The undersigned bipartisan group of Latinx political and civic leaders, advocates, and organizations stress the need for a Latinx appointee with voting power to the New Jersey Legislative Reapportionment Commission (“Commission”).

The exponential growth and influence of the Latinx community over the last decade in New Jersey requires that the Commission’s composition similarly reflect our state demographics. New Jersey is home to significant and growing numbers of people of Latinx descent, nearly 1.8 million, who in 2018 represented a Census-estimated 20.4% of the state’s total population. We represent 14% of the electorate and both major political parties marginalize us to their own eventual peril. We represent the youngest, most entrepreneurial and most actively employed workforce in New Jersey. We lead the State in small business creation with an astounding economic impact of $12 Billion.

We have also been disproportionately plagued by this pandemic as it continues to wreak havoc on our health and financial security, all while our mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and abuelas y abuelos have been steadfastly doing the essential work necessary to keep our entire State afloat.

We are indispensable and yet virtually invisible in positions of significant power and influence to the degree compelled by our numbers.

All of that makes us a stakeholder in the future of our State and Country. We should not have to wait to be invited to the table; we should already be at the table. We must be in the room where everything happens.

The Hispanic/Latinx community has made significant progress in its efforts to have its voices heard and experiences reflected at all levels of our government. Still, very few hold public office within the State.

The State needs to continue to promote diversity and inclusive and equitable values by appointing individuals that reflect our community’s experiences and contributions. No one party should hold a monopoly on the commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Democrats and Republicans alike should find strength in our rich diversity and the enhancement and vibrancy that it brings to our democracy.

Our democracy demands that we all have a seat at the table and that we can all be equally represented. Any effort to undermine that basic tenet and still illusive ideal of our democracy makes it likelier that our government will inch ever closer to no longer being of the people, by the people and for the people.

Our community will not relinquish any map-making control and acquiesce to a tradition of blocking meaningful reform and excluding New Jersey voters from the process. Appointing a member of our community to the Commission, helps to further equalize the interests of all residents of the State and not just the interest of some.

This critical appointment is crucial to the continued public confidence in our representative systems of government.

We vehemently believe that redistricting should be impartial, transparent, community-driven and fair.

We call on the Commission to appoint members of our community to all the facets of its inner dealings, from legal counsel to professional engagements, the Latinx community must be an active participant in the deliberation of legislative redistricting.

We join Fair Districts New Jersey’s call for measures that include:

• Make all map-making resources and data public and allow multiple methods for public submission of maps.
• Make all map drafts public, allow for public input on any proposed map prior to approval, and require redistricting reports justifying all map-making decisions.
• Protect communities of interests through ample public hearings and robust and meaningful public input.
• Adhere to ranked order clear-line drawing rules established by nonpartisan redistricting reform best practices designed to protect “one person, one vote” and prevent boundary line manipulation for political gain.
• Adopt a racial equity provision that reinforces the Voting Rights Act to protect the voting rights and voting strength of communities of color.

Our collective work continues, and the time is now for us to bring needed reforms to our legislative and congressional redistricting schemes. Entrenched special interests will not prevail.

Our community demands accountability and notes that it will not forget those who cast us aside only to reach out once again for political expediency. Our community, while under represented, wields significant influence and power. We intend to use it.

Sincerely signed by,

Latino Action Network 

Latino American Democratic Association of New Jersey

LatinoJustice PRLDEF 

LUPE PAC 

Latinas United for Political Empowerment, Inc.

Fernando Alonso, Bergen County Hispanic Republican Association

Jesus Galvis, Former Deputy Mayor of Hackensack & President of Hispanic USA of Bergen County

Maria Rodriguez-Gregg, former Assemblywoman, 8th Legislative District

Ramon M. Hache, Sr., Bergen County Commissioner-elect

Germain M. Ortiz, Bergen County Commissioner

Tomas Padilla, Former Bergen County Freeholder

Carlos Rendo, Woodcliff Lake Mayor and former Republican nominee for Lt. Governor

El Pueblo Unido de Atlantic City

David Matos, Former Executive Director, NJ Hispanic Democrats

Latino Association of Atlantic City

New Jersey Dominican-American Elected and Appointed Officials Caucus