September 25-October 1, 2003

slant

La Lucha

The fight for the Latino vote in the 2003 mayoral election.

by Matthew Archambeault and Teresa Sicard Archambeault

Do Philadelphia Latinos stay home on Election Day because they have been neglected by city politicians or do city politicians neglect Latinos because they don't vote? Latino community leaders have been working hard to make these questions obsolete heading into the Nov. 4 mayoral election, with unclear results.

On Sept. 12 Latino community organizations, led by the Latino Workforce Development Taskforce, held a mayoral candidates forum in North Philadelphia. Both John Street and Sam Katz were invited to attend, but only Katz showed up. Street sent his campaign spokesperson, Mark Nevins, to speak on his behalf. This event was lightly attended and half of the crowd walked out as Katz walked in. This walkout was led by local Latino ward leaders Angel Cruz, Carlos Matos and Candido Silva along with City Council candidate Juan Ramos, all Street supporters.

Yvette Nunez West, chair of the Latino Workforce Development Taskforce, expressed disappointment over the walkout, saying that the forum was solely designed to have the problems of the Latino community addressed by both candidates. "They (those who walked out) did not walk out on Sam Katz, they walked out on the Latino community and their problems," said Nunez West.

At-large City Councilman Angel Ortiz, whose term is essentially ending at the hands of Juan Ramos, commented, "We are a community that should show political maturity so we can continue to move forward. With less than 40 days to the election Latino voters have to ask themselves what the agendas of each candidate are."

Some Latinos feel that their community has been forgotten. "I worked hard in the past to get Latinos out to vote for certain people, but I am not doing that anymore. They (the politicians) have forgotten about us. They don't do anything for us," commented a block leader from the heart of Latino community in North Philadelphia who did not want to be identified.

Others in the community disagree. "The Latino community is not forgotten by the politicians, because they come here to fight for our votes. The problem with the Latino community is that we are disorganized and that is why we don't achieve our objectives," said Alex Rosario, owner of Alex's Grocery in North Kensington.

What everyone can agree on is that the Latino community has traditionally not voted, nor have they been politically active. According to Carlos Matos, 19th Ward leader, only 22 percent of registered Latinos in Philadelphia voted in the last gubernatorial election. "In the 19th Ward alone, there are close to 50,000 registered voters, but only 2,000 to 2,500 bother to vote."

Political analyst Larry Ceisler of the public relations firm Ceisler Jubelirer thinks that may be changing. "The Latino political community came of age with the fight between [City Councilman] Angel Ortiz and Juan Ramos [one of Ortiz's Democratic primary opponents]. The fact that there was a much higher turnout in the primarily Latino wards is a significant indicator for the upcoming mayoral election."

Ceisler credited leaders as Candido Silva, Angel Cruz and Carlos Matos for helping to energize the Latino community. When told this, Carlos Matos also credited Mayor Street and Juan Ramos for the resurgence. "People are beginning to see the changes that politicians can make," he said, referring to John Street. "We are expecting Juan [Ramos] to be able to do that [make positive change] and deliver more services to our community and that's why people have been getting excited and coming out to vote," explained Matos.

When asked how the Latino community can best strengthen themselves in the political community of Philadelphia, Matos replied, "In order to get representation you have to have a voice. How do you get that voice? By voting."

Eduardo Marin, a 29-year resident of Philadelphia and owner of a small business in the Olney section of the city, reflected, "I have seen the Latino community change for the positive over these years, but not because of the politicians. It is because of the hard work of the Latinos and that's why politicians are seeking our votes." Marin went on to say, "Any politician who is socially involved with the Latino community we should support, without caring about what party they belong to."

Teresa Sicard Archambeault has covered the Latino community for a local Spanish-language newspaper. Her husband, Matthew Archambeault, is a freelance journalist. If you would like to respond to this Slant or have one of your own (850 words), contact Howard Altman, City Paper editor in chief, 123 Chestnut St., third floor, Phila., PA 19106 or e-mail altman@citypaper.net.