By DAN IRIZARRY
Albany Times Union (April 26, 2009)
The 22nd renewal of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Legislative Task Force's Somos El Futuro (We Are the Future) Conference should underscore the fact that the future is now for the Latino community.
When viewed against the backdrop of the 2008 presidential election, where the Latino vote proved decisive to the outcome, Hispanic conferencegoers had reason to feel elated. The procession of officeholders and aspiring candidates making the rounds during the April 3-5 meeting in Albany was a veritable who's who of New York politics. Their ubiquity at luncheons, in workshops and at the gala leaves no doubt that our community has come into its own.
However, a report released by the state Civil Service Commission on the eve of the conference had a sobering effect on many participants.
The report, "Diversity in the New York State Government Workforce, A Look at the Last Decade, and the Next," paints a disheartening picture of a work force where Hispanics are acutely underrepresented. To some of us Latinos working in state government, this bit of bad news was not news at all.
The report states that "Hispanics make up nearly 13 percent of the statewide labor force, but represent only 4.44 percent of the State (government) work force. Further, while 8.3 percent of the State work force is employed above the SG-23 (pay) level, only 5.1 percent of Hispanics are employed above that level."
Translation: Even when we manage to get in the door, we remain on the periphery.
One of the most troubling observations was that while 27.1 percent of state jobs are located in the Capital Region, the largest share statewide, only 1.7 percent of state government's minority work force lives here. While Hispanics are a small, albeit growing, part of the population, these facts virtually guarantee a perpetual ethnic imbalance.
That is, unless Albany, the company town where the state is the company, ceases to be that insular place where Hispanics and other minorities have little chance to prosper.
What was most troubling to many a Somos attendee is the yawning lack of Hispanic representation at the executive level of state agencies so clearly delineated in the report. Such underrepresentation means that government policies, which have a significant impact on Latinos statewide, are being created without meaningful input from our community. This is reprehensible to the task force, especially members like Assemblyman Peter Rivera, D-Bronx, for years an outspoken critic of the state's hiring practices. Thankfully, Gov. David Paterson has deemed it unacceptable as well.
There have been some notable exceptions to this disappointing record, which have produced a great sense of pride in the community: One is Paterson's appointment of Judge Luis Gonzalez as presiding justice of the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court for the First Judicial Department. Another is Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith's appointment of Angelo Aponte as secretary of the Senate.
Having worked with Gonzalez in his days as a Bronx Civil Court judge, and also for Aponte, the affordable housing czar under Gov. Mario Cuomo. I must say I feel deeply gratified to see Latino public servants of such standing in my community rise to positions of equivalent stature.
At the same time, let me offer a word of caution to our leaders: When wielding the blade of fiscal retrenchment, be mindful that cutting resources and employment in my community is tantamount to pouring salt on a gaping wound.
Before the tremors were being felt on Wall Street, the earthquake was already under way in the Latino community. Predatory lending and foreclosure were ripping our neighborhoods apart long before the talking heads on cable TV news caught wind of it.
The challenge is to increase promotional opportunities for Hispanics in the existing work force, and factor equitable representation into plans for legacy hiring. As the Civil Service Commission report notes, "Despite another hiring freeze, critical positions will continue to be filled to replace baby boomer retirements and staff critical missions. This will create opportunities to improve representation of minorities..." State leaders should take this advice to heart.
Albany, as the seat of state power, must begin to more closely reflect New York's changing demographics.
As the Somos Conference has proven over its 22-year existence, it may have taken Hispanics a while to arrive, but make no mistake, as our numbers grow, so, too, will our sway on the future of the Empire State.
Dan Irizarry, a state employee, is also a writer, community activist and member of the board of directors of Hispanic Outreach Service, an agency of Catholic Charities/Albany Diocese.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Latinos Missing from Assembly Leadership
El Diario/La Prensa Editorial
April 10, 2009
With at least one vacancy expected in the leadership of New York’s Assembly Majority, Speaker Sheldon Silver has the opportunity to address the absence of Latinos on that body.
On Wednesday, Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. announced that he is naming Assemblywoman Aurelia Greene as deputy borough president of the Bronx. With no real opposition, Diaz Jr. is considered a shoe-in for the Bronx borough presidency. His appointment of Greene, a veteran legislator, will leave a vacancy in the Assembly’s Majority Leadership, where she serves as Speaker Pro Tempore. In that position, she is second to Silver in presiding over the Assembly.
As it stands right now, there are 20 positions in the majority leadership. Not one of them is held by a Hispanic, despite the fact that there are 1.5 million eligible Latino voters and counting in New York. Clearly, Silver should take Greene’s pending departure, and others that are anticipated, to address his Latino-less leadership.
With rumors that more Assembly members may cast their lots for city races, other vacancies may arise. This means that Latino legislators must convene to ensure that Hispanics are meaningfully represented in new leadership and committee chair opportunities.
The issue of the lack of Latinos in Assembly leadership positions has already been put on Silver’s radar. And there are legislators who are in talks about pending openings. While some of them may feel more effective as heads of committees, this does not negate the need and importance of having Latino representation in the leadership conference of the Assembly.
Yes, at the helm of the Assembly, there are traditional carrots – a bigger stipend and prestige. But the important reality is that being in the Assembly’s leadership opens political access and a pipeline to larger statewide positions.
We encourage Latino legislators to be proactive in seizing—and creating—leadership opportunities and Speaker Silver to effectively respond to a growing community that deserves equitable representation.
April 10, 2009
With at least one vacancy expected in the leadership of New York’s Assembly Majority, Speaker Sheldon Silver has the opportunity to address the absence of Latinos on that body.
On Wednesday, Assemblyman Ruben Diaz Jr. announced that he is naming Assemblywoman Aurelia Greene as deputy borough president of the Bronx. With no real opposition, Diaz Jr. is considered a shoe-in for the Bronx borough presidency. His appointment of Greene, a veteran legislator, will leave a vacancy in the Assembly’s Majority Leadership, where she serves as Speaker Pro Tempore. In that position, she is second to Silver in presiding over the Assembly.
As it stands right now, there are 20 positions in the majority leadership. Not one of them is held by a Hispanic, despite the fact that there are 1.5 million eligible Latino voters and counting in New York. Clearly, Silver should take Greene’s pending departure, and others that are anticipated, to address his Latino-less leadership.
With rumors that more Assembly members may cast their lots for city races, other vacancies may arise. This means that Latino legislators must convene to ensure that Hispanics are meaningfully represented in new leadership and committee chair opportunities.
The issue of the lack of Latinos in Assembly leadership positions has already been put on Silver’s radar. And there are legislators who are in talks about pending openings. While some of them may feel more effective as heads of committees, this does not negate the need and importance of having Latino representation in the leadership conference of the Assembly.
Yes, at the helm of the Assembly, there are traditional carrots – a bigger stipend and prestige. But the important reality is that being in the Assembly’s leadership opens political access and a pipeline to larger statewide positions.
We encourage Latino legislators to be proactive in seizing—and creating—leadership opportunities and Speaker Silver to effectively respond to a growing community that deserves equitable representation.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Exclusive: NY Senators push for a Hispanic on the Supreme Court
April 2, 2009
In a letter sent to the White House, New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats, called on President Obama to appoint a Latino to the United States Supreme Court should a vacancy arise.
The senators emphasize that not one Latino has been appointed to the Supreme Court in the history of the nation. They recommend that Obama focus on Judge Sonia Sotomayor, of New York, and Ken Salazar, currently the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. A copy of the letter was made available to El Diario/La Prensa.
Schumer told El Diario/La Prensa that Sotomayor would make an excellent selection. “We are blessed in the New York area to have someone who is supremely qualified to serve on the Supreme Court,” the senator said.
Gillibrand said she plans to follow up on the letter by meeting with Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and with the president himself. "I will be a very strong advocate for Sotomayor with the administration directly," Gillibrand said.
While there are no vacancies on the Court at this time, Schumer said he wanted to make his position clear to the president before there were any deliberations on nominations.
The health and age of a few of the current justices has sparked discussion over potential nominations. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the only woman on the Court, recently underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer and Justice John Paul Stevens is 88 years old.
Schumer, who sits on the Senate’s judiciary committee, said Obama understands the important of diversity. “It would be one of the great achievements of his presidency to appoint one of the first Latinos to the Supreme Court,” he said.
Schumer also believes Sotomayor would successfully wade through tough confirmation hearings because he said she has an excellent record and is a political moderate.
Sotomayor is the first Hispanic federal judge in New York State. She received appointments to the judiciary by both President George H.W. Bush and President William J. Clinton. Salazar is a lawyer who served as a senator from Colorado. He also served as that state's attorney general.
In a letter sent to the White House, New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, both Democrats, called on President Obama to appoint a Latino to the United States Supreme Court should a vacancy arise.
The senators emphasize that not one Latino has been appointed to the Supreme Court in the history of the nation. They recommend that Obama focus on Judge Sonia Sotomayor, of New York, and Ken Salazar, currently the secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior. A copy of the letter was made available to El Diario/La Prensa.
Schumer told El Diario/La Prensa that Sotomayor would make an excellent selection. “We are blessed in the New York area to have someone who is supremely qualified to serve on the Supreme Court,” the senator said.
Gillibrand said she plans to follow up on the letter by meeting with Obama's Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and with the president himself. "I will be a very strong advocate for Sotomayor with the administration directly," Gillibrand said.
While there are no vacancies on the Court at this time, Schumer said he wanted to make his position clear to the president before there were any deliberations on nominations.
The health and age of a few of the current justices has sparked discussion over potential nominations. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the only woman on the Court, recently underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer and Justice John Paul Stevens is 88 years old.
Schumer, who sits on the Senate’s judiciary committee, said Obama understands the important of diversity. “It would be one of the great achievements of his presidency to appoint one of the first Latinos to the Supreme Court,” he said.
Schumer also believes Sotomayor would successfully wade through tough confirmation hearings because he said she has an excellent record and is a political moderate.
Sotomayor is the first Hispanic federal judge in New York State. She received appointments to the judiciary by both President George H.W. Bush and President William J. Clinton. Salazar is a lawyer who served as a senator from Colorado. He also served as that state's attorney general.
A Hispanic for the Supreme Court
El Diario/La Prensa Editorial
April 02, 2009
Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York are urging President Obama to appoint a Latino to the United States Supreme Court. EL DIARIO/LA PRENSA joins their call.
Recognizing that the president is likely to have the opportunity to nominate a justice, Schumer and Gillibrand have asked him to consider two high caliber candidates-Judge Sonia Sotomayor and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.
Latinos are 15 percent of the U.S. population. But you would never know that from looking at the federal judiciary, where only seven percent of judges are Hispanic. That gross underrepresentation must come to an end-at the highest levels.
A native New Yorker, Sotomayor has been supported by both Republicans and Democrats in her appointments to the federal bench. She served as District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York prior to her 1998 appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Salazar, a former senator and attorney general of Colorado, also has a distinguished record. But we must note another glaring imbalance on the Supreme Court: out of its nine justices, only one is a woman.
Should a vacancy emerge on the Court, Sotomayor should be at the top of Obama’s list. She is an experienced judge with excellent credentials. And she happens to be Hispanic.
The Supreme Court is a cornerstone of our democracy. Its decisions reverberate throughout the nation, affecting public and private spheres and everyday citizens. The individuals who uphold this institution must reflect the diversity from which our nation draws its strength.
Obama should seize the opportunity to build on his message of inclusion, fairness and diversity. The president can make more than a historic appointment-he can set the tone for our children and generations to come.
April 02, 2009
Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York are urging President Obama to appoint a Latino to the United States Supreme Court. EL DIARIO/LA PRENSA joins their call.
Recognizing that the president is likely to have the opportunity to nominate a justice, Schumer and Gillibrand have asked him to consider two high caliber candidates-Judge Sonia Sotomayor and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar.
Latinos are 15 percent of the U.S. population. But you would never know that from looking at the federal judiciary, where only seven percent of judges are Hispanic. That gross underrepresentation must come to an end-at the highest levels.
A native New Yorker, Sotomayor has been supported by both Republicans and Democrats in her appointments to the federal bench. She served as District Court Judge for the Southern District of New York prior to her 1998 appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Salazar, a former senator and attorney general of Colorado, also has a distinguished record. But we must note another glaring imbalance on the Supreme Court: out of its nine justices, only one is a woman.
Should a vacancy emerge on the Court, Sotomayor should be at the top of Obama’s list. She is an experienced judge with excellent credentials. And she happens to be Hispanic.
The Supreme Court is a cornerstone of our democracy. Its decisions reverberate throughout the nation, affecting public and private spheres and everyday citizens. The individuals who uphold this institution must reflect the diversity from which our nation draws its strength.
Obama should seize the opportunity to build on his message of inclusion, fairness and diversity. The president can make more than a historic appointment-he can set the tone for our children and generations to come.
Congressman Nydia Velazquez - Op Ed from El Diario
Feb 28, 2009
One of the greatest privileges of the presidency is the ability to appoint Supreme Court justices. Nine out of the last ten presidents have done so, with Jimmy Carter being the one exception. In fact, only a handful of presidents have not had this distinct honor. Given the odds, it is likely that Barack Obama will get a chance to make his own nomination. In doing so, he will have a unique opportunity to give a historically excluded community a seat at the table.
It is high time for a Latino or Latina to serve on this nation’s highest court. We now make up 15 percent of the U.S population, and by 2050 that number is expected to reach 30 percent. As the fastest growing community in the nation, we have a deep pool of talent to draw from. Already, Hispanic leaders from new Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to recently confirmed Labor Secretary Hilda Solis are changing the face of American leadership. The presence of a Hispanic Supreme Court Justice would underscore the growing influence of our community, and would bring pride to millions. Just as importantly, it would inspire greater confidence in the integrity of the process, and contribute to the quality of judicial decisions.
Because the Supreme Court is the highest judicial body in the United States, its actions deeply impact the lives of ordinary people. It has the power to protect our liberties, and to uphold the highest ideals of American democracy. At the same time, it can close the courthouse door to those seeking relief from discrimination, prejudice and all forms of injustice. That is why the composition of the Court is so critical and why it must reflect the population and the hopes and aspirations of the people it serves. A Justice who has shared the life experiences of the least privileged among us would bring a valuable perspective to the promises of the Founding Fathers. He or she should also be an outstanding figure in the community who has impeccable academic credentials and work experience. Of course, any nominee must be intellectually honest, of the highest integrity and must possess sound judgment, outstanding character and a profound sense of fairness.
Our standards are lofty, but our hope is realistic. Greater diversification of the High Court to include, for the first time, a Judge of Latino/a heritage, can only serve to further broaden the contours of justice. I call upon the President to see that the highest court in the land becomes all that it can be and nominate-when the time comes-a Latino/a to our highest court so that this nation can live up to the words engraved in stone on the Supreme Court: “Equal Justice Under Law.”
Nydia M. Velazquez, U.S. Representative
Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
One of the greatest privileges of the presidency is the ability to appoint Supreme Court justices. Nine out of the last ten presidents have done so, with Jimmy Carter being the one exception. In fact, only a handful of presidents have not had this distinct honor. Given the odds, it is likely that Barack Obama will get a chance to make his own nomination. In doing so, he will have a unique opportunity to give a historically excluded community a seat at the table.
It is high time for a Latino or Latina to serve on this nation’s highest court. We now make up 15 percent of the U.S population, and by 2050 that number is expected to reach 30 percent. As the fastest growing community in the nation, we have a deep pool of talent to draw from. Already, Hispanic leaders from new Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to recently confirmed Labor Secretary Hilda Solis are changing the face of American leadership. The presence of a Hispanic Supreme Court Justice would underscore the growing influence of our community, and would bring pride to millions. Just as importantly, it would inspire greater confidence in the integrity of the process, and contribute to the quality of judicial decisions.
Because the Supreme Court is the highest judicial body in the United States, its actions deeply impact the lives of ordinary people. It has the power to protect our liberties, and to uphold the highest ideals of American democracy. At the same time, it can close the courthouse door to those seeking relief from discrimination, prejudice and all forms of injustice. That is why the composition of the Court is so critical and why it must reflect the population and the hopes and aspirations of the people it serves. A Justice who has shared the life experiences of the least privileged among us would bring a valuable perspective to the promises of the Founding Fathers. He or she should also be an outstanding figure in the community who has impeccable academic credentials and work experience. Of course, any nominee must be intellectually honest, of the highest integrity and must possess sound judgment, outstanding character and a profound sense of fairness.
Our standards are lofty, but our hope is realistic. Greater diversification of the High Court to include, for the first time, a Judge of Latino/a heritage, can only serve to further broaden the contours of justice. I call upon the President to see that the highest court in the land becomes all that it can be and nominate-when the time comes-a Latino/a to our highest court so that this nation can live up to the words engraved in stone on the Supreme Court: “Equal Justice Under Law.”
Nydia M. Velazquez, U.S. Representative
Chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
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