When East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez gave her State of the Town speech on Jan. 6, she introduced the idea of forming a Latino Advisory Committee. At Tuesday’s town board meeting, she presented a list of 15 inaugural members, and received support from the rest of the board for its creation.
A resolution establishing the committee will be authorized Thursday night.
“Our Latino and immigrant neighbors are an integral part of our one community,” the supervisor said in her Jan. 6 speech. “They are raising families, showing up early to work, attending religious services, and doing everything they can to build a better future. East Hampton is their home. But I know right now, many of these families are living in fear. The fear of being separated goes against the values we try to live by here: compassion, dignity, and keeping families together.”
Councilman Tom Flight, in supporting the formation of the committee, cited demographics as a big reason. “Forty percent of our local population is Latino, and there’s a lot we could be doing better,” he said. “Growing connections within that community to improve our operations is only a good thing for the general public. I firmly believe that what makes something better for a group of people makes it better for everybody.”
The committee members represent a cross-section of skills, based on their professions, and many already have ties to town government.
For example: Erika Garcia is a board member of the Springs Food Pantry, Johanna Sanchez is a lawyer, Yesenia Quichimbo is a real estate agent, and Priscila Dominguez is a bookkeeper. Other members include Kathy Byrnes, executive director of the Windmill senior housing developments, and Alyson Follenius, a legislative assistant to the East Hampton Town Trustees.
Other names will be familiar to readers of The Star. Loring Bolger, for example, is a longtime member of the Springs Citizens Advisory Committee, and Anna Skrenta is chairwoman of the East Hampton Town Democratic Committee (though the new board is described as having a “non-partisan” role).
Juan Roldan, one of only three men selected for the committee, is also a member of the East Hampton Democratic Committee. Louise Bergerson is co-president of Ruta 27, which provides E.S.L. classes to Spanish speakers. Leslie Schnur is also part of that group.
Younger members include Jon Lopez, a founding member of Latino Young Professionals of the East End, which is affiliated with Organizacion Latino Americano, and Kenny Sanchez, another 20-something. Councilman David Lys suggested a still greater youth involvement, asking for the addition of a high school student or youth advocate.
The committee, she explained, includes “both Latino members and other members” because she “felt that would like bridge the gap, to be able to help folks better understand how the town government operates and what services we provide.”
The town will ultimately try to put out all its communications in Spanish as well as English, she said, and this will first be apparent in its social media posts.
“I think it’s the best roster to imagine,” said Minerva Perez, executive director of O.L.A., in a text message. “What is even more encouraging is that it seems the town is more receptive to a deeper level of collaboration with this committee.”
“I am optimistic about the creation of a committee devoted to the interests of our residents with roots in Latin America,” texted Esperanza Leon, a lifelong resident of East Hampton who was born in Venezuela, was a founding member of O.L.A., and is a former vice chairwoman of the Architectural Review Board.
“I hope the initiative spurs the intended, necessary dialogue and understanding, and genuine empathy throughout our community, in addition to bringing real representation and belonging in town governance,” Ms. Leon continued. “I look forward to transparent, honest feedback and anticipate broader outreach to community members at large, even challenging voices, who can positively contribute and round out what needs to be a truthful, perhaps sometimes uncomfortable conversation.”
Two ex-officio members of the committee were also named:
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