CASPA BOLTS FOR BOLIVIA

photo courtesy of Daily Pilot

RETURNING HOME
One interesting piece of news to hit my desk recently is the departure this week of Humberto Caspa - college professor, activist, former Daily Pilot columnist and author of the controversial new book, "Terror in the Barrio: The Rise of the New Right in Local Government" - for his home country of Bolivia. According to Caspa, he's returning to his homeland for good, to make a new life for his family.

LEAVES CONTROVERSY IN HIS WAKE
Caspa, who had been the President of the Costa Mesa council of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), leaves in his wake no small amount of controversy. During the past few years he has been a frequent voice for the Latino community in Costa Mesa as he worked hard to chronicle the wrongs he perceived being suffered by that demographic group - a third of the population of Costa Mesa. His commentaries in the Daily Pilot evoked much emotion on both sides of the issues he addressed. His departure from that assignment was also clouded by controversy.

HIS BOOK ASSAILED
His book, which only recently reached wide release, received a very critical review from a source that surprised me - the OC Voice. Mainstays of that publication, John Earl and Scott Sink, took Caspa to task earlier this week for what they felt was a "flawed" job of presenting his views. Paraphrasing them, they felt he didn't support his opinions with enough facts. You can read that review for yourself HERE.

FREQUENT SPEAKER
Caspa was a frequent speaker before the Costa Mesa City Council, particularly following the arrest of Benito Acosta during a City Council meeting more than two years ago. His efforts to address and improve the plight of Latinos in our community were not without their admirers.

GRACIAS, AND ADIOS, HUMBERTO
We thank Humberto Caspa for his efforts and bid him a fond adieu. We hope he finds peace and fulfillment in his home country.