In Boston, Low turnout a lost opportunity for Latinos

By Marcela García, The Boston Globe

IT’S BEEN almost two full weeks since the very crowded and historic preliminary mayoral race in Boston, and Hector Piña is still bummed out. He calls it a “morale hangover” after a disappointing result for Latinos — both in the ballot and in turnout numbers.

A longtime community activist, heavily engaged in local politics, Piña, originally from the Dominican Republic, owns the well-known Merengue Restaurant in Roxbury, and the popular Vejigantes in the South End. Both of his Latino restaurants are magnets for Boston Hispanic community leaders, activists, and Latino personalities in general (Mariano Rivera ate at Vejigantes a couple of weeks ago; David Ortiz and Junot Diaz are both regulars).

“It is our own people who end up discouraging Latino candidates from running,” said Piña. “How can they run if our own people don’t stand behind them?”

Click HERE to read the full story.

[Photo by C. K. Hartman]

 

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