Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Donald Trump, Andrew Cuomo and Company

 
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
By Senator Rev. Rubén Díaz
District 32 Bronx County, New York

You should know that in Hato Tejas, Bayamón, Puerto Rico, where I was born and grew up, there was a saying that goes like this: “Actions speak louder than words.”

It is important for you to know that Hispanics remain as a discriminated group and the lowest on the pyramid in regard to the unemployment appointment rate in the New York State’s government offices.

For the past few years, Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, Chair of the New York State Assembly’s Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force, has been documenting facts and submitting legislation specifically geared to ending every roadblock that sits in the way of Hispanics, so Hispanics can have good employment opportunities and be hired in Executive Offices such as the Office of the Governor, the Comptroller, and the Attorney General.

It is very important for you to know that the employment record of Hispanics in the New York Governor’s Office is abysmal.

Governor Andrew Cuomo, who has been our Governor for the past seven years, along with Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, have had many opportunities to demonstrate their actions and to show how really serious and honest they are when they talk about how much they value New York’s Hispanic community.

Lately, Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda has publicly started a campaign of criticism with respect to the employment opportunities that are denied to our community in the different government agencies in New York State.

While all this is taking place, we are confronted by a national Presidential Campaign, where a Republican Candidate, Mr. Donald Trump, has gotten himself into trouble with Hispanics because of the words he used in regard to the Mexican community.

Mr. Trump has been criticized, judged, attacked, lambasted and rejected because of the words he used to express himself.

Governor Andrew Cuomo has joined the criticism of Donald Trump and shown his support for people who call Donald Trump anti-Hispanic, a racist, and discriminatory.

My dear reader, I do not condone the words used by Donald Trump, but I have to compare the employment record of Donald Trump with the employment record of Governor Andrew Cuomo, and many of the high power elected officials in New York State.

On one side, we have Donald Trump, who hurt us with his words, but employs thousands and thousands of Hispanics.  Thousands of Hispanics that can support their families because of Donald Trump.

Let’s compare him to Governor Andrew Cuomo, who speaks highly of us and gives Hispanics words of praise, but in seven years, has failed to open the doors of the government agencies that he oversees to employ Hispanics.

Governor Andrew Cuomo, along with Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and Attorney General Eric Schneiderman speak so highly of Hispanics and make Hispanics feel good, but they give us minimal job opportunities.

Others, like Donald Trump, who hurt us with their words, give us many opportunities to earn our daily bread and be able to support our families.

You should know that after seven years, Governor Andrew Cuomo has created a Commission to study why Hispanics have not been employable in New York State’s government.  

Members of the Advisory Council on Diversity and Inclusion include Assemblyman Marcos Crespo, Chairman of the Somos el Futuro Conference and Assemblyman Nick Perry, Chair of the NYS Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus.

I hope that this Commission can do a good job and help the Governor to understand what we all know and what is common knowledge: Hispanics have not been given employment opportunities in New York State government agencies because words have not been put into action.

This could very well be another one of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s places to show how much he loves us.

Ladies and gentlemen, I hope that this Commission will put Governor Andrew Cuomo’s words into action and employ more Hispanics in his Administration, in the Office of the Comptroller, and in the Office of the Attorney General, because as I have said before: “Actions speak louder than words.”

I am Senator Rubén Díaz and this is what you should know.