Latino stronghold microcosm of one redistricting battlefront By Max Pizarro | February 10th, 2011 - 3:34pm | Updated February 10th, 2011 - 4:52pm | More PERTH AMBOY - A few blocks up from the docks in this maritime city, Mayor Wilda Diaz told a crowd at the Dr. Herbert N. Richardson School that Perth Amboy surpassed the magic number of 50,000 in the 2010 census, making it vitally eligible for more federal dollars and reflecting a statewide trend of a rising Latino population.
The local census data represents a big deal for Diaz, standing in front of the banner with the number 50,814 printed on it in bold letters. The mayor formally kicked off the census effort a year and a half ago at the school, and now, in the midst of a statewide redistricting battle, sees wider implications for the long down-on-its-heels waterfront town, which is 70% Latino.
"We do not have the representation we deserve, whether it's in the county or in the legislature," independent Democrat Diaz told PolitickerNJ.com. "We have a large population and yet we have no freeholders and no legislators. I want them to look at Perth Amboy right now."
If that means rejuggling the districts to empower Perth Amboy, Diaz wants it done.
Latino stronghold microcosm of one redistricting battlefront
ReplyDeleteBy Max Pizarro | February 10th, 2011 - 3:34pm | Updated February 10th, 2011 - 4:52pm | More
PERTH AMBOY - A few blocks up from the docks in this maritime city, Mayor Wilda Diaz told a crowd at the Dr. Herbert N. Richardson School that Perth Amboy surpassed the magic number of 50,000 in the 2010 census, making it vitally eligible for more federal dollars and reflecting a statewide trend of a rising Latino population.
The local census data represents a big deal for Diaz, standing in front of the banner with the number 50,814 printed on it in bold letters. The mayor formally kicked off the census effort a year and a half ago at the school, and now, in the midst of a statewide redistricting battle, sees wider implications for the long down-on-its-heels waterfront town, which is 70% Latino.
"We do not have the representation we deserve, whether it's in the county or in the legislature," independent Democrat Diaz told PolitickerNJ.com. "We have a large population and yet we have no freeholders and no legislators. I want them to look at Perth Amboy right now."
If that means rejuggling the districts to empower Perth Amboy, Diaz wants it done.