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Election Day in Westchester County reflected the fact that there is a growing number of Hispanics in the county; with 1 in every 4 residents being Hispanic. There, two people made history by becoming the first Latinos elected in their communities. Andres Castillo-Quintana, a Peruvian immigrant, became the first Latino to be elected to Bedford’s Town Council. He said he decided to run for office after he witnessed how the pandemic impacts the Latino community. Karine Patiño, daughter of Ecuadorian immigrants, became the first Latino to be elected to Mount Kisco’s Board of Trustees. She’s an immigration attorney who said that representation matters in local government. Latinos were elected for the first times in Irvington, Ardsley, Tarrytown and Croton-on-Hudson. News 12 the Bronx
In other local immigration news…
Immigration Advocates Demand Pathway to Citizenship Across the U.S.
In Jersey City and 10 other cities across the U.S., immigrant youth, essential workers and advocates urged Democratic leaders to follow through on their promise to provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. The demonstration was held near U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez’s downtown office. Immigrants have been increasing pressure on Democratic leaders to include a pathway to citizenship in their reconciliation bill and ignore the Senate parliamentarian’s advisory opinion. NJ.com
First South Asians on NYC Council Fight for Taxi Drivers
Just days before becoming the first South Asians to be elected to the New York City Council, Shahana Hanif and Shekar Krishnan protested with taxi drivers for a better taxi medallion debt relief program. The drivers blocked traffic, which ended in the arrest of Hanif and Krishnan, as well as three other elected officials and New York Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani, another South Asian American. After two month fight, the drivers finally got their voices heard, and Hanif and Krishnan won their races as well. Gothamist reported that the back-to-back victories for South Asians represent their growing political power in the state and a win for working-class immigrant communities. Gothamist
