At the Bloomberg and Thompson headquarters, "se habla español." They are bilingual, they are enterprising, and they work hard for electoral campaigns that will end in November, when New Yorkers choose the city's next mayor.
Until then, scores of Hispanics, who work or volunteer for the campaigns of the candidates who would direct New York City, will spend entire days glued to the telephone, staring at their computers, or walking through neighborhoods like Washington Heights, Corona, the South Bronx or Elmhurst.
"We have to make sure that the interests of the Latino community are a priority for the campaign and for the administration of Bill Thompson as mayor," Eduardo Castell pointed out. Castell, a Cuban, directs the electoral campaign of the current New York City Comptroller.
From a few small offices on Broadway near City Hall, Castell manages an operation which dedicates time and resources to communicate with Hispanics of the five boroughs and to let them know that Thompson's priorities are "to create jobs, dignified housing and better education." The Comptroller is studying Spanish, has taken a position in favor of immigration reform, and has received the support of state Assemblyman Peter Rivera, Castell added.
Katrina Cabrera, 30, a member of the campaign's Latino volunteer committee, is clear about its importance: "Thompson will not win if he does not have Latinos behind him," stated the volunteer, who is originally from the Dominican Republic. Indeed, the Comptroller made sure to attend the Latino leaders' summit meeting, "We Are the Future," in Albany last Saturday.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg did not show up at the meeting, but he relies on a strong team of Hispanics ready and willing to help him out from offices in the five boroughs, by putting out Spanish-language flyers and announcements, maintaining a Spanish internet portal, and heavily promoting "the mayor's commitment to the Hispanic community."
The number of registered Hispanic voters in the city has increased from 676,000 to 860,000 in two years – going from 17 percent of the electorate to 20.5 percent. During the 2005 elections, when he ran against Fernando Ferrer, who is of Puerto Rican origin, Bloomberg received approximately 35 percent of the Hispanic vote.
"The most important thing is that the Hispanic public should know what the Mayor has done for them and what he will do," said Silvia Álvarez, a Salvadoran woman who is in charge of communications for the "Bloomberg for Mayor" campaign.
The incumbent mayor's campaign also relies on employees like Carmen Goldberg and Rose Rodríguez, two Puerto Rican women who are in charge of connecting with Hispanics, and Dominican Andrea Batista-Schlesinger, who is responsible for promoting new ideas.
"This is a very diverse campaign. Even though I do not believe that our presence will translate directly into greater numbers of votes from the Latino sector, I think it is good to have many distinct voices here. Who we are is reflected in our work," explained Ms. Batista-Schlesinger.
The team of Hispanic women echoes the support that Rick Miranda, president of the Brooklyn Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, has given the Mayor. The seven years Bloomberg has been studying Spanish, his plan for assistance to small business owners, among other measures, all work in his favor.
Although it is still unclear whether or not Congressional Representative Anthony Weiner will declare himself a candidate, City Councilmember Tony Avella is in the running.
"We are still putting together our campaign team," Avella said concluding, "but I would be thrilled to have a Latino with us."
