A few days ago, our Hispanic Federation released the results of a survey of Latino voters, with just three weeks left until the municipal elections on November 4.
“What these results indicate,” says Emely Paez, Senior Director of Government and Community Partnerships at the Federation, “is that the members of our community who are qualified to take part in that election are well-informed people, who feel very motivated to vote, and who have clear opinions about what are the most pressing issues affecting the city. Namely: the cost of living, security public, the cost of housing.”
Latinos not only constitute the second sector of the population of New York numerically, but we also occupy that place in the electorate, since it is estimated that in November we will be around 15 percent of possible voters. The city’s Latino population reaches 3.2 million people, of which 1.7 million have the right to vote. In the municipal primaries last June, more than 165,000 Latinos and Latinas voted, far exceeding the number of voters in previous primaries.
Part of this increase was due to the campaign The Voice of My People, in which the Federation and several of its member and allied organizations promoted Latino participation in the elections.
“Of all the proposals that the various candidates for Mayor of New York have presented,” details Emely, “the most popular among Latino voters is that of building more affordable housing, which has the support of nine out of 10 surveyed.”
But it is not the only one, since more than seven in 10 are in favor of increasing investments in mental health and crisis response programs. Other proposals from the Mayoral candidates that received support from potential Latino voters were making it easier to start and maintain businesses and expanding gun violence prevention programs. Both have the strong support of two out of three New Yorkers. A similar proportion – 65 percent – said they were worried about their future and that of their families, especially what will happen to their income, savings and jobs in the coming years.
Whoever aspires to be Mayor has to understand these priorities and respond to them, because Latinos are an integral part of everything that makes New York the best city in the world.
People interested in the details of our survey, which includes the preferences of those consulted regarding candidates for Mayor, You can read and download them here.
To learn more about other aspects of the Hispanic Federation, you can visit our websiteor call us at (866) HF AYUDA or (866) 432-9832.
Celebrate with us the 45th anniversary of the Hispanic Federation, and until the next column!
Frankie Miranda is the president of the Hispanic Federation