baldwin Park doesn’t look like Tijuana.’ “

Why?! Where are we supposed to shop for Vicodin, then? Or fist a donkey while a frat from Nebraska looks on with great enthusiasm? Applebee’s maybe?

“I’m proud of my roots,” said Rosalva Alvarez, as she stood in her beauty store on Maine Avenue, which is in the redevelopment area. “I was born in Mexico and raised in this country. I agree we need some change. But what they want to bring here is totally unrealistic. Applebee is good, but a Kabuki? And also a Trader Joe’s? Come on, I don’t even go to Trader Joe’s.”

Yo, palabra. Come on, we can’t even look at Trader Joe’s too long without looking down to find ourselves eating a plate of pesticide-free arugula with soy cheese shavings and wasabi infused edamame jelly.

So, what say you, nave? Is this a case of trying to fight against Latino stereotypes, or is wanting to tear down a mom and mom tortilla shop for an Olive Garden a symptom of self-loathing? Does it make more sense, economically? Tell us while we devour these sizzling bacon and gravy fajita eggrolls.

New generation of L.A.-area Latino leaders aren’t as friendly toward ‘amigo stores’ [LA Times]