Even before New Yorkers decided last Tuesday that Democrat Zohran Mamdani will be our next Mayor, the Hispanic Federation had presented our report The Big Apple 2025. It is an annual document with recommendations and proposals, which we prepare with community organizations of our federation, whose directors and experts have in-depth knowledge of the important issues that Latinos face, such as health care, housing, education, immigration, criminal justice, the environment, art and culture.
“When developing The Big Apple 2025”, explains Ingrid Álvarez-DiMarzo, vice president of Public Policy and Strategic Engagement of the Hispanic Federation, “we wonder what the new Mayor’s agenda will be for the almost 2.5 million Latino New Yorkers; and how it will respond to the needs and interests of our community, which represents almost one in three residents.”
One of the topics that interests us most is Latino Representation, because despite the growth and importance of our community, we still do not have enough representation in the New York government.
“So far, only two of the Vice Mayors of the current Mayor, Eric Adams, are Latino,” adds Ingrid. “Equally serious is that only 22 percent of municipal employees come from our community, which constitutes more than 28 percent of the population. So, through The Big Applewe make several proposals to significantly increase Latino representation in city government.”
The first steps of the next New York Mayor have been encouraging. Three days ago, Mamdani traveled to Puerto Rico and participated in the conference We are Puerto Ricowhose objective is the unity and awareness of the Latin community and the promotion of public policies that benefit us. There, Mamdani mentioned his affinity with District Council 37one of the most important unions of municipal employees in our city, and its Executive Director, Henry Garrido.
Another relevant aspect of The Big Apple 2025 are our proposals for the protection and support of immigrants, ranging from expanded and sustained support for these communities through public education campaigns to improved services, legal protections and economic empowerment initiatives.
“What we propose from the Hispanic Federation and our community organizations throughout the country is that several aid programs be maintained, and that more funds be allocated to them,” observes Ingrid. “One of them is the Opportunities Initiative, or Immigrant Opportunities Initiativewhich expands immigrants’ access to education and economic progress. Additionally, we want adult literacy and English as a Second Language programs to be maintained and strengthened; and that the New York Immigrant Family Unity Project be strengthened, not eliminated, or New York Immigrant Family Unity Projectwhich is the largest legal representation program for detained immigrants at risk of being deported.”
In the Big Apple 2025 we also defend Actionwhich provides free and safe legal help thanks to the collaboration of the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs; CUNY, which is the City University of New York, and various public libraries and community organizations throughout the city. And we propose the defense and expansion of other initiatives and programs to help and protect immigrants, such as ICARE, The lie y THE DEAD.
We have other important topics pending for future columns that are discussed in The Big Apple 2025. In the meantime, if you want to read the entire document, which is in English, visit The Big Apple 2025: The Road Ahead for Latino New Yorkers.
urgent message
Nationwide, more than five million Latino families – representing more than one-tenth of our total population – rely heavily on SNAP benefits, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, to eat adequately. In New York State, the proportion of Latino households receiving SNAP is as high as 28 percent. Even though a federal judge reinstated that program late last week, appeals are likely and there will almost certainly be delays in distributing the funds. Meanwhile, there are real people – in many cases girls and boys – in danger of going hungry.
While we maintain hope that this unimaginable social and health tragedy does not occur in our country, we cannot rule out that there are Latinas, Latinos and families in our community who lack sufficient food. If you are in that situation, call us at (866) HF AYUDA or (866) 432-9832 and we can refer you to organizations and agencies that can provide you with vital help.
And if you want to know more about the Hispanic Federation and our member agencies, check out our website.
Celebrate with us the 35th anniversary of the Hispanic Federation, and until the next column!
Frankie Miranda is the president of the Hispanic Federation