Hennigan Urges Mayor Menino to Balance His Administration

Sunday August 7, 2005 Contact: Mitch Kates 617-522-2005

Press Release

Boston At Large City Councillor Maura Hennigan Urges Mayor Menino to Balance His Administration

Boston: In front of a group of Latino supporters, Boston City Councillor and Mayoral Candidate Maura Hennigan called for Mayor Menino to immediately address the issue of diversity, specifically in regards to the Latino community, within his administration.

“The current administration needs to address the fact that there are currently no representatives of the Latino community that hold a policy position of real authority” Councillor Hennigan stated to members of the media and a group of supporters from the Latino community.

“Our city’s government needs to have people in leadership roles and major policy positions that adequately represent the diversity of the city’s residents” urged Councillor Hennigan.

Because the summer months also coincide with festivals and parades within the various Latino Community’s, issues such as these have come to the forefront as a major concern within the community.

“We should not wait for a new administration (the Hennigan Administration) to address the needs of the city. I am calling on Mayor Menino to act now to balance his administration so that it more closely represents the ethnic make-up of the city of Boston” Councillor Hennigan challenged.

Twelve years ago during Mayor Ray Flynn’s Administration there were more than seven high-ranking positions filled by members of the Latino Community.

Some examples of departments that were headed by members of the Latino Community (during Mayor Flynn’s administration):

ü Chief Policy Advisor

ü Education Advisor

ü Director of Personnel

ü Director of Fair Housing

ü Commissioner of Elections Department

ü Director of BHA

ü Director of Neighborhood Services

Sharing with the gathered group Councillor Hennigan declared, “we find through US Census reports- (1990 & 2000)- the Latino community represents the largest and fastest growing ethnic population in the City of Boston. How is it possible for this city’s administration to leave behind such a significant group of people in regards to policy-making and leadership?”

For reference Census information on the Latino population growth within the City of Boston:

Boston- National Origin of Latinos

	2000		1990		Growth
	Number	Pct	Number	Pct	Number	Pct
Hispanic or Latino	85,089		59,692		25,397	42.5%
Mexican	4,126	4.8%	2,640	4.4%	1,486	56.3%
Puerto Rican	27,442	32.3%	25,183	42.2%	2,259	9%
Cuban	2,221	2.6%	2,366	4%	-145	-6.1%
Dominican Rep	12,981	15.3%	7,938	13.3%	5,043	63.5%
Salvadoran	5,333	6.3%	3,178	5.3%	2,155	67.8%
Other Central Amer	6,199	7.3%	5,378	9%	821	15.3%
Colombian	4,065	4.8%	2,374	4%	1,691	71.2%
Other South Amer	2,939	3.5%	2,783	4.7%	156	5.6%
Other Hispanic/Latino	19,783	23.2%	7,852	13.2%	11,931	151.9%