The 2019 Summit on LatinAs-New York City was held Tuesday at Lehman College. It was a full day event starting with opening remarks by New York City Council Speaker Cory Johnson. An overview of SOL-NYC 2019 was given, and panel discussions began.
The first panel discussion topic was Economic Development. This panel had on it Hector Cordero-Guzman a professor from the School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College. Wendy Garcia the Chief Diversity Officer from the NYC Comptroller's Office, Paul Quintero CEO Accion NY, and Henry Garrido the Executive Director for District Council 37.
The second panel had elected officials NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer, Councilman Carlos Menchaca, Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez, and Assemblywoman Carmen de la Rosa. This panel was followed by a lunch where Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. spoke about where the Bronx was before he became borough president to where the borough now is at.
Bronx BP Diaz said that in a city with a population of three million Latinos 'Why is it that there has not been a citywide Latino elected official?' Cheers of Diaz for Mayor could be heard after that. He finished by saying that he has been an elected official for twenty-one years now, and it is time that we have a seat at the table.
Above - BP Diaz and Councilman Rodriguez greet each other, and chatted for a few minutes.
Below - BP Diaz making a point to the audience during his speech, as to why with three million Latinos, why is there not a Latino citywide elected official?
Above - Jose L. Venegas asks a question of BP Diaz about new building in the Bronx displacing Latinos.
Below - BP Diaz answers that those who come to build in the Bronx must respect the community, not displace the community, but build for the community.
