Latino leaders meet at Somos conference

Hundreds of Latino leaders and advocates gathered Saturday for the fourth annual Somos conference, driving home the themes of uniting with the African-American community and protecting civil rights.
Converging at the Islandia Marriott hotel for the two-day conference, elected officials, business and labor leaders discussed everything from health care reform to reports of the rising number of hate crimes against Latinos.

Hosted by the Long Island Latino Elected Officials Association, State Assemb. Philip Ramos (D-Brentwood), chairman of the conference, said the conference is designed to help elected officials craft their legislative agenda.

By joining forces, Latino and African-American elected officials form a powerful coalition, Ramos said in his opening speech Saturday. "If we look at our communities, we live in the same neighborhoods. We drive down the same neglected streets," said Ramos. "We have issues in the same schools. We need to work together. Other then immigration, there is really no difference between the African-American agenda and the Latino agenda."

The rising influence of Latinos is evident by the draw of this year's event, Ramos said. Gov. David A. Paterson attended last night's gala, and state Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli was the keynote speaker at the luncheon, receiving the 2009 legacy award from the group.

Referring to a recent report by the Southern Poverty Law Center, DiNapoli, who is from Great Neck, stressed the urgency of battling the growing number of hate crimes against Latinos. "It hurts me deeply and it offends me deeply when I read of these incidents happening right here in our own community," DiNapoli said of hate crimes in Suffolk County. "I don't like that Long Island is part of that statistic."

Noting how many of the perpetrators of such crimes are young, DiNapoli emphasized the important role of education and nonprofit groups. "It means we need to do more in our schools and in our community organizations. We have a lot of work that still has to be done."

Sprinkling his speech with Spanish phrases, Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi emphasized the importance of the event for young people. "Imagine what it's like for our young people when they see our leaders castigating, attacking Latinos in our community, when they hold people out as scapegoats," Suozzi said. "I want to say very clear . . . not everyone is that way."

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