09/12/09: HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH: Buffalo Hispanics Possible Swing Voters in Mayoral Race

Buffalo’s Hispanic community is growing, and so it’s influence on the city’s race for mayor. Latino voters attending the annual Puerto Rican Day parade say their votes are as diverse as their nationalities. South Buffalo’s Edwin Borrero says he’s backing his Common Councilman Mickey Kearns.
“I know he’s going to do better for Buffalo. He’s going to stand his ground. Because he is from here,” said Borrero holding a “Keans for Mayor” sign.”
Andres Garcia plans to vote for incumbent Mayor Byron Brown. “The Mayor has done a great deal for the city and he deserves four more years,” said Niagara District’s Garcia.
Mayor Byron Brown says his administration works hard to include Buffalo’s Hispanic community in his decisions. “We’re going to continue to invest in the Latin community. Make sure that they are welcomed in city government. Support businesses in the Hispanic community and their growth so that they can create jobs,” said Brown surrounded by dozens of Latino supporters.
Democratic primary opponent Kearns says the Brown administration hasn’t done enough to work with the Latino Community.
“The Latino community within the Niagara District are the closest to city hall, but they feel like they feel as though they are the furthest from the mayor’s office. They need support, they need help. I’ve received endorsements from the Latino community and I’m going to be the mayor of the Latinos,” said Kearns also surrounded by dozens of Latino supporters.
Both Kearns and Brown picked up key endorsements from Buffalo’s Hispanic community, which have huge populations in the Ellicott and Niagara Districts. Niagara District Common Councilman David Rivera says he’s backing Kearns. “He has been responsive to me on the city council on things that important to me and my district more so than the administration.”
State Senator Antoine Thompson says Brown appointed Buffalo’s first Hispanic city court judge Hon. Betty Calvo-Torres. The mayor also tapped David Rodriguez to head up Buffalo’s Corporation Council. “I believe he’s been supportive and that still hasn’t been enough. More work has to be done to increase opportunities not only for Latinos but others as well,” says Thompson.
Buffalo’s Hispanic community represents the third largest racial demographic group in the Queen City. Many say whoever is voted in as mayor needs to pay more attention to issues in the Latin Community.
“They have to deal with the housing problem, the crime and the drugs,” said Andres Garcia. Year 2000 U.S. Census data show’s Buffalo’s Hispanic population was 7.5% percent behind Caucasians and African Americans. That number is on the rise.
“It’s about 10% of the population and continues to grow and it will be one of the largest groups in the city in the next few years,” said WNY Puerto Rican Day Parade President Charles F. Torres.
“White, brown, black, yellow, green. We need to look at what the area is going to look like would look like five seven years from now,” added Niagara District resident Alicia Granto.