Hispanic Democratic legislators have created a new group called the Puerto Rican and Latino caucus, aiming to address the struggles of the Hispanic community and gain more influence.
, D-Hartford, is president of the new caucus. She alleged that for the past years, Hispanic Democrats had not received enough support to address issues in their community.
Gonzalez highlighted that the has been active since 1976, but the Latino and Puerto Rican communities have grown so much that some lawmakers felt they had their own specific community needs to address.
Gonzalez said Hispanic legislators have constantly asked Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont to appoint Latinos in his closest advisory circle, but she says he hasn't done enough.
鈥淟atinos expected to have more commissioners and more people in key positions, and that didn't happen,鈥� Gonzalez said. 鈥淎nd we鈥檝e been complaining about that.鈥�
In an email to 黑料吃瓜网, for said, 鈥渢he governor is willing to meet with any legislators to discuss issues that are important to them.鈥�
In the recent legislative session, Gonzalez said Hispanics needed more financial support to address the growing community's needs. According to the , the Hispanic community in 黑料吃瓜网 had since 2010. Now, Latinos make up 18% of the state population.
The urged newsrooms to stop labeling communities of color as 鈥渕inorities鈥� in August 2020.
鈥淭he word 鈥榤inority鈥� has a connotation of an oppressed group,鈥� the organization said. 鈥淭he way it is too often utilized minimizes historically marginalized people and promotes erasure.鈥�
Gonzalez said some of the Hispanic community's biggest issues are education, role models for the youth, housing, employment and immigration.
At a Hispanic bakery on Maple Avenue in Hartford, local resident Ramiro Araujo agrees. He considers it about time to fix issues in his community.
鈥淭he needs for Latinos are to find jobs and help undocumented immigrants obtain their status. That way they can work legally,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey face so many problems.鈥�
鈥淚 think each community has their own problems that are different,鈥� said Carlos Vega, a shopper at a grocery store in Hartford. He agrees that Latino leaders should step up to help the community.
Gonzalez said she's had enough of broken promises to the Hispanic community
鈥淲hen the politicians need the Puerto Rican and Latino vote, they are there knocking on doors. And as soon they get elected, they forget about us. Enough is enough. It鈥檚 very disrespectful from the Democratic Party not to help the Hispanic community. We have the same rights as everyone else. 鈥�
In the , key districts, such as Hartford, New Haven and Bridgeport, voted to reelect Lamont.
鈥淥ur community is growing day-by-day. So at the end of the day, we got the numbers to do a lot of changes,鈥� Gonzalez said.
Back at the Hartford grocery store, Vega argues that Hispanic residents need to get educated about state leaders before voting for them.
鈥淲e Hispanics should support the people that represent our values and families. It's not about just working Monday through Saturday,鈥� Vega said. 鈥淲e should give time to conversations that are important, that affect us everyday, especially state and municipal politics.鈥�
