MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Latinos received some much needed representation in Memphis on Mayor-elect Jim Strickland’s transition team.
Several local Latino leaders were assigned to Strickland’s Crime and Public Safety team and Community team.
Latinos in Memphis have long said they have felt underrepresented in city government.
But, with Latino Memphis’s Mauricio Calvo, St. Jude’s Evelyn Medero, and SweetBio’s Isaac Rodriguez teamed with Mayor- elect Jim Strickland, Dr. Elena Delavega with the University of Memphis hopes that will change.
“We need to make sure the Latino voices are heard in government, so I do appreciate Mayor-elect Strickland’s efforts in bringing in this very important population,” she said.
Latinos have asked for better policing, more bilingual officers and have pushed to decrease crime.
That made Calvo’s appointment to the Crime and Public Safety transition team especially important.
“We wanted him to work on crime and be the voice of that community,” Mayor-elect Strickland said. “He’s very in touch with what’s going on there.”
Delavega said she knows Calvo, Medero, and Rodriguez will be able to provide valuable input and give a voice to a population struggling not only with crime, but poverty.
“The Latino poverty rate is twice as high in Memphis and in fact, in Tennessee as in the rest of the nation,” she said.
“This group is all about results and solutions,” Strickland added. “So, it’s not just about identifying the problem, but what solutions would the Hispanic community suggest to city government?”
“If we are able to integrate the Latino community, we will be one of the most important cities of the 21st century. If we don’t, we will be a ‘could have been’ city,” said Delavega.
Dr. Delavega also hoped to see an office of Latino Affairs established within Memphis city government.
