Public Employee Press

Latino Heritage Month begins
Focus on Dominican Republic

DC 37’s Latino Heritage Committee kicked off its annual Latino Heritage Month celebration on Sept. 10 at union headquarters with a tribute to the Dominican Republic.

“Dominicans United in Labor Struggles” was the theme as Committee Chair Santos Crespo, the executive vice president of Local 372, welcomed members and began the evening with a moment of silence in honor of the victims of 9/11.

The keynote speaker and honoree for the night was City Council member Diana Reyna, who represents Brooklyn’s 34th District and is the first Dominican woman elected to public office in the United States. The daughter of a union member who worked in the garment district, Reyna stressed the importance of the civil service to New York City and said that the Dominican Republic would benefit greatly if it had such a system.

“It’s a real honor for me to be herethis evening with so many great leaders like Lillian Roberts and VeronicaMontgomery-Costa,” said Reyna. Crespo also reminded the audience that the Dominican Republic was one of the first countries to welcome Jewish refugees escaping the Nazis in the 1930s.

Montgomery-Costa, president ofDC 37 and of Local 372, addressed the group and emphasized the importance of diversity. “Diversity is necessary in this society, and we’ll all be much better off because of it,” she said.

DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts stressed the urgency of registering to vote as the presidential election approaches. “It’s critical that the Dominican community and all of our Latino sisters and brothers continue to build their political influence by participating in the electoral process,” said Roberts.