Jesús Navarro moved from New York City to Passaic, New Jersey, 11 years ago, where he found a cheaper house, a quieter neighborhood and a thriving Mexican business scene.
Passaic had seen the closing of many factories and an exodus of Puerto Ricans and Cubans. But Navarro, who already owned two enterprises in New York, opened a bakery in one of the few remaining business sectors.
"A major change has occurred over the past decade. We Mexicans create jobs but we are also consumers," explained Navarro, 43, who recently opened the first Mexican-owned supermarket in the area. "Passaic is the most Mexican town in the entire Northeast," he continued, and added that he currently has 40 employees.
According to Census data, the number of Hispanics in Passaic rose from 62.5 percent in 2000 to 68.3 percent in 2009, making it one of the communities in New Jersey with a high percentage of Latinos. The increase resulted mainly from the city's economic prosperity and the growth of the Mexican population, which expanded from 19.7 percent in 2000 to 28 percent in 2009.
Many people attribute the development of Mexican businesses, in this city of 66,757, to individuals like Félix Sánchez, a Mexican who opened the first tortilla factory in the 1970s. His employees followed in his footsteps and, with his help, today there are nearly 10 distributors in Passaic.
"When you consider the import and export of Mexican products, we're one of the biggest on the East coast," said Passaic's Redevelopment Executive Director Ricardo Fernández.
Besides the notable rise in the number of Mexicans, over the last 10 years the Dominican population increased from 13.1 percent to 16.8 percent, the Puerto Rican population diminished from 13.4 percent to 10.5 percent, and the number of Cubans remained at 1 percent. The recent acquisition of the company Liceo Cubano, Inc., by the Mexican Chamber of Commerce is evidence of the change.
The house that Navarro bought 11 years ago for $120,000 is now worth more than half a million, and on the street where his bakery is located more businesses have opened, almost all of them Latino-owned. Various interested investors bid for the property that Navarro bought with his business associate, Manuel Guerrero, in 2009. In the midst of the economic downturn, they were eager to provide capital.
Thanks to the growth of the Latino population in Passaic, and with the economic support of the Mexican community, Alex Blanco became the first Dominican mayor in the entire country, following in the footsteps of Bob Menéndez, the first Hispanic to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate.
"In terms of politics, Mexicans are going to be the next ones to take steps towards positions in office," said Mayor Blanco.
However, no Mexican has yet worked for the mayor's office.
"There isn't anyone with enough experience for such high-level jobs. It's a process. For example, we are the first Mexican-owned business; perhaps more will open up in the near future. It's the same with politics," said Guerrero.
"I think that our children will be the ones to take office," said Navarro.
