Texas Piñata Ban Under Review

A piñata ban in nearly three dozen parks in Harris County, Texas has rankled Hispanic community leaders and activists.

Six years ago, the county decided to ban a number of party favors from local parks, among them piñatas.

Officials said it was a litter issue but when new signs appeared recently, saying “no piñatas allowed,” Hispanic community leaders complained of discrimination.

Now the county is reviewing the policy.

James Pinkerton is covering the story for the Houston Chronicle.

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Marco Werman: There is one particular group of people that’s feeling especially put upon these days in Harris county, Texas. Six years ago, the county decided to ban a number of party favors from local parks, among them; pinatas. Officials said it was a litter issue. But when new signs appeared saying “No pinatas allowed”, Hispanic community leaders complained of discrimination. Now, the county is reviewing the policy. James Pinkerton is covering the story for the Houston Chronicle.

James Pinkerton: Well, I think lot of people had noticed it and there were some Mexican-American activists here in town, who used the parks to play up frequently and they came across it just became one of those issues that had kind of background that sprung forward.

Werman: So, nobody had noticed the signs, no pinatas allowed in park grounds until recently?

Pinkerton: Yes.

Werman: Wow! that’s pretty extraordinary. What are Hispanic community activists saying about the ban and these signs?

Pinkerton: They are pretty universally offended by it. They use the parks a lot and they say we like clean parks too and so one of the signs said no litter, we understand that. This makes it sound like you are targeting someone for a cultural practice that we all know has moved beyond the Hispanic community almost recently in Texas.

Werman: Yeah, one activist said this is about at the same as a putting up a sign that says “no Mexicans.” Why did Houston officials decide to have the signs read “No Pinatas allowed in park grounds” . Did no one think the wording would offend anyone?

Pinkerton: They were trying to, when you talk to the park people, they say they were trying to target the one thing they cause them more work on weekends to clean up the park because they say there is an enormous amount of confetti that comes out of Pinatas and there were so many of them. I did call one of the constables and they did describe it as a litter issue. They also said it’s a safety issue, they said there are concerns about children who were breaking Pinatas without parental supervision. So, I don’t know it that’s true but they were saying.

Werman: I mean, aside from the confetti, Is the litter produced at the Pinata party is much different from the usual park litter?

Pinkerton: They were saying the reason it was an issue is there was so much of it and it’s very small and that’s hard to pick up. and in fact I was talking to the officers, this Commissioner said in another, in an adjoining precinct saying the issue over Easter has been what they call Cascarones, which are the Easter confetti eggs and you buy them by the dozen and crack them on people’s heads as per the Easter ritual he said , they put up signs in that precinct saying “No” . They didn’t say “No Cascarones” which is the Spanish word for it, what they say ” No Easter Egg” or carry eggs is what they are saying.

Werman: Interesting. So park officials are now taking down the signs that read ” No Pinatas Allowed” , who knows what signs come next but do you think it’s too late to undo the damage to the Hispanic community in Houston?

Pinkerton: Well, the activists I spoke to were very pleased to hear that once it was brought to the officials attention they quickly remove them and they are still reviewing the policy.

Werman: You know Pinatas are the kind of thing that you would find widely in Houston and you contrast it with the north-east where it is hard to find Pinatas. I guess there are many places to buy Pinatas and myriad characters the Pinatas come in.

Pinkerton: Oh absolutely. And like I said it is no longer limited to the Hispanic community. It’s a tradition or practice that’s moved almost mainstream in Houston and the South-west.

Werman: James Pinkerton reporting for the Houston Chronicle. Thanks for the time.

Pinkerton: you are very welcome.

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