Joe Grassi was one of two school committee members to vote against the proposal.
"I'm a first generation Italian-American," Grassi says, "I agree with the established process of immigrants gaining citizenship and, with that, the right to vote."
But the road to citizenship simply takes too long, Barrios says.
"The reality is that by the time they can vote, these people's children are out of school and the committee has lost the opportunity to hear their concerns," he continues.
Barrios says that the right to vote could encourage immigrant parents by giving them a taste of what it is like to participate in the political process.
"The moment you enfranchise parents is the moment school committee members come knocking on their doors," Barrios says.
In this way, he says, the immigrant parents--an oft-ignored minority--will be approached for their opinions and get to know the elected officials.
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