Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month gives us an opportunity to reflect on what makes Latinos such a strong, contributing force in America. Latinos were among the earliest European settlers in the New World, and Latinos as a people, like their many cultures, share a rich history and great diversity.
Latinos have had a profound and positive influence on our country through their commitment to family, faith, hard work and service. They have enhanced and shaped our national character with centuries old traditions that reflect the multiethnic and multicultural customs of their community.
And to say our culture has little impact on our community would be a major understatement. You can see Latino influence on culture from here to New York but we think very little of it. With over 50 million Latinos across the United States, Latinos now make up the largest minority group and
represent billions in buying power. Latinos also represent the fastest growing segment of the American electorate.
In Arizona, Raul Castro served as our first Latino Governor in the 1970’s. In 1991, Ed Pastor was the first Latino elected to represent Arizona in the U.S. Congress. Today there are two Latinos in Congress representing Arizona: Raul Grijalva and Ruben Gallego.
In Tucson and Pima County, Latinos have sent a strong message by turning out to vote and leading the state in the number of Latinos that have been elected to governing bodies. In a recent article in “Inside Tucson Business,” entitled “Hispanics a Key to Tucson’s Rebound,” it discussed the importance of buying power of the Latino Community in Tucson, Pima County and throughout Arizona.
It noted, “the Latino impact on the local and national economy and that their purchasing power represents $8 billion per year in Pima County, a number that is expected to increase by 88% in the next decade.” By 2024, Latinos are estimated to spend $14 billion in the Tucson economy, equating to 28 percent of the total market spending.
As for patriotism, Hispanics are the largest group that has earned the Medal of Honor and have a wall dedicated with their names and how they earned their accommodations at the Pentagon.Sixty-one men of Hispanic heritage have been awarded the Medal of Honor, the most of all groups.
Of the Sixty-one Medals of Honor presented to Hispanics, two were presented to members of the United States Navy, thirteen to members of the United States Marine Corps and forty-six to members of the United States Army. Forty-two Medals of Honor were presented posthumously.
All this though was not handed to our community. We have had to work hard and to overcome prejudice. Resilience and perseverance are two words I live by and tell people to follow. In Tucson, we have pushed to grow our work force, which in turn, Will grow our businesses and in Ward 5 alone and this has resulted in 9,000 jobs created during my time as your Ward 5 Councilmember.
The City of Tucson relies on sales tax to provide police, fire, streets and parks, it’s four core services. The Hispanic community, through purchases of goods and service, provides a lot for our entire community.
Hard work, resilience, perseverance and family have made our Hispanic community great and one with a remarkable heritage. It is sad though to see members of the Hispanic community, who served this nation in the armed forces, now being deported as well as children being locked up.
With more than 50 million of the population, we can’t be silent any more. It is important that our community be counted for the 2020 U.S. Census. We must all take part in the Census, so that our community doesn’t lose the federal funds that occurred when there was an undercount in the 2010 U.S. Census, to the tune of $64 million dollars.
It is also important for our community to vote on November 5. Su voto es su voz.
