Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D, I-Utica/Rome) hosted a Latino roundtable on Oct. 18, and was joined by Assemblywoman Maritza Davila (D-Brooklyn), chair of the Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, to discuss issues and concerns facing Latino small-business owners in the Mohawk Valley. Following the roundtable, Buttenschon and Davila participated in a walking tour of several local, Latino-owned small businesses.
“One of the Mohawk Valley’s greatest assets is the rich cultural landscape it gleans from its diverse communities,” Buttenschon said. “I thank Assemblywoman Davila for attending the roundtable to meet with and discuss the concerns facing the Hispanic community. Many of the issues raised at today’s roundtable are similar to the ones my office works on every day, including landlord/tenant disputes, mental health and drug addiction, and investing in community resources that will keep kids engaged and off the streets. It’s vital to hear from local small-business owners about the challenges and issues they’re facing. The hardworking Latino small-business owners that I met are an integral part of our community, and I will continue working to support them.”
Roundtable attendees included Mohawk Valley Latino Association Executive Director Carmen Sonia Martinez, MVLA board members and staff, Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri, and Mohawk Valley Community College Board of Trustees Chair Anthony Colón.
